Large animals native to the island consist of only a small variant of the black-tailed Sitka deer. Unlike neighbouring islands and the mainland, Texada does not have any predatory mammals such wolves, cougars or bears. As a result, the deer population is dense compared to most neighbouring areas, and they are frequently seen along the island's roads. The high deer population also has made Texada a popular hunting location in the fall. raccoons and rats have been accidentally introduced to the island. Garter snakes are common in all areas and fresh water turtles exist in small quantities in some of the island's lakes. Large birds such as bald eagles, turkey vultures, ravens and various species of hawk are plentiful in the area.