LEO Network

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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Wildlife officers kill wolf near Yellowknife's Ranney Hill, days after hiker bitten
Wildlife officials in Yellowknife have confirmed that they killed a wolf in the Ranney Hill area, days after a person was bit by a wolf on the walking trail. They have not yet determined if it's the same animal.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Orcas challenge the Bering Sea’s black cod industry
Orcas are starting to show new feeding behaviors around large trawler nets. They’re trying to steal fish caught in nets that are typically being hauled back. Scientists aren’t sure why orcas are doing this, but it’s dangerous for them because it increases their chances of getting caught in the net and dying.The problem is so bad that some fishermen have decided to skip fishing for black cod this year.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Fish and Game searching for wolf that bit 2 people on Dalton Highway
Alaska Fish and Game officials are searching for a rare, potentially rabid wolf that unexpectedly attacked two people on the Dalton Highway.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Employee killed by polar bears at remote worksite off Baffin Island, company says
A worker with a logistics company that operates the North Warning System in Nunavut has died after being attacked by two polar bears on Thursday.
Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Sea gulls on the beach not moving
Observers report unusual sea gull lethargy and die-offs on area beaches.
Brevig Mission, Alaska, United States
Racheal Lee, Sarah Yoder, January Frost, Lillian Olanna, Gay Sheffield, Kathy Kuletz

'Strange' bald eagle attacks at Kodiak harbor cause multiple injuries
Unusual aggressive bald eagle behavior, not linked to nest protection, leads to multiple injuries at Kodiak harbor, possibly due to eagles being fed by people.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

'Unbelievable I survived': Yukon woman attacked by bear speaks out
Following an attack from a grizzly in Haines Junction, Yukon, Vanessa Leegstra spoke to CBC from hospital: "I just knew I couldn't leave my husband and my daughter, I wasn't ready."
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada
CBC

Crow exibiting unusual behavior
The crow was on the beach hiding near a driftwood stump and was unable to fly and struggled to walk. These are signs associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) also commonly referred to as "bird flu". See video.
Whittier, Alaska, United States
Michael Opheim, Stephen Payton, Sarah Coburn, Margo Werner, Christy McDonald, Andrew Ramey, January Frost, Sarah Yoder, Andrew Ramey

Black bear shot dead while trying to get into tent near Portage campgrounds
A black bear was fatally shot by federal officials after attempting to break into an occupied tent near Portage campgrounds in Alaska, following a recent similar incident that injured a woman.
Portage Creek, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

2nd seal pup rescued in Kenai, ASLC now caring for 4
A second seal pup has been rescued on Kenai Beach, marking the fourth such case for the Alaska SeaLife Center's Wildlife Response Program.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Close encounters with curious Juneau killer whale a reminder of city's wild nature
Before she knew what was happening, a large female killer whale lifted Bloom’s paddleboard up out of the water. “And at that moment it was like terror,” Bloom said.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Found all the newborn reindeer calves killed by eagles
Reindeer herder Risten Inga Eira reports all newborn calves in her district have been killed, highlighting increased predator attacks and the community's frustration with the rising eagle population.
Tromsø, Troms, Norway
NRK

Late to see moose along Richardson Highway
A series of observations indicate changing moose behaviors and migration patterns in the interior, with increased sightings in unusual locations and times of the year, potentially linked to climate change and habitat alterations.
North Pole, Alaska, United States

Moose attacks 15-year-old girl
A 15-year-old girl in Bodø¸ narrowly escaped a moose attack on her way to school, an incident captured on video and highlighting the increased aggression of moose during spring.
Bodø, Nordland, Norway
NRK

Houston man injured in moose trampling outside his home
A Houston man was injured by a moose near his home, an unusual event linked to increased moose aggression due to harsh winter conditions.
Houston, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

A moose on the loose: Combat shopping in an Anchorage Costco parking lot
A moose caused a stir in an Anchorage Costco parking lot, interacting with shoppers and snacking on the landscaping, reflecting increased human-moose encounters in the area.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

