Catalina Deer News: We are absolutely sick to our stomachs. Reeling.

11/6/26 UPDATE -- IT'S TRUE, OF COURSE. THEY ADMITTED IT THIS MORNING. THE "CONSERVANCY" SLAUGHTERED 670 DEER ON CATALINA ISLAND IN ABOUT SIX WEEKS. IF YOU CAN STOMACH IT, READ THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT HERE. 

If you can't stomach it or you want the CliffsNotes version, these are their justifications:

More deer than expected: They baited with corn. Bait attracts deer. That is what bait does. They lured animals to a specific location and now tell us that the numbers were a revelation about the whole Island. We are not stupid.

Poor physical condition: Hunters taking deer this very season report healthy animals with substantial fat on dressed carcasses. Now the Conservancy tells us most of the deer it killed were in poor condition. The animals are dead. The people responsible for killing them get to tell us what condition they were in. We are expected to take their word for it. Again.

Native plants: Yeah, yeah. The deer are causing the total and complete ecological collapse of Catalina Island. This old chestnut. If you say something enough times, a lot of people will start to believe you. But we never will. We know the truth (and so do they).

• Island scrub oak: Deer-browsed seedlings had no lower survival; bison damage mattered more. Another experiment found no deer/bison effect on acorn germination or small-seedling growth. Other possible barriers include ground squirrels eating acorns, missing scrub jays to disperse acorns, invasive grasses, root rot, moisture stress, and historical soil loss. (Manuwal & Sweitzer, 2008, pp. 535–538; Stratton, 2009, pp. 185–186, 194; Knapp, 2002, p. 827; Conservancy Habitat Restoration and Monitoring Plan [HRMP], p. 13.)
• Catalina mountain mahogany: Fencing installed 27 years ago. A 2007 federal review found browsing largely controlled, yet reported “little recruitment and almost no population increase.” Genetic and reproductive problems persisted. (USFWS, Cercocarpus traskiae Five-Year Review, 2007, pp. 7–12.)
• Santa Catalina monkeyflower: Its only documented collection predates deer introduction by 27 years. But the Conservancy blames the deer. Whatever you say, Lauren. (Conservancy HRMP, p. 136.)
• Southern island mallow: Catalina’s natural population occurs on islets deer cannot access. (Conservancy IRSA, p. 27.)
• Santa Cruz Island rockcress: Monitoring recorded suspected drought/self-thinning mortality, caterpillar feeding, and increased germination after rain. (USFWS, Sibara filifolia Five-Year Review, 2024, pp. 8–9.)
• Lyon’s pygmydaisy: Federal review identified habitat changes favoring invasive grasses as the likely cause of most mainland population declines. (USFWS, Pentachaeta lyonii Five-Year Review, 2008, p. 10.)
• Catalina grass: Rediscovered in 2005; Conservancy later reported plants “in great numbers” at four known locations while deer remained. (Conservancy, Catalina grass “PlantTipTuesday” report.)
• “Goats R Us” trial: The feeding experiment used domestic goats in Orinda—not Catalina deer. (Salladay & Ramirez, 2018; Ramirez dissertation, 2015, pp. 47–48.)
• Microhistological diet study: Native/endemic plants were eaten, but most woody food was not island-endemic. Separate field tests found no overall endemic preference. (Manuwal, 2007, pp. 23–24, 32–33.)
• Deer locations: Found no statistically significant association between predicted deer use and rare-plant locations. (Manuwal, 2007, p. 55.)

Wildfire risk: They are still trying to convince you that deer increase wildfire risk. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Marrone warned that complete deer removal would increase chaparral fuel loads and elevate wildfire risk, particularly near Avalon. He recommended an actively managed herd. (Marrone memorandum to Supervisor Janice Hahn, January 7, 2026, pp. 2–3.) The Conservancy doesn't care because it doesn't support their narrative. 

