They, along with cottontail rabbits, were released in the early 1900s for game purposes. They're overpopulated and destructive, but they're extra cute due to insular dwarfism and there's no political will to cull them.

The narrowest crossing to here from Vancouver Island, from one remote peninsula to another, is only about 700m. Elk, bears, and cougars can all swim it. A couple weeks ago, a ferry (not mine, sadly) had to stop dead in the water in order to not run down a swimming bear. Usually a couple young elk bucks show up in early spring, but swim back to the big island when they realize there are no does here. :)

Did you get blueberries last year? I remember reading reports on their ripening, but I don't recall whether you harvested.