Yet, in an article written by Rick Travis the Director of Government Affairs at CALIFORNIA RIFLE AND PISTOL ASSOCIATION, in the October 2025 California Globe, Rick Travis states “Compounding the opposition is a damning critique from an unlikely source: L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. With a fire station on Catalina, Marrone knows the island’s blaze-prone landscape intimately. In a statement to Hahn’s office, he directly challenged one of the Conservancy’s key justifications—that deer exacerbate wildfire risks by promoting dry grass growth. “I believe mule deer do not pose a fire hazard,” Marrone asserted, calling out the claim as a falsehood unsupported by data from his department’s operations. His words cut through the Conservancy’s narrative, highlighting how fearmongering about fires—especially amid California’s escalating climate crisis—distracts from real threats like drought, invasive grasses, and inadequate fuel management.
Marrone’s intervention is particularly poignant given Catalina’s fire history. The island has endured devastating blazes, including the 2007 fire that scorched thousands of acres. Yet, years of firefighting records show no correlation between deer presence and increased ignition or spread risks. Instead, experts point to factors like eucalyptus trees and cheatgrass—both human-introduced—as far greater culprits. By debunking this myth, Marrone underscores a broader truth: Eradication won’t “save” the island from fires; collaborative, science-based restoration will.”
