New conservation plan seeks to shoot Catalina's deer on the ground instead of from helicopters

Catalina Island Conservancy plans to eliminate some 2,000 nonnative deer using contracted hunters, after abandoning a controversial plan using helicopters.

The conservancy says deer heighten wildfire risk by eating native vegetation.

Conservationists say removing deer is crucial for protecting endemic species, while opponents call for alternatives such as expanded recreational hunting, relocation or sterilization.

Santa Catalina Island’s mule deer are back in the crosshairs.

This month, the California Island Conservancy announced a plan to rid the landscape of its entire nonnative deer population using contracted hunters, saying the animals increase the risk of wildfire.

Last year, the conservancy — which manages 88% of the island — scrapped a proposal to shoot the deer from helic