"A Necessary Sacrifice": Catalina Island's Deer Culling Raises Questions About Coexistence and Conservation The recent decision to cull nearly 2,000 mule deer on Catalina Island has sparked a heated debate about the island's unique ecosystem and the delicate balance between conservation and human coexistence.
The decision is rooted in the ecological context: for decades, the non native deer population has been ravaging native shrubs, which are already struggling to survive due to climate change.
This has led to the proliferation of invasive grasses that spread fire quickly and easily, posing a significant threat to biodiversity and human safety.