Judge orders cull of 2,500 mule deer introduced to Catalina Island in 1920s
Catalina Island's mule deer, released in the late 1920s, now pose serious threats to local flora and contribute to increased wildfire risks. In response, conservation leaders have outlined a contentious strategy to significantly reduce the mule deer population. Following a legal challenge that was dismissed by a judge, the cull is set to commence, aimed at preserving the island's natural…
In the 1920s, mule deer were introduced to the Californian island of Santa Catalina, but their population has since ballooned to nearly 2,500 individuals. Native to Southern California, these animals thrived without natural predators on Catalina, leading to a rapid expansion of the herd and a severe threat to the island's native flora.
Now, a controversial plan to cull 2,500 of the animals has been approved by a Los Angeles County judge, aiming to preserve the island's ecosystem and reduce the wildfire risk. The initiative, spearheaded by the Catalina Island Conservancy, calls for the hunting of most of the deer population over a span of five years, with only a limited number to be sterilized.
The remaining deer will be subject to one final hunting season, with the harvested meat donated to local tribal groups or utilized in conservation efforts.
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