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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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Sled dogs got loose and killed seven reindeer in Alta
Five sled dogs escaped near Jotka in Alta and chased a reindeer herd for up to two hours, leaving seven reindeer dead before owners and a herder regained control. Police have been notified, and the herder seeks an amicable settlement with the dog owners for losses and roundup costs.
Alta, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK

An increase in Anchorage wolf encounters sparks curiosity, not alarm
After spotting six wolves on a trail near her home, one Anchorage resident says she's seen the pack multiple times since late August.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Wolf scare in the village – hunters keep their dogs at home
A wolf-like animal was filmed near Jarhois in Pajala, and a reindeer was found killed the next day in nearby Kardis, prompting local hunters to keep their dogs at home during moose hunting. The sightings have raised concern in the community close to the Övertorneå border.
Kardis, Pajala, Sweden
NSD (Norrländska Socialdemokraten)

Residents in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., urged to take precautions after 3 wolf sightings
Three wolves have been frequenting Fort McPherson, N.W.T.; one was shot this week and two remain. Authorities urge residents to leash and vaccinate dogs, avoid leaving food outside, and note rabies risks; traps have been set for the remaining wolves.
Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

Blue-green algae health alert issued in Loch Moy near Inverness
Authorities have detected blue-green algae in Loch Moy, south of Inverness, and are urging the public and pet owners to avoid contact with the water. Warning signs are being posted as agencies investigate potential health risks.
Loch Moy, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Arviat residents urged to look out for foxes after possible rabies exposure
Residents of Arviat, Nunavut, are cautioned to watch for foxes after a potentially rabid fox, which exhibited abnormal behavior and contacted dogs, was euthanized and sent for testing. The health department emphasizes the urgency of reporting any bites due to the fatal nature of rabies.
Arviat, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Fox tests positive for rabies in Arviat
A fox euthanized after abnormal behaviour in Arviat, Nunavut, has tested positive for rabies, prompting health officials to warn residents to report unusual animal behaviour and seek immediate care after bites or scratches.
Arviat, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Human Disturbance and Shorebird Decline in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Human disturbances, such as off-leash dogs and increased tourism, are causing a decline in shorebird populations at the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, disrupting their critical stopover habitat and reflecting broader global biodiversity challenges.
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Hunting Dog (1.5 years old) Killed by Wolf at Risberget in Åsnes
A rare wolf attack in Risberget, Innlandet, Norway, resulted in the death of a 1.5-year-old Norwegian Elkhound during an elk hunt, highlighting ongoing concerns about wolf-dog interactions in the region.
Åsnes, Innlandet, Norway
NRK

Jellyfish Invasion Raises Dog Safety Concerns
The storm event on October 21st brought an invasion of jellyfish to flooded areas. Eating jellyfishis thought to have resulted in one dog fatality, raising concerns for pet owners across Kotzebue.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Jacqualine Schaeffer, Laurie Meythaler-Mullins, Gay Sheffield, Tom Okey

Fox Attacks House Cat
A fox attack on a house cat in Kotzebue, Alaska, raises concerns about unusual wildlife behavior, potentially linked to diseases like rabies or avian influenza, and highlights the importance of disease prevention and wildlife management.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Russell Cameron , Kimberlee Beckmen, Gemini

Fast-growing Hurricane Milton is officially a Category 5 storm as it nears Florida
Milton grew quickly into a Category 5 storm Monday morning and is forecast to make landfall in Florida midweek.
Tampa, Florida, United States
Alaska Public Media

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
CBC

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."
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

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

Here winter has become two months shorter
Winter will never be the way it was, according to scientists. Towards the end of the century, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute predicts that the winter weather will gradually disappear from Oslo.
Bodø, Nordland, Norway
NRK

Southern temperatures in Northern Norway – warmer in Narvik than in Rome
This morning it was as hot in Narvik as in Rome and Istanbul, and far warmer than countries in southern Europe. However, the mild air is on the wane.
Narvik, Nordland, Norway

Animal tragedy in the Oslo fjord
Hundreds of guillemots go astray in the Oslo fjord every autumn. Many are now starving in the food-poor fjord.
Oslofjorden, Oslo, Norway

