The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted against a plan to eliminate Catalina Island’s mule deer population through aerial sharpshooting, citing concerns about the method’s inhumanity and potential danger to the public. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is currently reviewing a permit application for the program, which aims to address environmental damage caused by the deer. The board recommends exploring alternative herd reduction strategies, such as sterilization, birth control, relocation, and extended hunting. While the Catalina Island Conservancy maintains that other options are ineffective, island residents and organizations widely oppose the eradication plan due to its ethical and cultural implications.