Please How You Can Help in Two Easy Steps!
#2. Send Emails to State Decision-Makers and Your Government Representatives!
This is truly one of the most effective ways to help us. If you’d like some ideas of what to write or even want to cut and paste a message into an email, you can use/modify the templates below. Government and other officials don’t mind. They just want to know how many people care about an issue. Please take a moment to write today!
FOR ALL SUPPORTERS EVERYWHERE --> Email State Wildlife Decision-Makers
Click HERE to send an email to the state decision-makers that are deciding right now whether or not to let the Conservancy go through with this terrible plan. You can use the email below or write your own.
Dear California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources Leadership,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Catalina Island Conservancy’s plan to kill all of the Mule Deer on Catalina Island and leave their carcasses to rot on the landscape. The deer have been on the Island for nearly 100 years and are very much a beloved part of the Island community and culture. The Conservancy’s plan to eliminate these animals from the land they have inhabited for a century greatly concerns me.
It is my understanding that the Conservancy has already hired contracted sharpshooters who plan to use helicopters, net capture, and dogs to stalk and kill every one of these animals over the course of at least the next five years. I am also aware that this is only the latest in a series of efforts to obtain authorization from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to do this without meaningful public engagement and without a full CEQA Environmental Impact Report (EIR), despite the project’s scale, controversy, and long-term impacts.
The Conservancy’s plan is based on extrapolated and biased data masquerading as science, relying on a narrow reading of its own studies to justify eradicating every deer on the island while downplaying all other drivers of ecological change. These animals are a public wildlife resource held in trust by the State for the benefit and enjoyment of all Californians. To allow their extermination would be devastating for the Island community and for the scores of visitors who come to Catalina to experience its beauty and connect with the natural world through these animals.
A state-sanctioned, irreversible decision of this magnitude should only be made after a full, independent CEQA EIR has been prepared and publicly reviewed, and after meaningful opportunities for input from residents and other stakeholders. Anything less would be an abdication of the Department’s public-trust responsibilities. I therefore urge you to deny any and all applications submitted to CDFW by the Conservancy or its agents for authorization to eradicate mule deer from Catalina Island.
Lastly, in light of the Department’s current leadership transition, I also respectfully ask that CDFW refrain from acting on any aspect of the Conservancy's permit application until permanent leadership is in place. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
EMAIL YOUR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES!
FOR AVALON RESIDENTS
Click HERE to send an email to your government representatives to ask for their support in opposing this plan.
FOR MAINLAND SUPPORTERS
Click HERE to find your state representatives and HERE to find your federal representatives. Email them to ask for their support in opposing this plan. You can use the email below or write your own.
Dear Representative [Names],
I am a constituent writing to ask for your support in opposing the Catalina Island Conservancy’s plan to kill all mule deer on Catalina Island and leave their carcasses to rot on the landscape. The deer have lived on the Island for nearly 100 years and are a beloved part of Catalina’s community and culture. The Conservancy’s effort to eliminate these animals from the land they have inhabited for a century is deeply alarming.
It is my understanding that the Conservancy has already hired contracted sharpshooters and intends to use helicopters, net capture, and dogs to pursue and kill deer over the course of at least the next five years. I am also aware that this is only the latest in a series of attempts to obtain authorization from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) without meaningful public engagement and without a full CEQA Environmental Impact Report (EIR), despite the project’s scope, controversy, and long-term impacts.
The Conservancy’s proposal rests on extrapolated and biased claims presented as science—relying on a narrow interpretation of its own studies to justify eradicating every deer on the island while minimizing other drivers of ecological change. Mule deer are a public wildlife resource held in trust by the State for the benefit and enjoyment of all Californians. Authorizing their extermination would be devastating for Catalina residents and for the many visitors who come to experience the Island’s natural beauty.
I respectfully urge you to take action and publicly oppose this plan. Specifically, I ask that you: (1) call on CDFW to deny any applications submitted by the Conservancy or its agents to eradicate mule deer from Catalina Island; (2) insist that no authorization be granted unless and until a full, independent CEQA EIR has been prepared, publicly reviewed, and informed by meaningful opportunities for stakeholder input; and (3) request that CDFW refrain from acting on any aspect of the Conservancy’s permit application during the Department’s current leadership transition, until permanent leadership is in place.
Thank you for your consideration and for any steps you can take to protect Catalina’s wildlife and ensure transparency, lawful process, and public accountability.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Contact Us
To get in touch with us directly, please email savecatalinadeer@gmail.com.
Thank you SO MUCH for your support!