The Catalina Island Conservancy is announcing broad community and leader support for Operation Protect Catalina Island, a science-based plan that combines conservation initiatives to safeguard rare native plants and wildlife by improving community safety, water security and wildfire prevention. 

Our island restoration work has earned support from more than 60 global and national conservation organizations, community groups and elected leaders, including U.S. Senator Adam Schiff and Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal.  

Operation Protect Catalina Island is a multi-plan effort to establish healthy land and water, bring back native plants and create balance for native species. Together, we can protect the people, livelihoods and native wildlife that depend on one of the most unique places on Earth. 

As a private land steward and non-profit protecting 88% of Catalina Island, the Conservancy has a duty to preserve the Island based on scientific evidence—especially when nearly 4,000 residents and 1.3 million annual visitors are at risk. Catalina faces a very real wildfire threat and there is no room for inaction. CAL FIRE designates the Island as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone–its highest level. 

Our conservation efforts aim to strengthen the Island’s resilience against wildfire and climate change. We recognize the connection many have to the invasive deer on the Island. This work, unfortunately, requires removing the non-native deer population to remove the cycle of wildfire risk. 

Some have suggested that invasive mule deer help reduce fire risk by consuming vegetation. Independent research shows the opposite and indicates that non-native mule deer devour native seedlings that resist fire, clearing the way for invasive, dry grasses that burn like gasoline. As a result, we continue to lose nature’s best defenses against devastating wildfires, putting lives, livelihoods, cultural heritage, the visitor economy and the Island’s only freshwater source at risk. 

We recognize the connection many have to the deer on the Island. This work, unfortunately, requires lethal removal of the invasive deer population to best protect the Island. Alternative options have been exhaustively reviewed. With 42 years of hunting data, recreational hunting has not controlled the population. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife director confirmed that relocation causes fatal capture stress and disease risks, while sterilization is not feasible across 48,000 rugged acres. 

“No one enters the field of conservation wanting to make these difficult decisions,” said Whitney Latorre, President and CEO of the Conservancy. “But our responsibility is to preserve what’s irreplaceable—the rare wildlife, the native ecosystems and the community that call this Island home. There is no other option.” 

January’s fires in Palisades and Altadena remind us of the urgency. The Island’s future depends on the actions we take today. 

Want to learn more? Attend our Community Conversations: Operation Protect Catalina Island on Tuesday, Oct. 14, or visit catalinaconservancy.org/protect.