Kayakers attacked by seals again
Readers of the Making Tracks column will remember one of the Sheriff`s favourite stories: the seal attack in the Broughton Archipelago. For those who don’t remember this frightening 2014 story, a brief summary is repeated below. The reason for repeating it is a new attack. As well, there's a followup to the latest confrontation.
First: the original encounter (slightly edited) published July 12, 2014.
When a group of Kelowna kayakers asked the Sheriff to act as their leader in exploring Broughton Archipelago Provincial Marine Park, he joked: “We won't have to go looking for critters; they're going to come to us.”
That silly promise came back to haunt the Sheriff on Canada Day as we were going through a narrow channel between two small islands in the Canoe Islets northeast of Telegraph Cove on the northern tip of Vancouver Island.
As we drifted through the channel, a large seal head popped out of the water on our left, followed by a smaller seal head. After the “Oh, aren’t they cute?” comments, paddling buddy Holly held her right hand over the right side of her kayak and said with a laugh: “I want the seal to come up right here.” Within a few seconds, she was staring down into big brown eyes. Then the momma seal disappeared underwater again.
“Be careful what you wish for," the Sheriff advised as we all laughed about the close encounter. “We are looking for whales, after all.”
However, less than a minute later, the seal smashed into the right side of the Sheriff's kayak. As he turned toward the loud bang, he saw the thick body of the seal halfway out of the water and felt its jaws clamp onto the jacket covering his right shoulder. Fortunately, he was wearing a PFD under the jacket.
"I was just attacked by that seal," he told everyone. When several expressed disbelief, he turned and showed them the rip in the back of his jacket, a jagged hole which was, no doubt, the result of considerable force.
We quickly paddled out of the channel. But when we paused a short distance away, the same two seal heads popped out of the water. So we wasted no time in making a quick departure.
Afterward, several paddlers noted the Sheriff has the widest and most stable of the seven kayaks. If the seal had attacked anyone else, that kayak might have capsized.
During many years of paddling on the B.C. coast, this was the first time anyone in our group had experienced such an attack. Other paddlers we met along the way were shocked and surprised as well.
However, the next day when visiting Village Island, we met Brad, a guide from North Island Kayak in Telegraph Cove. After relating our experience, he said a similar encounter happened to his buddy, Joel, in the same area the previous year (2013).
Joel was paddling through the same narrow channel in a kayak with his spare paddle tied to the deck behind him. Without warning, a seal jumped onto his rear deck and “was thrashing about” on top of the paddle, perhaps trying to get at him.
An experienced paddler, Joel immediately braced his kayak (using his paddle in the water to keep him upright) so he wouldn’t end up face-to-face with the seal in the seal’s watery territory.
The seal eventually slid off and Joel immediately paddled out of the channel. The paddle with bite marks was still displayed in the North Island Kayak shop in 2014.
We laughed, somewhat nervously, suggesting BC Parks erect signs at the channel entrances warning of an aggressive seal, much like its bear warning signs at trailheads.
Although there were jokes about the Sheriff's black jacket and white kayak resembling an orca, we speculated it was a mother protecting her offspring or guarding her turf.
It was yet another reminder that all of these creatures are wild animals and we are venturing into their home. Caution is always advised.
Second: a news release email forwarded to the Sheriff this week from a kayaking buddy in Nanaimo.
BC Marine Trails received a serious report yesterday (not directly from party that was attacked). On July 9, a harbour seal attacked a group of four experienced kayakers in the Canoe Islets area of the Broughton Archipelago.
The group was paddling through a narrow channel in the Canoe Islets when the seal jumped on the deck of one of their kayaks. The individual knocked the seal off the boat and then it circled around from behind and jumped out of the water biting one paddler on their side just below the arm, puncturing the dry suit and capsizing the individual.
Two members of the group came to rescue their friend. One was bitten on the arm by the seal, the bite puncturing their skin. Another member suddenly noticed the seal lunging up toward the face of another paddler but was able to yell in time so that the individual it was coming towards could hit the seal with their paddle. It finally left them alone.
The person who was originally attacked also injured their knee at some point during the encounter…
There have been two other reports of attacks in this same area, in 2013 and 2014.
The circumstances that led to the attack are unclear; there was no evidence of pups in the area. Those recreating or paddling in this area should remain cautious. Never approach marine wildlife and report any incidents to the appropriate regulatory body.
When the Sheriff received the news release email, he thought back to his 2014 suggestion for a sign or other warning at the Canoe Islets. So he emailed a copy of the 2014 column to Paul Grey, BCMT president.
"I think a sign would have to be at the launch site(s). Unlikely people would see signs on the water. North Island Kayak should be able to put up a notice. Easy to print something off. I believe this falls in Broughton Archipelago Provincial Park so it would be BC Parks you contact. I will drop Craig Meding, BC Parks West Coast liaison, a note.”