First deer with Chronic Wasting Disease found in B.C
The first known cases of Chronic Wasting Disease in British Columbia have been discovered in two deer in the Kootenays. Officials have been keeping an eye on the southeastern area of B.C. for some time, as nearby outbreaks have occurred in Alberta, Montana and Idaho. The two recent positive samples came from an area south of Cranbrook.
Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Castanet

No other polar bears in Kuujjuaq after Tuesday’s incident, police say
Police confirm no further polar bear sightings in Kuujjuaq following the shooting of a young bear in the town center, with ongoing vigilance for potential wildlife threats.
Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Grizzly bear spotted close to Kotzebue
While Northwest Arctic residents encounter bears year-round, such sightings are not common in Kotzebue this time of year, Cantine said. Charlie Henry Jr., an Elder from Kotzebue, agreed: “That is so strange — brown bear in the middle part of the coldest months.”
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Wolf believed to have killed pet dog in Yellowknife area
A black wolf that was seen travelling between Dettah and Ndilǫ this weekend is believed to have “mauled and killed” a pet dog, according to the N.W.T. Department of Environment and Climate Change.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Pack of wolves north of Yellowknife reported stalking hikers, pets
The N.W.T. Department of Environment and Climate Change has warned anyone using trails north of Yellowknife to use "extreme caution" after wildlife officers reported a pack of wolves stalking a hiker and their dogs in the area on Saturday.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Wolf expert praises Yellowknife woman for handling of 'not atypical' encounter
A wolf expert commended a Yellowknife woman for her response during a typical encounter with a pack of wolves, advising caution and proper behavior in such situations. "I had hiking poles and I started banging them together and I'm just like 'hey, hey, hey.' I know sometimes dogs respond to deeper voices, so I put my best deep voice on. I started yelling at them."

Wolf attacks woman's dog outside of her home in Dawson City, Yukon
A woman's dog was attacked and killed by a wolf or wolves outside her home in Dawson City, Yukon, raising concerns about safety in the area.
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

2 killed in suspected grizzly bear attack in Canada's Banff National Park
Two people were killed in a suspected grizzly bear attack in Banff National Park, Canada, leading to the euthanization of the bear for public safety.
Banff, Alberta, Canada

Musk ox killed in Kotzebue after it posed a threat to residents
Earlier on Monday, Maniilaq Association notified Kotzebue residents about the musk ox in a Facebook post, saying that the animal was “roaming around the Kotzebue area, last sighted near ‘old’ teacher housing on the lagoon.” Health officials asked residents to not approach or agitate the animal and to keep their dogs under control.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Not so solitary predators? Great white shark duo appear to be traveling together
Jekyll and Simon keep showing up in all the same places — which is weird, because they are great white sharks. The apex predators are widely believed to be solitary creatures, not dependent on family networks or group dynamics to navigate the oceans.
Gulf of St. Lawrence

Black bear in tree for 24 hours
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Anchorage police kill black bear that was charging people in neighborhoods near Baxter and Northern Lights
Anchorage police killed a black bear that was charging people in neighborhoods near Northern Lights Boulevard and Baxter Road on Sunday night.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Woman found dead in apparent bear encounter outside of Yellowstone National Park
The woman's body was found about eight miles outside the town of West Yellowstone, Mont., a gateway community that borders Yellowstone National Park.
West Yellowstone, Montana, United States
Boise State Public Radio

Humpback whale nearly knocks paddler off board near Whittier
Stand up paddle boarder near miss with humpback whale in Prince William Sound.
Whittier, Alaska, United States

More people contact us about viper bites
A Norwegian viper.snake (European adder) can make individuals very ill while others do not notice anything, Viper bites have doubled from 2022 to 2023 in the month of May in Norway.
Norway
NRK

Walrus Follows Man to Work in Iceland
A man biking to work in Iceland this morning was unexpectedly accompanied by a walrus on his commute. Walruses are not native to Iceland.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Avian Influenza suspected on Yukon Delta
Dead birds suspected to have died from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza have been found on Kigigak Island and Tutakoke River in Alaska, with other bird species displaying unusual behaviors.
Kigigak Island and Tutakoke River, Alaska, United States
January Frost, Bryan Daniels, Andrew Ramey, Bob Gerlach, Brian Lefferts, Sarah Yoder, Jacqualine Schaeffer, Joey Billy, John Stedman

