WASHINGTON — The owners of deer and elk on Santa Rosa Island condemned Congress on Tuesday for moving to overturn a federal law and force the non-native animals off of the federal parkland.

Vail & Vickers, the company that owns the herds, said that rescinding the year-old law that allowed the deer and elk to stay on the island permanently "is not in the best interests of these magnificent animals."

"To put it bluntly, the countdown to their demise begins if the president signs this bill," the company said in a statement. "Let us be clear, next fall over 300 of these creatures will be needlessly shot in accord with the terms of a legal settlement driven by extreme interests. This will continue for four years."

Language that would repeal the law and allow for the herds' removal is included in a $516 billion, end-of-year spending bill before Congress.

The Senate approved the bill Tuesday night by a 76-17 vote. The House approved the legislation Monday night by a 253-154 vote.

Lawmakers have been battling over the future of the 400 deer and 700 elk for more than two years, when California Congressman Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, began pushing legislation that would allow them to remain on the island.

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