Testing Methods: Bait attracts deer. Bullets kill them. White Buffalo was presented as possessing extraordinary expertise. What did 470 additional deaths establish that "roughly 200" could not? All that White Buffalo expertise, and this is what an “assessment” became?

Condor food: They found a use for "some" of the bodies. So no wanton waste to see here. Move along. 

If, like us, these justifications strike you as preposterous, remember, they have every reason to think they can just tell us whatever they want. So far, in our view, the state and the court haven't made them prove a thing. So why would they care what the people think or want?
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Friends,

We hope you are sitting down. 

This morning, a supporter sent us what appeared to be an announcement from the Catalina Island Conservancy dated November 5 with the title “Catalina Deer Removal Reveals Higher-Than-Expected Population In Middle Ranch Area.” The announcement reportedly went up on the Conservancy’s website and was taken down almost immediately. 

The announcement’s recorded address is now unavailable: https://catalinaconservancy.org/stories/catalina-deer-removal-middle-ranch/

We have preserved short excerpts attributed to the Conservancy’s website, but we have not recovered or authenticated the original page and cannot independently confirm its publication and removal or its full contents. The summary below is based on the unverified account forwarded to us. 

WHAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT REPORTEDLY SAID

The November 5 announcement reportedly stated that 670 mule deer were killed in the Middle Ranch area during September and October—compared with approximately 200 originally anticipated. 

Six hundred and seventy. Take that in. 

According to the account forwarded to us, the Conservancy said the unexpectedly high number suggested Catalina’s deer population was larger than previously estimated. Its 2025 spotlight surveys had estimated approximately 2,040 deer across the Island’s interior, excluding Avalon. The announcement also reportedly described most of the deer as being in poor physical condition, with visible ribs and little body fat, which it attributed to inadequate food.

The Conservancy reportedly defended the killing as necessary to restore native vegetation, limit invasive grasses, and protect habitat for the Catalina Island fox, Catalina Island shrew, and birds. The account included a statement from Conservancy leadership acknowledging that deer removal is painful for many people while asserting a responsibility to protect native species and habitats and announced further deer removal operations were planned to begin in mid-2027.

WHAT THE CONSERVANCY TOLD THE COURT

When we asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the killing, the Conservancy opposed our request with repeated assurances about the limited number of deer it intended to kill.

Under penalty of perjury, Lauren Dennhardt, the Conservancy’s Senior Director of Conservation, declared:

“Pursuant to the Workplan, Conservancy contractors will take roughly 200 deer in September and October 2026 as part of a ‘Pre-Removal Assessment.’”

— Dennhardt declaration, paragraph 12, page 4.

“The Pre-Removal Assessment is not the beginning of deer eradication, but a pilot phase to inform methodologies and logistics for the Conservancy’s eradication efforts, which will not begin until June of 2027.”

— Dennhardt declaration, paragraph 12, page 4.

“The number of deer taken during the Pre-Removal Assessment will be comparable to the number of deer taken each year during Catalina Island’s historic annual hunting season, which typically begins in the late summer and runs through the fall.”

— Dennhardt declaration, paragraph 14, page 5.

“The take of approximately 200 deer in the Pre-Removal Assessment phase similarly will not materially impact the Island’s deer population.”

— Dennhardt declaration, paragraph 16, page 5.

The Conservancy’s attorney, Edward Schexnayder, declared:

“The Restoration Management Permit includes a Workplan with a timeline for the deer removal component of the Restoration Project, which shows ‘Pre-Removal Assessment’ work occurring in September and October 2026, which will involve limited lethal deer removal.”

— Schexnayder declaration, paragraph 2, page 2.

He also described his assurances to our attorneys:

“I further explained that the take of deer during the Pre-Removal Assessment would be limited.”

— Schexnayder declaration, paragraph 3, page 2.

“At that meeting, I again informed Petitioners’ counsel that the Conservancy would not remove any mule deer until September 2026 and that the total take would be similar to the annual take from any prior hunting season.”