Bruce McMorran at Paddlers Inn, who helped transport us in 2014, said by email: “I have been telling all the paddlers I come across," McMorran responded.
A copy of that email also went to North Island Kayak.
“I am aware of an incident with a seal in the general vicinity of the information being shared on Facebook. However, the story shared with us differs from what I have read online. Are you aware if the incident has been reported to the local BC Parks representative or conservation officer? They may be best equipped to provide advice to the general public. While I am not opposed to having information posted, I am not prepared to detail second-hand events or possibly misleading information/advice.”
Another copy went to journalist John Kimantas. The Nanaimo resident is the editor and owner of Coast & Kayak Magazin and author of the Wild Coast series and the BC Coastal Recreation and Kayaking and Small Boats Atlas series.
“I’m aware of it, but it’s sort of a social media thing at this point for us. I’m not sure what a sign might accomplish … Beware of everything' would be most appropriate!”
And finally (through Grey) word from BC Parks’ Craig Meding: "A situation report has been prepared in response to the seal attack and the Director notified … A notice will be posted on our website regarding the attack.”
And Meding did (env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/broughton/): “Attention Visitors … aggressive harbour seal in the Canoe Islets area. BC Parks has received a report of a harbour seal attacking a group of four sea kayakers in the vicinity of Canoe Islets (just to the west of Cedar Island). Though harbour seal attacks do occur, this is not seen as typical behaviour, but does happen from time to time.”
***** Somewhere in the passage of time, someone came up with the moniker, Kettle Valley Rail Trail. It apparently refers to CPR’s Carmi subdivision.
The KVR Cycle Tours website, kettlevalleyrailtrail.com/resources/cycling-the-kvr/, says: “The Kettle Valley Rail Trail extends from Midway in the east to Brodie in the west, with spurs connecting to Grand Forks east of Midway, Merritt north of Brodie and to Hope south of Brodie. There is also a spur route from the middle of the trail in Penticton to Osoyoos in the south. This (web)site focuses on the Carmi subdivision which runs from Midway to Penticton, and also includes the spur routes to Grand Forks and Osoyoos.”
The Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is also focused on this 215-kilometre stretch from Midway/Mile 0 to Penticton. In a Facebook post this week, TOTA president and CEO Glenn Mandziuk announced a new development.'
“TOTA and our partners are committed to developing the KVRT into a world-class, export-ready rail trail tourism experience. The rail trails were a significant part of the past and we know they can play a major role in the future. The first priority in this effort is focusing on the segment of trail from Midway at Mile 0 to Little Tunnel near Penticton.
“TOTA, in partnership with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, are moving forward with the preparation of a master plan for the Midwayto-Penticton segment of the KVRT over the next six months.
“The master plan will be focused on determining what needs to be done along the trail and with the management of the current trail use in order to optimize its tourism potential while also improving the recreational experience for local users,” he said.
Development of the plan will be a collaborative effort, he said, adding McElhanney Consulting Services will lead the planning process.
"They are experienced trail, outdoor recreation and tourism planners, and will help ensure the planning process is collaborative and lead to an outcome that will help see the fullest tourism potential of the trail."
TOTA’s Mike Overend, destination development program specialist, is co-ordinating the effort.
A TOTA study tallied all the walking and cycling users between Chute Lake and Myra parking lot from April to November 2016 at 305,000 visitors.
“There are some people who doubt the complete accuracy of that report, however, we have moved forward with those numbers, trusting the data we received was accurate. However, the numbers that were being reported before were only in the summer months, only between certain hours of the day, and only for Myra Canyon, and those numbers would vary as high as 70,000-plus users. What we found in the study was most users were on the trail in September and October, therefore a good segment of usership was not being reported before,” he told the Sheriff.
“The 300K visitors is based on cell tower cellphone hits," explained Denis Davis, president of the Kelowna-based group which maintains the Myra Canyon.
"The Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society counters, adjusted for people going part-way and then turning around, or going all the way through to Chute Lake and beyond, is about 70,000 visitors per year. 2018 was slow starting because of the late melt and snow on the trail with 6,300 visitors in May. We would expect the June count will be up around 11,000 visitors. Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest days."
“We expect the visitor count to keep rising … The trail through Myra Canyon is in good shape and a pleasure to walk or ride."
TOTA isn’t focused on the KVRT to the exclusion of other rail trail recreation opportunities, emphasized Overend.
“We are keeping our sights on the northern portion of the rail trails in our region. I have been in contact with Andrew Gibbs from the Okanagan Rail Trail, and I keep regular contact with the Shuswap Trail Alliance.”
J.P. Squire, aka the Hiking, Biking, Kayaking and Horseback Riding Sheriff, is a retired Okanagan Weekend reporter. Email: jp.squire@telus.net.