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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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Woman mauled by bear near her Kenai Peninsula home
A 36-year-old woman was seriously injured in a suspected brown bear attack near her home on Chinook Drive in Kenai early Tuesday. Authorities are searching for the bear and urging residents to stay vigilant and secure attractants.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Bear attacked a hunter in Posio — police say the hunt was legal
During a bear hunt in Posio, Finland, a bear attacked a hunter. Police said the hunt was legal; details were still limited as the investigation began.
Posio, Lapland, Finland
Lapin Kansa

Kittiwakes in Every Nook and Cranny: It Can't Be Easy to Sleep
A rooftop in Berlevåg is packed with common kittiwakes occupying every nook and cranny. The scene highlights seabirds’ increasing use of urban structures for roosting in coastal northern Norway.
Berlevåg, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Cougar family causing safety worries in Mesachie Lake
A mother cougar and two adolescent cubs have been repeatedly sighted in Mesachie Lake, B.C., since August, prompting safety concerns from residents. Conservation officers are monitoring the situation and advise precautions but say there’s no evidence of aggression toward people.
Mesachie Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Mountain biker suffers minor injuries in cougar attack near Squamish, B.C.
A mountain biker was attacked by a cougar near Squamish, B.C., suffering minor injuries before scaring the animal off with rocks.
Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK News

Increased bear activity closes several East Anchorage trails
Officials have indefinitely closed about 2.5 miles of popular biking, running and hiking trails in Far North Bicentennial Park and the Campbell Tract in East Anchorage due to heightened brown bear activity around salmon streams.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

2nd Anchorage-area hiker mauled by bear in under a week
A hiker near the South Fork of Eagle River was mauled by a bear feeding on salmon and sustained non-life-threatening injuries; it's the second attack in the Anchorage area in under a week.
Chugach State Park, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

I swung my fist as hard as I could: Man recalls northwest B.C. cougar attack
A Smithers man reports punching a cougar in the face during an unexpected encounter near Lake Kathlyn on July 26, sustaining minor injuries before the animal fled; conservation officers are monitoring the area for further cougar activity.
Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
Yukon News

Bear attacked man in Allaikhovsky District
A brown bear attacked a man near the Elong River in Allaikhovsky District on 26 July 2025, causing serious injuries. The assault was sudden and unprovoked. Authorities have launched a cull to control the bear population and protect public safety.
Allaikhovsky District, Sakha Republic, Russia
Yakutia.Info

4-year-old child attacked by cougar near Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park
A 4-year-old child was attacked and injured by a cougar while hiking near Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park; the National Park Service is seeking witnesses.
Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington, United States
Spokesman-Review

Beached Seldovia whale returns alive to Kachemak Bay
A minke whale stranded on MacDonald Spit near Seldovia for six hours on July 17 but refloated with the rising tide and swam back into Kachemak Bay; the Seldovia Village Tribe suspects a toxic algal bloom disoriented the whale.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States
KBBI AM 890

Hiker bitten by bear
A hiker walking with their dog in Jarfjord, Sør-Varanger, was bitten in the arm by a bear and is now receiving medical treatment; authorities warn against approaching bears.
Jarfjord, Sør-Varanger, Norway
Altaposten

Dozens of Pilot Whales Stranded in Ólafsfjörður
Dozens of pilot whales were stranded in Ólafsfjörður on June 21, but ICE-SAR teams managed to refloat them and guide them safely back to open water.
Ólafsfjörður, Northeastern Region, Iceland
Iceland Monitor

Second Attempt Planned to Help Stranded Orca Return to Sea
Rescue teams in Reykjavík will make a second, high-tide effort this evening to nudge an orca stranded since Tuesday night in the shallow cove of the Grafarvogur neighbourhood back into open waters.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

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

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

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

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
Anchorage Daily News

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

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
NRK

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

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
The Nome Nugget

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

Six whales die in largest stranding of its type in Ireland's history
The seven northern bottlenose dolphins were spotted stranded on a beach in Rossnowlagh, County Donegal, on the north west coast of Ireland, earlier today.
Ballintra, Ulster, Ireland
Mail Online

