Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn urges Gov. Gavin Newsom to halt mule deer cull on Catalina Island

Thousands of mule deer on Catalina Island could begin being killed as early as Tuesday under a newly active state permit, prompting Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn to make a last-minute appeal to Gov. Gavin Newsom to stop the controversial eradication plan.

Hahn, a longtime opponent of eliminating the island's deer population, sent Newsom a letter Monday urging him to suspend or revoke the permit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued before culling begins.

“Tomorrow, these deer could begin to be killed, and once they are gone, they are gone forever,” Hahn said. “Governor Newsom can still stop this, and I am asking him to act.”

Newsom's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Catalina Island Conservancy argues that removing the non-native mule deer is necessary to protect the island's native plants and restore its ecosystem.

Hahn said she supports that broader conservation goal but believes completely eliminating the deer could have unintended consequences — including potentially increasing Catalina's wildfire risk.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Tony Marrone has warned Hahn that the deer consume vegetation that could otherwise become fuel for wildfires, according to the supervisor's office.

Hahn pointed to nearby Santa Rosa Island, where deer were eliminated years ago and a wildfire burned more than 18,000 acres earlier this year.

“Santa Rosa Island is unpopulated, but Catalina is home to nearly 4,000 people, with thousands more visitors,” Hahn said. “We should not ignore our own Fire Chief's warning that removing the deer could increase wildfire danger.”

Rather than wiping out the population, Hahn is calling for officials to consider maintaining a smaller, managed herd.

She said former Catalina Island Conservancy leaders have told her the island could support a population of roughly 200 deer while still allowing conservation efforts to continue.

“I share the goal of protecting Catalina's unique ecosystem, but protecting Catalina does not have to mean killing every deer,” Hahn said. “There are alternatives, and we should exhaust them before making an irreversible decision.”

Opponents of the eradication plan are also fighting it in court. A coalition seeking to block the cull has filed a lawsuit, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

Hahn separately criticized the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for issuing the permit under an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act.

With the permit now active, Hahn said Newsom represents one of the remaining avenues for opponents seeking to halt the plan before they kill deer.

“Please suspend or revoke this permit and give California the opportunity to take another look at whether total eradication is truly necessary — and whether we can protect Catalina's ecosystem without eliminating its deer,” Hahn wrote.