Protection Island (Washington)
Encyclopedia
Protection Island is an island lying in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
just north of Discovery Bay
in northeastern Jefferson County, Washington
, USA. The island has a land area of 1.534 km² (379.11 acres). It is a Federally-protected National Wildlife Refuge; boats are not permitted within 200 yards (183 m) for the safety and health of wildlife on and near the shores. There is only one individual still living on the island not associated with the government, an inholder named Marty Bluewater who has lifetime use of his cabin on the island's southern bluffs. The island also houses a caretaker, a volunteer hired by the Fish and Wildlife department to watch over the island, and take care of its many inhabitants. Individuals interested in serving as caretaker should contact the National wildlife refuge system office in Port Angeles for more information.
Protection Island is known for its breeding colony of Tufted Puffin
, rhinoceros auklets, and seagulls, one of the few such locations south of British Columbia to serve as a home for so many birds. It is on the flyway
for many migrating birds. Seals (harbor and elephant), sea lions, orcas, and other cetaceans are often seen nearby.
Boat trips from nearby Port Townsend, Washington
provide ecotourism
visits for viewing wildlife from the adjacent waters.
Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to find the island. In 1790 it was given the name Isla de Carrasco, in honor of Juan Carrasco
. It was given its present name by George Vancouver
in 1792.
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water about long that is the Salish Sea outlet to the Pacific Ocean...
just north of Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay, Washington
Discovery Bay is:* A small bay adjoining the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State; this body of water was also historically called Port Discovery...
in northeastern Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after Thomas Jefferson. As of 2010, the population was 29,872. The county seat is at Port Townsend, which is also the county's only incorporated city....
, USA. The island has a land area of 1.534 km² (379.11 acres). It is a Federally-protected National Wildlife Refuge; boats are not permitted within 200 yards (183 m) for the safety and health of wildlife on and near the shores. There is only one individual still living on the island not associated with the government, an inholder named Marty Bluewater who has lifetime use of his cabin on the island's southern bluffs. The island also houses a caretaker, a volunteer hired by the Fish and Wildlife department to watch over the island, and take care of its many inhabitants. Individuals interested in serving as caretaker should contact the National wildlife refuge system office in Port Angeles for more information.
Protection Island is known for its breeding colony of Tufted Puffin
Tufted Puffin
The Tufted Puffin also known as Crested Puffin, is a relatively abundant medium-sized pelagic seabird in the auk family found throughout the North Pacific Ocean....
, rhinoceros auklets, and seagulls, one of the few such locations south of British Columbia to serve as a home for so many birds. It is on the flyway
Flyway
A flyway is a flight path used in bird migration. Flyways generally span over continents and often oceans.-Flyways of the Americas:*Atlantic Flyway*Central Flyway*Mississippi Flyway*Pacific Flyway*Allegheny Front...
for many migrating birds. Seals (harbor and elephant), sea lions, orcas, and other cetaceans are often seen nearby.
Boat trips from nearby Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
provide ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
visits for viewing wildlife from the adjacent waters.
Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to find the island. In 1790 it was given the name Isla de Carrasco, in honor of Juan Carrasco
Juan Carrasco (explorer)
Juan Carrasco was a Spanish naval officer, explorer, and navigator. He is remembered mainly for his work in the Pacific Northwest during the late 18th century. He was second in command of the 1791 voyage of José María Narváez, the first European exploration of the Strait of Georgia.Many details...
. It was given its present name by George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
in 1792.