Tweeters:

The number of deer on Protection Island surprises me. Yesterday I spoke
with the F&W caretaker on the island who described sighting 22 deer approx.
2 weeks ago. His count had 11 bucks, 6 does & 5 fawns. One would have to
assume a resident population. Obviously the skills of deer as swimmers and
advantagous prevailing currents have contributed to this population. Will
the total lack of predators have an effect on the sex ratio of this group?
Is it correct to assume that the large # of males there has anything to do
with predation on the mainland?

P. Badame
Port Townsend Marine Science Center