Beluga whale Hvaldimir visiting Helgeroa
Boaters in Skolebukta outside Larvik opened their eyes when they were visited by the famous beluga whale. The marine biologist fears the whale's journey could soon be over for good.
Larvik, Vestfold, Norway

'There's something down there': British sailor's boat attacked by apex predator
Greg Blackburn's boat was being tossed around by "heavy weather" in a notorious stretch of water. Two large orcas, otherwise known as killer whales, were responsible for the ramming but Blackburn said four more would join in - causing extensive damage to the boat. ﻿﻿
Tangier, Tanger-Tétouan, Morocco

Mountain lion attacks man in hot tub at Colorado vacation rental
The man suffered four scratches to the top of his head and near his right ear, and declined medical assistance.
Nathrop, Colorado, United States

95-year-old Toronto woman on morning walk withstands 'monster' raccoon attack
Earlier this year, Merrijoy Kelner was walking through a park in the Annex when a raccoon attached itself to her leg and began viciously biting her. Animal services later captured the raccoon, and it tested negative for rabies.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Polar bear fatally mauls woman and boy in Northwest Alaska village
A Wales resident shot and killed the bear. With the loss of sea ice and the ocean staying open later in the year, polar bears have been spending more time on land, which increases the chance of human encounters.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Fox being tested for rabies after dog attacked in Resolute Bay, Nunavut
Health officials in Nunavut are testing another fox for rabies after the animal attacked a dog in Resolute Bay on Sunday. It's the second such incident in the territory so far this year.
Resolute, Nunavut, Canada

Musk ox attacks and injures pet dog
Last week a musk ox gored a 10-year-old Malamute outside of his family’s man camp near the Old Glacier Creek Road. A visiting veterinarian cared for the injured dog commenting on more frequent conflict between musk ox and dogs and an increase in musk ox population.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Nome’s Curtis Worland died after musk ox attack
Alaska State Troopers said on Tuesday that Curtis Worland, a Court Service Officer for the Nome AST post, was killed by a musk ox in the afternoon.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Makut negairuut, Nunapicuarmi negat amllerluteng, Spider webs cover vast area
*The spiders are usually in multiple form in most areas, but it has not been witnessed in this form.* This is described as a spider "ballooning" event, the term used when spiders launch themselves in to the air. These events might be happening more frequently as warming Arctic temperatures has been associated with increases in the population of some spider species such as the wolf spider (see Spider Baby Boom in Warming Arctic), and spiders moving further north and also having more then one hatch per season.
Nunapitchuk, Alaska, United States
Santina Gay, Lauren Divine, Jacqualine Schaeffer, Theodora Nicholai, Russell Cameron , Joey Billy, Derek Sikes

Dog killed by wolves in Metlakatla was defending its family, owner says
Brittany Hayward says Rosco, a seven-year-old ridgeback-mastiff mix, fought hard defending his family.
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States
KRBD

Polar bear shot dead after attacking tourist on Svalbard
A French woman is hospitalized and a polar bear is dead after the bear attacked the woman on the Norwegian Arctic archipelago Svalbard Monday morning. The woman, who was wounded in the arm by the attacking polar bear, was one of 25 people staying at a tent camp in Nordfjorden on the northern shores of Isfjorden.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
ArcticToday

First case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in a black bear
The bear was exhibiting strange behavior, wandered between vehicles, went down to the water in a fishing harbor, began to swim around in circles, came out and hit a wall.
Forillon National Park, Quebec, Canada
Healthy Wildlife

Mosquitoes are unusually dense and vicious all of a sudden
Our Mosquito Magnet trap filled in under a week. We normally empty it once a month or so.
Ester, Alaska, United States

