UC police are working to ensure the tragedy that befell Bambi’s mother never happens again on UCSB property.

Four men were arrested for hunting and trespassing on UCSB’s Sedgwick Reserve on Sept. 21. Neng Vang, 38, Nam Yang Moua, 49, Richard Yang, 42, and Kao Ziong, 49, of Lompoc were stopped by UCSB police after they were seen on the reserve property.

All four men, who were carrying a deer they had killed, had their firearms confiscated and were given misdemeanor citations. The Daily Nexus was unable to contact the men by phone.

Hunting is illegal on the reserve, which spans a little less than 6,000 acres and boasts over 200 species of animal, including deer, red-tailed hawk, eagle, bear, skunk and California valley quail.

Officer Dan Massey of the UC Police Dept. said hunting is a frequent problem on the reserve due to the abundance of animals and its proximity to the Los Padres National Forest, where hunting is legal.

“Road hunters drive along the road, and if they see an animal, then they kill it,” he said.

Firearms are illegal on all University property, and the reserve is no exception.

“A high-power rifle bullet can travel the entire distance of the reserve without a problem,” Massey said.

Also, Massey said, because there is a small number of people who live on the reserve, it is especially important that no one shoot firearms.

“If you’re sitting in your living room and you have a bullet come through, that could potentially be a problem,” Massey said.

The Sedgwick Reserve, which was established in 1996, is located on the northern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley. The reserve is owned and run by UCSB and is known for its biological diversity and many different landscapes including savanna, grassland, woodland and vernal pools.

Massey said there can be more than 50 different research projects going on at one time on the reserve. The reserve also acts as a destination for field trips and recreational camping, and as a subject for artists.