"Grayling guts with unknown pearl like cyst or tapeworm. Never seen this before in our grayling."
From the images shared, these appear to be Philemona, a freshwater parasite. Philomena is a food quality concern but is Not considered a human health concern. With proper preparation, the salmon is safe to eat.
White cysts in the muscle of salmon could be caused by Henneguya salminicola also called "tapioca disease". It affects the texture of the meat but is not a health concerns for people. White cysts could also however, be from a tape worm. That is a human health concern. Guidance on how to check the cysts to confirm and how to prepare food so it is safe to eat, is provided.
Foam or saliva-looking substance on seen on flowering plants like fireweed and yarrow.
"Returning from a walk with the dog I was struck by a mass of bizarre fire orange fungus tentacles covering all the stems of some low lying juniper bushed in our driveway. This is the first time I have seen it in 21 years of living here with the same juniper bushes."
One morning in February, 2022 when I went for a walk, I noticed footprints of a four legged animal going in the direction of my path. The footprints looked different from those of dogs and given that I recently read about coyote sightings in the area, I quickly headed home.
About 10% of our catch during dip net fishing at mouth of Kenai River was harboring these worms.
"I am seeing spittlebugs deposits everywhere I look in the Sand Lake area."
"My husband and I have been dipnetting on the Kasilof since 2014. This year we noticed more small fish than usual and all but ~5 of the 35 fish we caught had parasites."
Invasive pigeons have made their way out of Alaska's large cities to fish camps on the west side of Cook Inlet.
We are seeing these little flies every outdoors. I don’t recall them like this in the past.
Small spiny growths on a rosebush resemble spiny galls created by cynipid wasps.
The white spots found in the smelt appear to be tapeworm or nematode larvae. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend cooking fish at about 153 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes or freezing the fish at -4 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 days to kill the larvae before you eat the fish.
Unusually high number of horseflies and wasps observed during a year with temperatures and precipitation levels above normal.
"The fish was easy to mold on the drying rack because the hot summer sun was not coming through the smoke."
If the cysts contain milky, white fluid, they are likely Henneguya, a harmless and relatively common parasite. But if they contain a larvae, they are likely tape worms which can infect people.
Leech found on duck near Selawik.
Unfamiliar insect found near Potters Marsh, identified as a red velvet mite (family Trombidiidae).
An unusual growth was found in a snow goose (Anser caerulescens) while it was being butchered. The growth may be related to a previous injury or illness that the bird healed from.
"Looked normal at first then we started to butcher it found some unusual stuff on the insides."
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