— Schexnayder declaration, paragraph 4, pages 2–3.

The Conservancy’s written opposition stated:

“Between now and June 2027, the Conservancy will take no more deer than hunters—including Petitioners’ members—kill in an average hunting season.”

— Conservancy’s opposition, page 6.

“From 2005 to 2024, hunters harvested slightly over 250 deer per year on average—totaling 5,023 deer taken during that 20-year period.”

— Dennhardt declaration, paragraph 15, page 5.

If it is true that the Conservancy just slaughtered 670 of these cherished animals on Catalina Island, this would be a staggering, brazen, and contemptuous departure from those representations. It should enrage us all.

THE COURT RELIED ON THOSE REPRESENTATIONS IN DENYING OUR REQUEST TO STOP THE KILLING

In his order denying our motion for a preliminary injunction, Judge Curtis A. Kin wrote:

“Moreover, the initial phase will only impact an estimated 200 deer, which only reflects 10% of the current population and is comparable to the Island’s history of annual hunting seasons.”

He immediately added:

“While 200 is not the enforceable limit under the RMP, petitioners fail to point to any evidence suggesting that more deer are likely to be eradicated during the two-month, initial phase.”

— September 3, 2026 order denying our motion for preliminary injunction, page 3.

If it is true that the Conservancy just slaughtered 670 mule deer on Catalina Island, this would be more than three times the number the court relied on when it declined to order protection for these animals.

We raised our concerns. We stood up for these cherished animals. We organized, pleaded, and went to court to try to save their lives. The Conservancy answered with assurances: a “limited assessment.” Roughly 200 deer. No more than an average hunting season.

670.

Every one of those deer was a living animal whose life we were fighting to protect. Those deaths cannot be undone.

We are angry. We are exhausted. We are sick to our stomachs. We need your help to fight back.

PLEASE TAKE ONE ACTION TODAY

We know you are tired. We know it’s hard to keep fighting. That is what they are counting on. They want us to give up and go away. Don’t let them. You do not have to do everything below. Make one call. Send one email. Lodge a complaint. Help us demand transparency.

CALL THE CONSERVANCY
Communications/Media Relations: (562) 437-8555, extension 244

Ask:

“How many deer were killed during September and October? Is 670 accurate? Was a November 5 announcement published and then removed? Please release the count and the records supporting it.”

CALL OR EMAIL CDFW
Headquarters: (916) 445-0411

South Coast Region 5: (858) 467-4201

Email Region 5 Manager Erinn Wilson-Olgin: Erinn.Wilson-Olgin@wildlife.ca.gov

Email CDFW Director Meghan Hertel: director@wildlife.ca.gov

Email the dedicated Catalina project address: CatalinaRestoration@wildlife.ca.gov

You can say:

“I am asking CDFW to obtain and publicly release the number of deer killed on Catalina Island during September and October 2026. Is 670 accurate? If so, how does that square with the Conservancy’s representations about roughly 200 deer and an average hunting season? Please release the supporting records and provide a public accounting before any further killing.”

REQUEST THE RECORDS
Submit a public records request to CDFW

This is your right under California law. You can copy this:

“Please provide electronic copies of existing CDFW records showing the number of deer killed during the Catalina Island pre-removal assessment from September 1 through October 31, 2026, including count logs, contractor reports, and communications concerning the pre-removal assessment and counts of animals killed. 

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
Tell them you want oversight, a verified count, and a public explanation from CDFW before any further killing.

Find your California Assembly representative: https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers/find-my-rep

Find your U.S. House representative: 
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Contact your U.S. senators: 
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

HELP US KEEP FIGHTING IN COURT
Our legal fight continues. Please help fund it if you can. Donate to the legal fund here: https://givebutter.com/c/support-protection-for-catalina-island-deer-vhbtto

SHARE THE PETITION AND THIS UPDATE
https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-slaughter-of-mule-deer-on-catalina-island

Thank you for your support, dear supporters. We will keep you posted.