Fears of bird flu in colony on Hornøya in Finnmark with critically endangered seabird
Endangered guillemots sit tightly in the bird cliff. Infection of bird flu can pass through the colony quickly, fear scientists, who have found several dead birds in recent days. The finds on Hornøya join the series of observations along the coast. There are constantly new reports of sea otters in particular being found in Western Norway. There are also reports of sick gulls and sea eagles along the entire coast up to East Finnmark.
Hornøy Island, Vardø, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Unusual bird behavior and illness observed across species on Yukon Delta
"Since about May 25, crews have been seeing multiple species showing what we believe are signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The signs we are seeing widespread is a headshaking that we equate to "getting the cobwebs out", like a person may do when they first wake up. This behavior occurs regularly every couple minutes. This behavior has been observed in: black brant, cackling geese, bar-tailed godwits, dunlin, lapland longspurs, spectacled eiders, emperor geese, greater white-fronted geese, sabines gulls, glaucous gulls, and red-necked phalaropes."
Newtok, Alaska, United States
Kimberlee Beckmen, Angela Matz, Louisa Castrodale, Gay Sheffield, Bob Gerlach, Michael Bruce, Andrew Ramey, Eric Taylor, Eric Taylor, Bryan Daniels, Rose Kalistook, Brian Lefferts, Brian Berube, Raphaela Stimmelmayr

Growing cases of bird illness in Norton Sound
Over the past five days there have been increasing reports of unusual behavior in a variety of bird species including brant goose, snow goose, white-fronted goose, and Canada goose.
Golovin, Alaska, United States
Maija Lukin, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Erin Nelson, Andrew Ramey, Carmen Daggett, Carol Oliver, Mike Brook, Louisa Castrodale, Bill Carter, Susan Georgette, Eric Taylor, Kayla Nay, Angela Matz, Brandon Ahmasuk, Gay Sheffield, Brian Lefferts, Kimberlee Beckmen, Bob Gerlach, Racheal Lee

Brant displaying unusual spinning behavior south of Nome
This brant was seen at Mile 16 of the Nome-Council Road exhibiting spinning behavior.
Near Nome, Alaska, United States
Eric Taylor, Brandon Ahmasuk, Andrew Ramey, Racheal Lee, Gay Sheffield, Bob Gerlach, Angela Matz

Presumptive cases of avian flu in skunks, foxes found in Saskatoon
A wildlife pathologist in Saskatoon says his lab is testing several skunks and fox kits showing neurological signs that could be caused by avian flu. The transmission to mammals is not a surprise to Bollinger, who said cases have been showing up in the United States. There are other viral diseases - such as distemper and rabies - that cause similar symptoms in these species.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Unusual behavior in red fox
This fox "was not scared of me" and it continued to repeat this motion as the person (Venessa Koonooka), watched for ~10 minutes.
White Mountain, Alaska, United States
Kimberlee Beckmen, Brandon Ahmasuk, Vanessa Koonooka, Racheal Lee, Angela Matz, Gay Sheffield, Eric Taylor

Strange behavior in a Canada goose
This video shot on Thursday May 19th, shows the erratic circling behavior of a Canada goose. Although the cause is unknown, this type of behavior is according to USGS, "highly suggestive" of an infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Angela Matz, Rose Kalistook, Louisa Castrodale, PATRICIA SCHWALENBERG, Tim Thomas, Kimberlee Beckmen, Desirae Mack, Mike Brook, Bob Gerlach, Megan Boldenow, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Erica Stone, Michael Bruce, Andrew Ramey

Swans displaying unusual posture floating in lake
A passenger on a small commercial plane flying between Nome and Golovin reported seeing 5-6 swans all motionless, floating on a pond. The reason of the behavior is unknown.
~ 60 Miles East of Nome Alaska, United States
Louisa Castrodale, Andrew Ramey, Bob Gerlach, Carol Oliver, Michael Bruce, Brandon Ahmasuk, Kimberlee Beckmen, Racheal Lee, Angela Matz, PATRICIA SCHWALENBERG, Gay Sheffield

