The lawsuit alleges that the Department’s approval fails to meet the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), lacks adequate scientific evidence, and does not properly consider other and better alternatives for managing the deer, such as regulated hunting.
The Catalina Island Conservancy, which submitted the plan to the Department, dismissed hunting as a viable management tool to justify its preferred alternative of the mass slaughter of the island’s deer population. This strategy was based on the flawed premise that mule deer, which are native to California, are “invasive” on the island.
The coalition’s lawsuit seeks to require the plan to undergo a full environmental review under CEQA, including scientific analysis, consideration of alternatives, and opportunities for stakeholder input.
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s approval of a plan to eradicate Catalina Island’s mule deer population is an abdication of leadership in a moment where they could implement balanced, science-based stewardship,” said W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of Safari Club International.
“This decision represents a troubling shift in wildlife management philosophy, and this lawsuit is a critical step towards preventing lethal removal as a first response to ecological challenges.”
“Catalina is not an empty laboratory for island-eradication ideology. It is a fully inhabited island with a real community, a real economy, and real lives and livelihoods at stake,” said Melinda Benson, attorney with the Coalition to Save Catalina Island Deer. “Our Coalition opposes this plan because we know the Conservancy, this island, and this history. Time and again, major decisions affecting Catalina have moved forward without meaningful consultation or collaboration with the very people who will have to live with the consequences. CDFW’s decision to grant a CEQA exemption and fast-track this permit carries that pattern forward with the State’s blessing. This project is unprecedented in scale, scope, and duration for an inhabited island in California, and the people of Catalina deserved far better from the state decision-makers charged with its review.”
“The Catalina Island Conservancy has strayed far from true conservation—it has instead chosen a rushed, inhumane wipeout that skips real science, public input, and balanced management,” said Rick Travis, Legislative Director for the California Rifle & Pistol Association. “Hunters, residents, animal welfare groups, and conservationists are united because we demand proper environmental review and sustainable alternatives like regulated hunting, not total eradication by any means. CRPA is proud to stand with this diverse coalition to hold the process accountable and protect the herd from unnecessary slaughter.”
“California Bowmen Hunters and State Archery Association is pleased to join other concerned NGOs in an effort to stop the senseless and systematic eradication of Mule Deer on Catalina Island. CBH/SAA believes, as others do, that proper management of the deer herd through scientific methods by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife can easily yield the results that everyone is looking for without a complete eradication,” said Chriss Bowles, President of California Bowmen Hunters/State Archery Association. “This deer herd has been coexisting with other native plants and wildlife and Buffalo on Catalina for a century. For the Catalina Island Conservancy to now join with an industrial sniper company to destroy a valuable native deer herd in the state of California makes no sense and goes against the very laws and values that we hold dear. CBH/SAA is proud to join other litigants in an effort to stop this senseless destruction of our valuable California resources.”
“This lawsuit isn’t about denying ecological concerns on Catalina Island — it’s about demanding that irreversible wildlife decisions follow a transparent, science-based process,” said Charles Whitwam, Founder of Howl For Wildlife. “Before moving to eradicate an entire population of California mule deer, the public deserves to see clear population targets, measurable management plans, and credible data supporting the decision. Those safeguards were never demonstrated.”
“The California Deer Association represents the interests of deer populations across our state. We believe the situation involving Catalina Island deer highlights broader concerns about wildlife management in California,” said Chris Hall, CEO of the California Deer Association. “Our organization is committed to standing up for deer and advocating for responsible, science-based management that protects wildlife and preserves healthy deer herds for future generations. We will continue to support efforts that safeguard California’s wildlife and ensure that deer populations are managed with care, respect, and long-term sustainability in mind.”
Background Information:
- Catalina Island is off the coast of Southern California. The island is approximately 48,000 acres in size, and is home to a wealth of plant and animal species, including bison and mule deer populations that have inhabited the area for over a century.
- The Catalina Island Conservancy, a land trust, manages 88% of the island’s surface. The island is home to approximately 4,000 residents, many of whom make their living from tourism.
- The Conservancy previously applied for a “depredation permit” and a “scientific collection permit” to cull all mule deer from the island. The Conservancy claimed that deer browsing is negatively impacting native plants. That claim was disputed by local residents, policymakers, and interested organizations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife previously denied those permit applications.
