Island Hazards

• Paddling Safety
• Big Ships, Little Boats
• In-Water Survival
• Island Hazards
• Mooring
• Safety on the Trail
• Tying It All Together - Three Great Knots For Use Out On The Trail
• Weather

While your arrival on an island may mean that boating hazards are temporarily behind you, there are still several nuisances, dangers and safety threats to be aware of once you are onshore. Maine Island Trail users should be mindful of the following while using the islands:

Tricky terrain

Take extra care when walking on seaweed-covered ledges and wet rocks. Step between slippery rocks, not on them—a jammed foot has no place to slide.

Biting bugs

The mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and deer flies that breed in saltwater environments can be voracious, so don’t travel the Trail without insect repellents and tents equipped with fine mesh screens.

Red tide

Caused by a bloom in the population of single-celled organisms known as dinoflagellates, red tide occurs fairly often during the summer months on Maine’s coast. The organisms are absorbed by mussels, clams, and other mollusks making the shellfish toxic to humans. Always find out about an area’s red tide status before harvesting shellfish. Call the Department of Marine Resources Red Tide Hotline at 800-232-4733 for a listing of closed areas.

Poison ivy

While not common on coastal islands, poison ivy occurs in some areas and is a pervasive pest on a few Trail sites. It can take the form of a climbing vine, a twiggy bush or low groundcover. Look for its characteristic three shiny green leaflets, each with a smooth margin and sharp tip.

Browntail moths

Browntail moth caterpillars, whose range seems to be limited to Casco Bay in Maine, can cause severe discomfort in the form of respiratory problems or rashes for people who come in contact with the caterpillars themselves or with their microscopic airborne hairs. Emerging from their webs from May through July, the caterpillars can cause heavy defoliation of deciduous trees and shrubs. Browntail moth webs may be distinguished from those of the eastern tent caterpillars by their locations on the tips of branches—rather than the forks. To shield yourself from contact with the poisonous hairs, cover up with long sleeves and long pants and avoid hanging clothes on tree branches when camping. For more information, visit http://www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/btm.htm.

Ticks

Two species of ticks are particularly common on Maine islands: the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). Dog tick adults (common in late spring and early summer, particularly west of Penobscot Bay) are significantly larger than deer ticks and have irregular, faint white markings on their backs. Deer ticks are of greater concern because they transmit Lyme disease. Heavy infestations are found coastally, from Kittery to Mount Desert Island, but have occasionally been found as far downeast as Machias and Lubec.  They occur wherever deer are found and particularly favor deciduous forests and shrubby edge environments.

The Lyme disease spirochete is transmitted to people and pets primarily by the small nymphal stage of the tick that seeks hosts from mid-May through late July. Before they're engorged, dear tick nymphs are tiny brown specks that are easily overlooked. Adult deer ticks (which appear in October and November, and again in early spring) also infect people but are more easily discovered and removed before they do harm. Deer ticks usually attach for 24 to 36 hours before they transmit the Lyme disease spirochete so inspect yourself routinely.

To reduce your exposure, use insect repellents before hiking, wear long-sleeved clothing and hats, and tuck pant legs into socks. In adequate light, inspect yourself and others for ticks. Remove ticks by grasping them close to the skin (preferably with tweezers), pulling gently but firmly straight upward until the tick lets go. (Avoid applying alcohol as it can drive the tick further inward). Do not squeeze the tick as that may increase the risk of infection.

The symptoms of Lyme disease are varied and may include an expanding bull's eye rash (at the site of the tick bite) and flu-like symptoms (see http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/lyme_disease.htm or www.aldf.com for more information).

Early treatment (usually within 10-30 days of receiving the bite) with antibiotics is critical, so get a Lyme test and talk to your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.

The Maine Medical Center Research Institute (Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, 75 John Roberts Rd., Ste 9B, South Portland, ME 04106 ticklab@mmc.org) is interested in examining ticks found on Maine islands and welcomes your specimens if you are reasonably certain they are deer ticks. Send specimens in a small container of alcohol along with your name, address, and when, where, and on what or whom (name and age) they were found. A form to accompany the submission can be downloaded from their website www.mmcri.org/lyme/lymehome.html.