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

B.C. veterinarians blame COVID-19 pandemic for rise in kennel cough cases in dogs
The Society of B.C. Veterinarians has noticed more dogs are catching kennel cough this year than in previous years, and they think it might be due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CKNW

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
Alaska Public Media

Scientists suspect "Alaskapox" rash could be spread from small animals
The novel virus has only affected two people, both in Fairbanks. The "Alaskapox" was first identified in 2015 after a Fairbanks woman sought medical attention for a small skin lesion, pained fever and fatigue. In August, a second Fairbanks woman with no known connection to the first was found to have the virus. Scientists suspect both women may have gotten the virus from contact with small wild animals.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Badger on the Finnmark plateau: – very strange, but also very fun
Odd Arne Hætta thought his dog Leo had found an elk, but it turned out to be something else entirely. Badgers are not common so far north but, sporadic cases have been observed in the past, including in Skibotn in Troms.
Čuonjájávri, Kautokeino, Norway
Marie Elise Nystad, Tom Stian Tretnes Hansen

Mushers react to scary closure of chum fishery
A lack of chum salmon is causing pain in riverside communities of Yukon and Alaska, as mushers are left without a traditional source of food.
Old Crow, Yukon, Canada

Veterinarians warn of unusual strain of kennel cough in dogs
A potentially dangerous dog virus is spreading among animals in the Wilmington area.
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

‘It was so unfazed by me’: Woman recounts slobber-covered cat’s encounter with wolverine
Lenny didn’t have a wound on him but hasn’t been the same since, his owner says.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

River otters attack, injure family dog in Anchorage park
The dog’s owner waded waist-deep into Taku Lake and was bitten on his hand while pulling the husky-mix away from the river otters,.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

River Otters (Lutra canadensis) in University Lake
River otters (*Lutra canadensis*) observed in a lake that typically is home to beavers.

Fears Norwegian disease has spread to dogs in Finland
Reports of symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting are being investigated in South Ostrobothnia.
Kristinestad, Ostrobothnia, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Mystery illness kills dogs in Norway
Norwegian authorities said up to 40 dogs had fallen ill with vomiting in at least 13 towns.
Oslo, Norway
BBC News

Getting help from Sweden and Denmark for coping with the rains in Fredrikstad
Nearly 1,000 water damages have been reported following the heavy rainfall night to Sunday.
Fredrikstad, Østfold, Norway

7.0 earthquake, aftershocks strike Southcentral Alaska; damage reported across region
Seismologists called the quake the most significant in the state’s largest city since 1964, in terms of how strong the ground itself shook.
Anchorage Daily News

California fires: Number of missing soars over 1,000 as Paradise reels from unfathomable losses
The death toll in the Camp fire in Northern California rose to 63 Thursday as President Trump planned to visit California to meet with people impacted by the wildfires in what marks his second trip to the state since his election.
Paradise, California, United States
latimes.com
Alene Tchekmedyian, Nicole Santa Cruz, Javier Panzar

Sheriff: toxic algae suspected in dog’s death, 6 other dogs falling ill
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office believes a toxic algae bloom is to blame for killing one dog and making six others sick.
Stuart, Florida, United States
WSVN

Hundreds of Seals Are Dying on the New England Coast
Deaths of gray and harbor seals, in much greater numbers than usual, have been attributed to viruses related to distemper and the flu.
Isles of Shoals, United States
New York Times

Paper Mill Dam: Swimming Hole Monitoring
Paper Mill Dam, Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

Nearly 4 times more bears were shot dead this year in Anchorage than in 2016
Half the bears were killed by people who said they were defending their lives or property. The other half were killed by police, park rangers or wildlife biologists.
Alaska Dispatch News

Bacteria outbreak strikes sea lions on Oregon Coast leading to warning for people and their pets
A leptospirosis bacteria outbreak is making sea lions sick along the Oregon Coast, so state officials are warning people and their dogs to stay away from the animals. The outbreak began in September and likely will last into December, said Jim Rice, a researcher at Oregon State University.
Oregon Coast, United States
The Register-Guard

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