Catalina Island Conservancy

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The Catalina Island Conservancy (CIC) ^[1] is a nonprofit organization established to protect and conserve Santa Catalina Island, California. CIC was established in 1972 through the efforts of the Wrigley and Offield families. CIC was created when both families deeded 42,135 acres of the island over to the organization.

The stated goal of the CIC is to keep Santa Catalina Island wild by promoting preservation and restoration efforts based on sound science. Due to so many efforts in the past to capitalize on the island many invasive flora and fauna were introduced which the CIC either removes or mitigates the impact of. On one occasion the introduction or reactivation of existing distemper nearly wiped out the Catalina Island fox. The CIC, in cooperation with The Institute for Wildlife Studies vaccinated the remaining fox population against distemper.

Due to this outbreak The US Fish and Wildlife Service declared the Catalina Island fox an endangered sub-species.

Due to the impact of fauna on island flora CIC is reluctant to take any action against invasive species without first subjecting the problem to rigorous study. At one point the collection of Bison imported onto the island was under consideration, but through study the organization determined that if the bison population were kept to between one hundred fifty and two hundred head they are actually beneficial to the island.