Alaska Fish & Game moves Sitka black‑tailed deer to Kenai Peninsula

In September‑October 2025 the Alaska Department of Fish & Game translocated 19 Sitka black‑tailed deer (14 does, 5 bucks) from Sitkinak Island to the south end of the Kenai Peninsula near Port Chatham. The animals were held briefly in a soft‑release pen, fitted with GPS collars and then released to provide future hunting opportunities and food security for Alaskans. Monitoring shows most deer stayed within five miles of each other; one doe swam to a nearby island and lived there for almost two months. Thirteen mortalities have been confirmed – two drownings, a coyote predation, a case of non‑infectious pneumonia, hypothermia and other causes – with the most recent death recorded in late July. As of 28 July, two does and three bucks remain collared, while one buck’s collar was lost. The department plans to move an additional 15‑20 deer, primarily does, this fall using the same net‑gunning helicopter method. No fawns have been observed yet, though surveys continue.