In 1924, a movie crew left 14 bison on Catalina Island. Since then, the herd has grown, and the island’s small-knit community has embraced them.

You can find bison coffee mugs and calendars just about anywhere in town. The LA Times' Louis Sahagun writes there is a push to increase the bison population, but not everyone welcomes the news with open arms.

Even though bison attract many visitors, it has been not easy to see them these days.

“It’s been tough to find the bison since the Catalina Island Conservancy in 2009 decided to try and limit the herd, which scientists say were not healthy and were destroying the environment. Therefore, in 2009, they administered a birth control program that was supposed to reduce the herd by not allowing them to grow in numbers. Besides, it was supposed to have worn off after inoculation seized, but it didn’t. There hasn’t been a bison calf born on the island in seven years. And, the herd has shrunk to 100 animals that wander all around the island,” said Sahagun.

The conservancy has decided to try to grow the herd from 100 to around 150 to 180 bison.

“Two pregnant females will be brought to the island in December. Each one will have a calf in the spring, and that will be the beginning of resurgence they hope of animals that people will be able to see and enjoy,” added Sahagun.

However, the solution of adding more bison may not be as simple.

“The problem is that these animals did not grow there. They’re not happy bison there—don’t grow to their normal size, have lesions, and they’re emaciated. The island is prone to drought, which means they don’t get the nutrition they need because there isn’t enough grass to keep them healthy, as they would’ve been in places where they evolve like Yellowstone,” said Sahagun.

Concerns have been raised about the challenges the bison face.

“Some scientists who have worked with those bison worry about their health. Is this fair to them? Is this humane? There is also concern about native plants on the island that bison wallow in and destroy. These considerations are not being taken into account because the bison are money makers,” added Sahagun.

There are different opinions regarding the bison; the Catalina conservancy president and CEO Tony Budrovich say their core missions are conservation, education, and recreation.

“What’s next is that the herd is likely going to grow because it is so important to the local economy. A cultural dynamic in play here is that the people of Avalon--for better or worse—a defiant characteristic of their culture is a resistance to change. Therefore, the bison aren’t going anywhere, and some people are saying, 'that’s too bad,' because they are suffering,” said Sahagun.