Thousands of deer to be killed on Catalina Island and why itll stop wildfires

It could soon be bye-bye, Bambi on Catalina Island.Nearly all of the popular SoCal tourist spot’s roughly 2,000 mule deer are set to be killed under a controversial plan designed to save native plants — and make the wildfire-prone day-trip destination less combustible.A Los Angeles County judge on Tuesday tentatively rejected opponents’ attempt to block the massacre, clearing the way for the Catalina Island Conservancy to begin culling the herd, The Guardian reported.The nonprofit — which controls 88% of the island —  has plans to wipe out most of the deer population over five years.An estimated 200 animals are expected to be hunted with rifles over the next two months.The deer may be a beloved fixture around Catalina — including in downtown Avalon — but scientists say their appetite for native shrubs has helped invasive grasses take over parts of the island.Those grasses ignite more easily and allow flames to spread faster than the native vegetation they replace, according to Anna L.

Jacobsen, a plant biologist at California State University, Bakersfield.Jacobsen, who studied the island’s ecosystem following major fires in 2006 and 2007, told The Guardian that native plants already threatened by climate change cannot regenerate quickly enough when they are repeatedly eaten by deer.As the shrubs disappear, they are replaced by the more flammable invasive grasses.The problem began about a century ago, when hunters introduced mule deer to Catalina to hunt for sport.The population eventually swelled into the thousands despite droughts and decades of regular hunting seasons.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Max Moritz, a wildfire specialist who advises California state and local governments, told the outlet that removing the deer...