Is there bear risk?
The good news is that Vancouver Island has no Grizzly bears. The bad news is spelled out in the Federation of Mountain Clubs brochure, Walking the Wild West Coast. The Nootka Trail.
Most Nootka hikers see black bears. All will see bear tracks. If you are concerned bring bear spray & noise makers.
We saw no bears on our August 2001 trip but there were plenty of tracks on the beach. Don’t leave your packs out in the open, even for a few moments. (Take it to the toilet with you if you don’t have someone to watch it.)
An emergency whistle (or other bear paraphernalia) might give you peace of mind. If you are still concerned, stick together while hiking as bears are much less likely to approach a group than a solo hiker.
In sections of the trail where you might surprise a bear, clap, shout, sing, or give a short blast of your emergency whistle before turning blind corners.
In 2002, contributor Peter Gumplinger <gum@triumf.ca> and spouse saw six (6!) black bears within 20 minutes between Calvin Falls & Bajo Point. Two ran off, but the third and fourth bear did not move despite shouting & whistling. All were feeding in the seaweed on the beach.
MEC advice on avoiding bear problems.
More information on black bears.
At night you absolutely MUST hang food out of reach of animals, including bears. Hang your rope as soon as you arrive at the campsite to avoid having to get the rope up in the dark. It can be difficult to find a good tree in some spots.
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Hanging food off an overhanging cliff.
Ticks? Lyme disease?
We have heard very little regarding ticks on the Nootka, nor have we seen any.
But West Coast Trail hikers have been bitten, and some have even contracted Lyme disease from ticks.
The western black-legged tick lives in vegetation on the coastal areas of Vancouver Island and along the mainland from the U.S. border to Powell River. Its range extends eastward along the Fraser River to Hope and north to Boston Bar.
 The ticks are tiny and may go undetected. Be attentive. The tick must remain on your skin for 24 hours or more before there is any risk of Lyme disease.
The bite is often painful and may result in a slow-healing ulcer. In rare cases, some western black-legged ticks carry bacteria that may cause Lyme disease, with symptoms such as a red skin rash, fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat, and swollen glands. Lyme disease may not be diagnosed for years after infection! Vaccines are in development but were not yet perfected by 2003.
Advice:
Wear long pants and a long-sleeved
shirt. Tuck pants into socks, and shirt
into pants. (Spraying insect repellent
containing DEET on your pants may
help repel ticks.)
Avoid walking or resting in areas
overgrown with vegetation.
Closely examine your body and clothes
for ticks.
Remove ticks immediately upon
discovery.
Call the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and
Food (toll free 1 888 221-7141) or
check the Ministry's Web site for more
information on ticks.
Is there wolf risk?
At least half the hikers on the Nootka in 2001 saw the lone wolf — one who roams up & down the beach. At the shack at Calvin Creek hikers were approached directly in daylight. They had to yell & throw stones to chase the wolf away. (This is recommended behaviour when facing a fearless wolf.) The wolf may have been fed by hikers in the past. Don’t make this mistake — a fed wolf is a dead wolf.
In 1999 Peter Gumplinger and crew were roused at night by fearless wolves while camping at Callicum Creek. They suspected the wolves had urinated near their tents!
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Is there cougar risk?
We’ve not seen a cougar on the Nootka. They are elusive, avoiding people. You will probably see tracks on the beach but you’d be very fortunate to see a cougar.
The risk of attack by cougar is minuscule. It’s interesting, however, that near half the cougar attacks ever recorded in North America have been on Vancouver Island. Stay vigilant.
More information on cougars.
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Are there any dangerous snakes?
No, none. There are plenty of garter snakes; friendly creatures, often with yellow or red stripes running the length of the body. (genus Thamnophis)
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Is there PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning) risk?
Yes. Don’t take a chance on eating mussels or any other shellfish from the sea. There was red tide off-and-on throughout the summer of ‘99. Many on the west coast have died from PSP. If you were to be stricken, medical care is far away.
Don’t use the months which have an R in them rule. If you want to check on PSP closures call the Department of fisheries & Oceans’ 24 hour line 604 666-2828 or check the Fisheries & Oceans Canada web site.
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This page last revised Monday, October 3, 2005
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