Biologists hope dead sea lion will provide insight into endangered Aleutian population
Officials have been receiving reports of Steller sea lions hauling out on beaches in poor condition, but have been unable to retrieve the animals for research — largely because they are in remote areas.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Black bear injures Juneau man after following him through open door
With few fish and limited berries, bear encounters are high in Alaska's capital city this year.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Polar bear noticed near an urban-type settlement called Ugolnye Kopi
A polar bear was noticed 15 kilometers from an urban-type settlement in Anadyrsky District called Ugolnye Kopi on the morning of August 3. The predator was walking to the shore of the Anadyr estuary.
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Anadyr Online

Bear chases child near Whitehorse before mom intercepts, say conservation officers
Yukon conservation officers are patrolling after a black bear chased a child near Whitehorse last weekend. The boy's mom managed to get between her child and the animal.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC

A bear walks the streets of Anadyr
On Thursday, July 16, a bear walking around the city was found in the district capital. This was reported at 2.00 a.m. by a resident of the village of Tavaivaam to the senior operational duty of the Crisis Management Center...
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Анадырь - Онлайн

Woman killed after bear attack in Krasnoyarsk region
A resident of Krasnoyarsk region died as a result of a bear attack in Krasnoyarsk region. Rescuers recommend residents of the region to refrain from visiting the forests.The incident occurred in the Yenisei district. Not far from the village of Baikal, a woman with her husband and child was resting near the lake. A bear came out of the pond and attacked the victim. The predator managed to drive away, after which the husband took the victim to the hospital. The woman died on the way to the medical facility, KrasnoyarskMedia reports.
Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
Известия

New song in Canada's white-throated sparrows
Most bird species are slow to change their songs, preferring to stick with tried-and-true tunes to defend territories and attract females — but this shift went viral across Canada.
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
CBC

Southern resident whales returning later to Salish Sea in ‘drastic’ change
Southern resident killer whales made their first appearance in the Salish Sea on Canada Day after more than two months with only a brief sighting off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Strait of Georgia
Times Colonist

Florida panthers and bobcats are stumbling or can’t walk and scientists suspect it could be poison
Researchers are asking the public for help in identifying a condition that has left endangered panthers in Florida with neurological damage.
Utopia, Florida, United States
Washington Post

Pack of brown bears reported in Magadan region
Bears in the Far East of Russia have become extremely aggressive searching for food. Experts say the number of bear attacks on humans this year is 'unprecedented.'
Takhtoyamsk, Magadan Oblast, Russia
Siberian Times

River Otters (Lutra canadensis) on Bike Trail
River otters observed within Anchorage city limits.

Bears try to move in, Angoon sets boundaries
Furry visitors have kept the residents of Angoon on their toes for the past few weeks. Several bears have made a habit of passing through town.
Angoon, Alaska, United States

Where are the endangered whales? Southern residents haven't been spotted in B.C.'s Salish Sea
Southern resident killer whales which are often spotted in the Salish Sea near Vancouver throughout June haven't been seen this season, and scientists believe that could be because of the lack of chinook salmon.
Salish Sea, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

The Salish Sea’s orcas are late for their annual summer visit, the latest sign something is wrong
Researchers say their absence is a stark reminder that the orcas are slowly starving to death because there is not enough Chinook salmon to sustain them.
Salish Sea
The Star

13-year-old girl bit by sea lion in ‘very rare’ attack at Pismo Beach
A girl from Paso Robles, California, was bit by a sea lion in Pismo Beach on Friday near the pier. The animal that attacked likely had domoic acid poisoning, and will be treated at the Marine Mammal Center.
Pismo Beach, California, United States
The San Luis Obispo Tribune

Bear attacks man in Naknek
The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages
Naknek, Alaska, United States
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Nunavut hunter killed by polar bear and cub
A man from Nunavut has been killed in a polar bear attack, according to local RCMP. A polar bear mother and cub were destroyed at the scene. This is the second fatal polar bear attack in Nunavut this summer
Naujaat, Nunavut
CBC

Bears are coming into Whitehorse looking for berries
The problem is that there just aren't many wild berries this year in southern Yukon. Bears are typically feasting on soap berries and cranberries this time of year, as they try to fatten up before winter.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Are great white sharks sinking their teeth into Bering Sea seals?
There’s only one historical record of a great white shark in the Bering Sea: fishermen caught one nearly 40 years ago. But scientists have reason to believe that in recent years there might be more of the predators around.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Northernmost Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Observation
This most Northerly Bobcat *(Lynx rufus)* observation in the iNaturalist database marks the leading edge of the northward expansion of this species.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
iNaturalist.org

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