PORT TOWNSEND — Bill Ferrell, a Franklin Street resident with a home across from the Jefferson Courthouse, sees deer herds wandering by his front yard daily.
Every once in awhile Ferrell pulls a fawn out of his fence when a young animal traps its head in the wire mesh.
“They are stupid,” Ferrell said. “They’ve lost their instincts and there is way too many of them.”
Ferrell is not bothered by the animals, however.
“But my wife gets mad because they eat all the flowers up,” he added.
Residents in more densely populated neighborhoods expect to encounter urban wildlife, and they brake for deer, ducks and errant sea otters.
It’s common to spot deer crossing busy East Sims Way near the ferry terminal or an otter slinking across Water Street.
Uptown residents often encounter large raccoons exploring the contents of their garbage cans in broad daylight. Sometimes coyotes snap up cats, small dogs and chickens.
“There is very little that we can do,” City Manager David Timmons said.
“Nature has its own way of controlling them. As the city develops we are going to see more encounters.”
With more parts of the city being zoned for development, animals that live in parks within the city limits will become more exposed, Timmons said.
