It’s been a busy couple of weeks. On October 22, we hosted our Catalina Deer and Dine fundraiser. On Monday, October 26, we filed a petition asking the Court of Appeal to stop the Conservancy from killing or permanently sterilizing deer while our appeal is decided.
Here’s where things stand—and a heartfelt thank-you to everyone helping us keep fighting.
THE “PRE-REMOVAL ASSESSMENT” PHASE IS OVER.
The Conservancy’s “pre-removal assessment” shooting has stopped. “Pre-” means before. An assessment before “removal.” What a strange thing to call the first phase of a mass slaughter. We think it’s safe to assume the euphemism was lost on all of the deer the Conservancy killed over the course of the last two months.
This was the phase of “removal” intended to allow for an assessment of methodologies. After all of the Conservancy’s waxing poetic about White Buffalo’s extraordinary and singular expertise, apparently they needed a two-month window to test methods. The methods tested? As far as we can tell, they tested whether corn can be used to attract deer to places where they can be shot like fish in a barrel. ✅ They tested whether bullets fired from rifles kill deer. ✅
Here is some of what reached us over these last two months: the stench of death in the air, swarms of flies and hundreds of crows feasting on carrion, (Warning - graphic images linked) deer carcasses on the side of the road–one with a garbage bag over its head–spent shell casings just left where they fell on the ground, firearms left unattended, a buck with an apparent gunshot wound to the leg staggering down the road, and visiting hikers harassed by low flying drones directly above their campground and gunfire throughout the night.
How many deer did they kill over the course of the last two months? In characteristic fashion, the Conservancy isn’t saying. I guess we’ll have to wait until the annual report disclosing actual take and mortality is submitted to CDFW on January 15, 2027.
So what happens next for the deer? According to the permit schedule, the next phase of the slaughter–the phase the Conservancy says will involve the “most rapid depopulation,” begins in June 2027. But read the fine print:
The permit: “Permittee may shift the timing of the Project’s mule deer removal efforts due to weather, effectiveness of the removal efforts, obtaining appropriate authorizations, and other factors.” (p. 6)
The Workplan: “This timeline may shift due to weather and success of the removal.” (p. 25)
The Workplan again: The most rapid depopulation “will largely occur in 2027 with a testing round in 2026, although timelines may shift.” (p. 26)
June 2027 is just a date on a schedule that the Conservancy expressly reserves the ability to change. It is no guarantee of a reprieve. It is not a guarantee that the deer are safe until then. That is why we just asked the Court of Appeal for an enforceable halt while our appeal is decided.
LEGAL ACTION: WE’RE FIGHTING BACK
On October 26, our Coalition and fellow challengers asked the Court of Appeal for an immediate halt to killing and permanent sterilization under the Conservancy’s permit while our appeal proceeds.
Our argument is straightforward: a court victory cannot bring dead deer back. Because of this, and because the Conservancy can resume their slaughter at literally any moment, the deer need protection while the court considers our appeal.
FUNDRAISER: YOU ARE MAKING THIS FIGHT POSSIBLE!
We could not keep fighting without your help—and you showed up!
Our Catalina Deer and Dine fundraiser raised just over $16,000 for our legal efforts and continued appeal! From farm-fresh eggs to an African safari and beautiful local artwork, the generosity of our silent auction donors was incredible. Every donation, every bid, and every person who attended helped make the evening a success.
A huge thank-you to Caleb, Missy, and the entire Lobster Trap team for hosting us and putting so much hard work, generosity, and heart into the event.
And enormous thanks to our Coalition members, who spent countless hours gathering donations, organizing auction items, spreading the word, and bringing everything together. This was truly a community effort.
It meant so much to see people turn their concern for Catalina’s deer into action. Your support reaches far beyond one evening: it helps pay for the legal work needed to protect them.
From all of us at the Coalition to Save Catalina Island Deer, thank you for your generosity, your time, and your determination. We are deeply grateful and we are fired up to keep fighting.