Fox attacks two dogs in Coral Harbor
Since November, six foxes and three dogs in Nunavut have been found to be infected with rabies. Wednesday’s fox attack brings the total to seven foxes and five dogs with likely rabies infections.
Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Foxes 'attack from nowhere' says Igloolik woman
She was then driven immediately to the hospital, where she got treatment for a potential rabies infection. Over the past month, there has been an increase in fox sightings and cases of rabies in foxes in the communities of Igloolik and Iqaluit. A fox was confirmed to have rabies in Igloolik on Dec. 14, while two foxes have been reported to have rabies in Iqaluit over the past five weeks.
Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Polar bear with cub visits Diomede School
John Ahkvaluk , 56, a polar bear guard revealed that this is not a good sign for the village. It’s the first time in several years that bears come at this time of the year. “It’s a warning that they got no food out there and they came looking for it here,” he said.
After the incident, Luchie Manlangit, the school principal, and I invited John Ahkvaluk to talk to the kids and to share some protocols if polar bear will come around again.
Diomede, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Buzzards settle in North Carolina town despite scare tactics
One resident of Bunn, North Carolina, says she counted 58 buzzards — probably turkey vultures — in her yard, on her roof and on a fence. Town officials seem unable to get the birds to leave.
Bunn, North Carolina, United States
WFAE 90.7

Rare clash between two distinct kinds of orcas in the Salish Sea — and the endangered fish-eaters won
Two distinct species of orcas feed and socialize in the waters of Puget Sound: fish-eating endangered southern resident killer whales and transient, or Bigg’s, killer whales, which feed on marine mammals and are more common. They seldom mix.
Point Roberts, Washington, United States
KNKX Public Radio

Otters are mysteriously attacking people and dogs in Alaska's largest city: "Unusual behaviors"
Because of the risk to public safety, efforts will be made to locate this group of river otters and remove them, Fish and Game said.
University Lake
CBS News

Urban deer distribution pattern changes in Southwest Calgary
The development of the Southwest Calgary Ring Road has resulted in alterations into the use of the area by deer. The combination of construction disturbances, removal of habitat, and presence of a linear barrier has seemingly resulted in fewer deer being observed in the neighborhood of Woodbine.
Woodbine, Calgary

Whale feeding frenzy off NSW south coast
A mega-pod of more than 100 humpback whales have been spotted in a feeding frenzy off the NSW south coast.The aquatic mammals often pass through Bermagui with their young on their long journey back to Antarctica from the warmer northern waters. The whales were seen working together to catch a large school of bait fish. It's only the second time the spectacle has been caught on film - after a mega-pod was witnessed feeding at the same spot last year.
Bermagui, New South Wales, Australia
dailytelegraph

River otter attacks 9-year-old boy at East Anchorage pond
“The fact that an otter attacked a person was certainly surprising,” said a wildlife biologist with Fish and Game, who added that it’s hard to know what the motivation behind the otter’s “unusual behavior” was.

In Tanana, a lone wolf is taking sled dogs
“Right now the people who have dogs in their yards are very concerned. This is happening at night when it’s dark, so everybody is on edge.” - Tanana First Chief
Tanana, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Five dolphins die in 'highly unusual stranding event'
The dolphins were part of a group of more than 50 that got into difficulty in the Cromarty Firth.
Invergordon, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

Rare footage shows a polar bear hunt a swimming reindeer
Rare footage shot by a researcher expedition in Norway shows a polar bear hunting and catching a swimming adult reindeer. The video, captured by Mateusz Gruszka, a cook for an expedition of Polish researchers in August 2021 on the Svalbard archipelago, shows the bear catching the reindeer and drowning it before dragging it ashore.
Svalbard Archipelago
ArcticToday

When polar bears hunt snow geese, hunger justifies the means
At this time of year, the geese are moulting — and therefore unable to fly — so they congregate near ponds to avoid the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), which is reluctant to jump into the water. But the bear was about to use a new hunting technique: he dove under the water, disappeared from the eyes of the geese who had stopped fleeing, and emerged from underneath one of them.
Bylot Island, Nunavut Canada
NNSL Media

Killer whale stranded on Prince of Wales Island frees itself
A killer whale that beached itself on Prince of Wales Island on Thursday has freed itself, according to federal biologists.
Craig, Alaska, United States

