A 33-year-old woman required an emergency helicopter extraction after stepping on a wasp nest and sustaining multiple stings while climbing in Vancouver, British Columbia. The incident occurred on the descent trail of the Redoubt Wall near Loggers Creek.
Lions Bay Search and Rescue (LBSR) was alerted by the woman's climbing partner, prompting a response from the agency and North Shore Rescue. Rescuers located the woman beneath dense tree canopy. Initial reports indicated she may have been stung up to 100 times, but the rescue team later confirmed the number was closer to a dozen.
The woman received on-site treatment, including antihistamines, and did not require an EpiPen. However, due to her inability to hike out on her own and suffering from a severe allergic reaction, a helicopter extraction was deemed necessary. She was airlifted to B.C. Emergency Health Services for further treatment.
"Even if you haven’t been stung by a wasp before, multiple stings increase the risk of the systemic reaction," said Carolyn Kelly-Smith, a member of the rescue team. "You can develop a severe reaction at any time."
This is the second wasp-related rescue in the area this summer. Last month, a group of hikers also required extraction after one individual was stung more than 20 times. Although that hiker was not allergic, the venom caused severe symptoms. LBSR noted that wasp encounters can rapidly escalate into serious backcountry medical emergencies, especially with a high number of stings.
According to Maria Masiar, a training officer with LBSR, wasps have been particularly aggressive in British Columbia this year. Experts attribute this to a mild winter followed by an early, warm spring, which allowed more queen yellow jackets to survive and establish new colonies. The extended growing season has enabled these colonies to expand, resulting in larger and more defensive nests.