Background Articles

The Biden administration supports a land trade in an Alaskan wildlife refuge, exchanging 490 acres for 31,198 acres, despite controversy and opposition from some tribal communities.

Yukon's per capita emissions have decreased, but overall emissions are rising due to population and economic growth, challenging the territory's ambitious 45% reduction goal.

A trained Australian Shepherd named Barley is aiding conservation efforts by locating wolf scat on Prince of Wales Island, providing crucial data for wildlife management.

Chukchi Sea polar bears show increased exposure to pathogens like canine distemper virus and Toxoplasma gondii, potentially due to changes in their diet and extended time on land.

The Gwich'in are mobilizing to protect the Porcupine caribou herd's calving grounds from potential oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as promised by President-elect Trump.

Commercial whaling and climate change are inhibiting the evolutionary potential of Arctic whales by reducing genetic variation necessary for adaptation, with bowhead whales markedly affected by historical hunting.

People living in West Dawson are urging the Yukon government to do more to support them while they wait for the Yukon River to freeze over, and provide them with reliable access to emergency services.

Iceland's Food and Veterinary Authority has advised the public not to handle sick or dead birds due to an avian flu case (H5N5) in a seagull.

In Kotzebue, Alaska, local responders continue to repair over 50 properties severely damaged by a storm in October, focusing on essential infrastructure before winter begins.

The article emphasizes the importance of voting for climate-conscious leadership in the wake of unusual and severe flooding in an Arctic community during winter.

At least 30 houses still needed repairs, cleanup was ongoing, and the city’s residents grappled with the need to fix snowmachines, keep their soaked houses warm and prepare for future emergencies.

“Fishing has been very good for the [Bristol Bay red king crab] fleet this season and the crab delivered so far has been of high quality — new shell, large size, good meat-fill,” said Alaska Department of Fish and Game Area Management Biologist Ethan Nichols.

One of the reactors at a floating nuclear power plant in Pevek, Russia, was automatically shut down due to an unspecified issue.

Power was restored in Rytkuchi, Chukotka after a storm caused village-wide flooding.

The seafood industry around the world has faced market turmoil. Few Alaska communities have been hit harder than King Cove.

A severe storm in Kotzebue, Alaska, caused significant flooding, displacing 80 people and damaging critical infrastructure, including roads and the airport.

North Atlantic right whales, which should naturally live over 100 years, are currently dying at an average age of 22 due to vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, and climate change. This highlights the severe threats faced by the critically endangered species.

Despite rapidly freezing Arctic waters, Moscow continues to send more than 20 years old ships without ice class to the Northern Sea Route. 'They are compromising security,' a Norwegian professor in ice navigation says.

The aurora borealis has been visible in southern Canada due to peak solar activity, a phenomenon that might continue for several more years.

The boundary for the beluga protection zone in eastern Hudson Bay has been reduced, placing Inukjuak outside the protected area, allowing unlimited beluga harvesting near the community.