Request to Suspend Catalina Island Deer Eradication and Evaluate Science-Based Non-Lethal Alternatives

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Dear Directors Hertel & Termini,

Congratulations, Director Hertel, on your appointment as Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

I am writing to respectfully urge you to suspend implementation of the recently approved permit authorizing the killing of Catalina Island’s entire mule deer population over the next five years and to direct CDFW to formally evaluate science-based, non-lethal alternatives.

The Catalina Island Conservancy argues eradication is necessary to restore native vegetation and protect rare plants, citing seedling loss, soil degradation, erosion risk, and vulnerability to drought and wildfire. However, peer-reviewed ecological literature consistently shows that contraceptives and habitat protection are effective. 

The claim that fertility control is not feasible for Catalina’s deer is directly contradicted by decades of peer-reviewed research demonstrating that immunocontraception can successfully reduce free-ranging ungulate populations when applied consistently.

These findings directly challenge the assertion that fertility control is “logistically impossible,” particularly given that contraception has already been implemented on Catalina for another non-native ungulate.

Catalina’s bison—also introduced by humans and also damaging native vegetation—were not slated for eradication. Instead, in 2009, the Conservancy began administering birth control to the herd. The last calf was born in 2013, demonstrating that fertility control worked on this very island. The bison were allowed to remain largely because they are a tourist attraction, and in 2020, they even considered importing more bison. What changed? 

This differential treatment raises serious concerns about consistency in science-based management. If fertility control were feasible and acceptable for bison, it deserves equal consideration for deer.

After nearly a century of hunting these animals—and after humans created this situation in the first place—we owe it to the deer to manage their population responsibly. From both ecological and One Health perspectives, fertility control combined with habitat protection offers a more durable, lower-risk path forward.

I respectfully ask that CDFW:

1. Suspend implementation of the current deer kill permit.

2. Convene an independent scientific review of fertility control and integrated habitat management options.

3. Publicly release feasibility modeling comparing lethal and non-lethal strategies.

4. Ensure meaningful public participation before irreversible actions proceed.

California has long positioned itself as a leader in conservation and innovation. This decision presents an opportunity to demonstrate that leadership by choosing approaches that are effective, evidence-based, and consistent across species, in alignment with societal expectations. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

Crystal Heath, DVM
Executive Director, Our Honor
Los Angeles, California
www.ourhonor.org

Katherine James

Erin Zamzow DVM

Lynn A. Freudenberg

Alison Hoffman

Erica Camp

Ellen Kessler

Thomas Bentley

Kim Bartlett

Christopher Berry

Sumi Folz

Monica Ramirez, MVZ

Toshiro Suo

Monique Scudder

James Wagner

Chrissy Laughlin

Jennie Walker Knoot

Paige Gaede

Theresa Siskind

Angela Yablonski

Misti Reif

Cynthia Morgan D’Atrio, Ph.D.

Teresa Johnson

Alex Harris

Kevin Cisney

Teresa Schumacher, DVM

Erik White

Holly Shaftel

Maichael Coolen

Klara Sorensen

Ruta Soltanpour, CCA

Jennifer Montanez

Cynthia Quezada

Kathy Howard

Moira Kirland

Laura Sminkey

John C Sherman-Jones

Sian Whitehead

Mark Barnett

Robin Cochran

Ariana Azoulai

Bracher Verena

Hayley Deeken

Alison Dice

Scott Beckstead

Nancy D'Cruz

Yvonne Legrice

David Kirk

Leigh Kirk DVM

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