Save Catalina Deer from Brutal Slaughter

Catalina Island Deer Are Facing Slaughter and Need Your Help. Please support our Deer Defense Fund!

Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California is home to a resident mule deer population that is an integral part of the Catalina experience for residents, visitors, and responsible hunters—the hundreds of thousands of people who enjoy this island paradise each year. They are now in EXTREME DANGER.

THE THREAT - The Catalina Island Conservancy, a deep-pocketed, EXTREME conservation organization (plants vs. people and everything else mentality) has proposed a radical and inhumane plan to slaughter 100% of the deer using a combination of assault rifles shot from helicopters and the equally heinous "net-and-bolt" method where a bolt is driven through a terrified deer's brain. This net-and-bolt method would be used within the city limits of the local community of Avalon! Residents were not consulted about the plan, and are vehemently opposed along with large swaths of business owners, our responsible hunting community, animal welfare groups and many other visitors.

The Conservancy has applied for a broad permit, that IF approved, would allow them to slaughter all of the deer on the island, and in the future, take any other actions that they unilaterally decide would hinder their conservation efforts—without any community or outside scientific input or oversight. This environmental EXTREMISM and decision-making by people who are newcomers or don't even live on the island doesn't consider the historical, cultural, spiritual, and economic value of deer that have been successfully managed through responsible hunting and have coexisted with the people and the plants on the island for more than 100 years!

SECRETS AND LIES - The Conservancy has acted in secret and FAILED to meaningfully engage with the public or get input. In fact, the new CEO revealed they purposely avoided input! The Conservancy has spread LIES about the "danger" of the deer, and pretended that there are no humane alternatives to keeping there population in check. Which there are!

And as the Conservancy lies that the deer are "sick" and "starving" and so need to be eliminated, hunters consistently report the "lowest density of deer" and the "healthiest deer" they've EVER seen on the Island! At a recent City Council meeting, the Conservancy spilled the truth: they just don't WANT to manage the deer. "We are a conservation organization, not a hunting organization!" declared their chief conservationist, in one fell swoop insulting and belittling the many thousands of responsible hunters who have come to Catalina for decades, and who well understand that responsible hunting is integral to conservation efforts nationwide!

WHO ARE WE? - We are the Coalition to Stop the Slaughter of Catalina Deer. Who is this Coalition? Island residents, visitors, attorneys, hunting associations, and other concerned, action-oriented citizens who are taking a STAND against this plan. In fact more than HALF OF THE VOTING POPULATION of Catalina Island have vehemently opposed the Conservancy's plan on social media, through letters and by signing our petition at Change.org, here (circle back and sign please if you haven't.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-slaughter-of-mule-deer-on-catalina-island

Since organizing, the Coalition has attracted more than 11,000 like-minded people, spearheaded a letter-writing campaign to public officials: created bumper stickers, signage, and organized extremely effective protests. Our legal team has let us know that we have already moved the needle and slowed the permit process down.

But we truly need your help to win this fight for our deer!

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT — We have attracted an incredible team of volunteer professionals who have donated tens of thousands of dollars in services for FREE. But now we know we will need to raise money to continue to wage and win this fight.

We will appreciate every single contribution and will put it to excellent use for legal, collateral materials and other professional services. You can support us right this minute through this Go Fund Me Campaign for our Deer Defense Fund. Your gift will be held in an account restricted to use by the Coalition to win this fight to save our Catalina deer!

Thank you for whatever help you may be able to provide!

Also, if you haven't already, we urge you to sign our Change.org petition so we can provide you with easy-to-follow updates and ACTION STEPS you can take NOW to continue to help! Sign on here:

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-slaughter-of-mule-deer-on-catalina-island

We are deeply grateful for your support!

Your friends at the Coalition Against the Slaughter of Catalina Deer