Coast Guard rescues man after being pounced, stalked by grizzly
By Julia Lerner Richard Jessee, a longtime summer miner, survived an aggressive bear attack near his cabin last week.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Coyote bites another Stanley Park jogger a week after 4 of the animals put down
The BC Conservation Officer Service said the latest attack happened around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night, while a woman was jogging along the seawall.
West End, British Columbia, Canada
Global News

'Unprecedented' absence of southern resident killer whales from Salish Sea
The most common pod of southern resident killer whales who migrate to the Salish Sea during the summer have not been seen for than 100 days, marking a highly unusual absence from their historic summer hunting ground, according to researchers.
Salish Sea
Vancouver Island

Man mauled by bear off Richardson Highway near Gulkana in Southcentral Alaska
The 61-year-old man was flown to an Anchorage hospital for treatment of his injuries, troopers said.
Gulkana, Alaska, United States

Melting Arctic ice reduces bowhead whale migration
Researchers in Canada find that population did not bother making the 6,000km roundtrip in 2018-2019
Bearing, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas
the Guardian

Costco customers share experiences of raven thefts
Costco customers in Anchorage have recently started sharing online reports of ravens stealing groceries from their carts and the back of their pickup trucks, and biologists say the behavior could spread around town quickly.

Nome and region is in the midst of a rabies epidemic
Nome and the surrounding area, including St. Lawrence Island, is fighting rabies almost as hard as it is fighting COVID-19. Because of the high level of rabies infection Fish and Game requested assistance from the National Rabies Management Response Program. Their job is to manage a wildlife disease outbreak. Several technicians and a rabies biologist are in Nome reducing the number of foxes.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

A lynx, a toddler and a bizarre encounter in an Anchorage Hillside driveway
A wildlife biologist believes a lynx that recently approached a young girl may have been a juvenile. The girl’s father said he’s now on higher alert after the encounter.

Mysterious disease killing young California bears in Tahoe. One symptom: fearlessness
Young black bears, with no fear of people, are coming down with fatal brain inflammation in Nevada and California. Could new viruses be causing the disease? State veterinarians say that in the past 12 months alone, officials have captured three other bears with the same condition.
Truckee, California, United States
The Sacramento Bee

Harp seal pups dying on beach as winter sea ice fails
A harp seal pup sits on a snow-covered beach near the town of Blanc-Sablon, Québec, in early March. Normally harp seals give birth and raise their pups on sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but this year’s ice coverage is at an all-time low, throwing pups’ survival into jeopardy.
Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, Canada
National Geographic

Rescuers monitor whale pod off New Zealand amid rebeaching fears
Rescuers were monitoring a pod of pilot whales swimming just off the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island late on Tuesday after more than a dozen of the group were killed in a mass stranding.
Takaka, Tasman, New Zealand
Reuters

B.C. farmer grabs lynx by scruff of neck, scolds it for killing chickens
A farmer in northern B.C. captured a wild cat he found in his chicken coop, picking it up by the scruff of the neck and gently scolding it before putting it into a dog kennel and relocating it further out in the bush. The lynx was so skinny that the farmer left the two dead chickens with the animal.
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

Unusual Bird Sighting May Be a Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Unidentified birds may be Pine Grosbeaks (*Pinicola enucleator*), whose species range extends to some parts of the Alaska Peninsula.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Lynx killed by ENR officers
The wildcat showed no hesitancy in actively interacting with people or traffic an ENR spokesperson said. It was likely the animal involved in other interactions with pets.

Woman gets surprise bite while using outhouse
When he heard something had bitten his sister, Erik Stevens grabbed a light and went to investigate. "I shined the headlamp and opened the lid, and right there at the level of the toilet seat was a cinnamon-colored bear face, big enough to fill the hole."
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Lone lynx likely culprit behind pair of Yellowknife dog attacks, biologist says
On Monday, Shania Tymchatyn saved one of her dogs from a lynx, and Yellowknife kennel owner Trevor Lizotte says one of the big cats attacked his dog team last week.

