Nature Viewing

Westcoast Rainforest

The wet westcoast of Vancouver Island is dominated by its large trees, the Western Hemlock, Sitka Spruce and the Western Red Cedar.  The largest red cedar in the world with a circumference of 20 meters (61 feet) can be found on Meares Island.  Beneath the shade of these giants the ground is covered with Salal, huckleberry and Bleeding-heart.

For more information on the Westcoast Rainforest, go to:

http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/natcul/natcul1_e.asp

Wildlife

The forest is home to many birds, such as Winter Wrens and Varied Thrushes.  A seabird, the Marbled Murrelet, makes its nest in the forest canopy.

Deer, black bear, cougar, otters, minks, squirrels, bald eagles and more than 200 species of shore birds also inhabit the rugged area around Ucluelet.

A small red subspecies of cougars inhabit Vancouver Island.  They often feed on the populous small Black-tailed deer.  Minks are common in the area and feed on aquatic animals, amphibians, birds and small mammals.