Dog attacks not typical lynx behaviour, says Yukon biologist
Twice in the last couple of weeks, dog have been attacked by lynx. Biologist Tom Jung says climate change may be a factor, affecting the amount of food available. Snowshoe hares in Yukon are now in about the third year of decline.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Man mauled by bear while backcountry skiing in Southeast Alaska
The man was injured on his face and hands. Two members in the skiers party assisted with his injuries and communicate for help in 15 degree temperatures with sunset approaching. It was not immediately clear what triggered the mauling about 10 miles northwest of Haines.
Haines, Alaska, United States

Women jump on attacking lynx to save dog
Two women in Beaver Creek, say they jumped on a lynx to pull it away from a dog it attacked. The lynx, its mouth latched onto the dog's face, would not let go.
Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada

Male grizzly euthanized near Braeburn
Yukon conservation officers have euthanized a grizzly bear that was originally sighted near Braeburn.
Aishihik, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

Killer whale rescued after getting stranded on remote Scottish beach
The BDMLR scrambled to help the orca with the help of locals in Orkney.
Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom
Metro

New evidence suggests spate of Killer Whale-on-boat violence not tied to revenge but to fun
It was first reported, here, two months ago, that a pod of Killer Whales off the coasts of Spain and New Spain (i.e. Portugal) was exhibiting never-before-seen behavior in carrying out coordinated attacks on boats.
BeachGrit

Bear activity persists despite early snow
Two bears were shot in the Haines Borough this past weekend, both by homeowners defending chickens. Although bear-related calls to the police dipped after last week’s record-setting snowfall, the recent activity suggests this year’s Bearpocalypse is not yet over.
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Philadelphia perching birds fighting over stripped chicken bone
This could point to potential climate or food shortage stressors affecting the feeding behaviors of the House Sparrows.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Search underway for bear following ‘predatory’ attack on a neighborhood dog in Sitka
The bear tore through a chain link enclosure around midnight on November 4, and killed a 125-pound mixed-breed dog belonging to Georgiana Smith — who immediately informed her Indian River-area neighbors of the incident on the Sitka Bear Report Facebook page.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Police kill brown bear believed responsible for vehicle damage
Two brown bears were killed in Haines last week, bringing the total killed outside hunting season in management unit 1D this year to 26. Bear calls to police have increased by about 600% compared to past years.
Chilkat Valley News

Ten polar bears - six adults and four cubs - besiege a stalled rubbish truck in Russian Arctic
Fellow driver tries to scare the predators away as they climb inside the truck to reach food scraps. All predators look healthy and well fed, however the author of the video suggests that it could have been hunger that made them surround the truck.
Siberian Times

Beluga Family Rescued From Low Tide by Russian Emergency Worker
Residents of the coastal Chumikan village reported two adult whales and one baby on Wednesday afternoon, on a shore of the Uda River that flows into the sea. Alexei Paramonov spent hours protecting the pod from wild animals and poachers and saved the baby whale from hypothermia.
Chumikan, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia
The Moscow Times

Bear in Denali National Park euthanized over safety concerns
The bear had entered buildings and food caches, according to National Park Service officials.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States

Fish and Game is looking for a black bear that followed and charged people in Anchorage park
The repeated run-ins with the bear were part of the reason that one children's camp decided to move out of Russian Jack to another park.

Hunter killed by bear in Wrangell-St. Elias died in ‘surprise attack’ while field-dressing moose, officials say
The National Park Service said a 22-year-old Ohio man was salvaging moose meat when he was killed in the national park’s first recorded fatal bear mauling.
Wrangall St. Elias National Park, Alaska, United States

Brown bear breaks into Alaska Zoo, kills alpaca named Caesar
The bear tunneled under the zoo’s perimeter fence and broke through the cedar split rail fence around the alpaca enclosure before killing Caesar, according to the zoo’s executive director, Pat Lampi. Another alpaca -- Fuzzy Charlie -- was found unhurt though wide-eyed and skittish.

Gray heron seen for first time in contiguous US, as species expands range
This tall waterbird, native to Eurasia, was spotted in Nantucket. Could the species soon establish a foothold in the Americas?
Madaket, Massachusetts, United States
National Geographic

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