LEO Network

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

Observations

Aftermath of Nov. Storm at Kivalina
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Herring Infection Worsens
A considerable number of the herring catch that’s been landed in recent days has been found to be infected. As such, almost all of it will be incinerated.
Note, according to Fisheries Information and Resource System (FIRMS) the infection rate of herring with Ichthyophonus in Iceland was estimated to be 32% in the in the winter 2008/2009.
Vopnafjörður, Austurland, Iceland
Iceland Review

Finland's wolf population sees up to 50 percent growth this year
According to the Natural Resources Institute (Luke), the wolf population is expanding into the south and west – but winter will once more contain their numbers.
Posio, Lapland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Chemically-cleaned Finnish lake still clear, but now overrun by waterweed
Littoinen Lake made headlines in 2017 when it was chemically treated because it was overwhelmed with phosphorous and algae. Now there is a new problem.
Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland
Yle Uutiset

25 polar bears plus cubs besiege village of Ryrkaypiy in Chukotka
The animals are irritated because they are ready to leave the area and start hunting in the deep sea, but ice is too thin, said Malakhova.
Ryrkaypiy, Russia
Siberia Times

Ecological collapse of Toronto's ravine system has begun, researcher says
Ravines in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CBC News

Italy floods leave 30 dead — 'illegal building' targeted by regional court
At least 30 people have been killed over the past week in storms, tornadoes, floods, mudslides and gale-force winds across Italy.
Palermo, Italy
euronews

'Really shocking': Sperm whales spotted near Pond Inlet
The two whales were spotted just 10 minutes outside of Pond Inlet, surprising local guides and scientists, who say it's a sign of shifts in the ecosystem.
Pond inlet, Nunavut
CBC

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) North of Usual Range
Brown Booby (*Sula leucogaster*) sighted far north of its usual tropical habitat.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Rarely seen whale stranded on Waikato beach dies
A stranded whale on a Waikato beach has died, despite rescuers; best efforts to save it.
Waikato Region, New Zealand
Radio New Zealand

Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) die-off French Beach
Many mature Sitka spruce trees dying off from French Beach south into Sooke along waterfront. Many dead partway up and needles thin.
North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Elizabeth Graham, Jacob Earnshaw, Robin Mulvey

Dangerously high levels of Red Tide found in bivalve shellfish on B.C. coast
The threshold for closure is set at 80 parts per million, but concentration in those areas were found to be as high as 1,300 parts per million.The warning applies to oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and geoduck.
Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada
Global News

Three new humpback whales identified off east Vancouver Island
Three new humpback whales have been identified off the East Coast of Vancouver Island as that species makes a massive comeback in our waters.
Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Three-quarters of Venice underwater as city hit by worst flooding in a decade
At least 11 people were killed across Italy as a result of severe storms, authorities say.
Venezia, Venezia, Italy
CBS News

Red tide has contributed to the deaths of nearly 190 Florida manatees, FWC says
Red tide has contributed to or is suspected in the deaths of nearly 190 manatees so far this year.
Florida, United States
WFTS

Jelly-like Meat Texture Found in Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)
Ringed seal (*Phoca hispida*) found with jelly-like meat texture and thin skin near the armpit and ribcage.
Scammon Bay, Alaska, United States

Canada's dry lakes and dust storms 'warning for planet'
For 300 years, glacial runoff was the major water source for Kluane Lake, flowing in by way of the Slims River. But in May 2016, Kluane Lake levels dropped precipitously. The problem was a case of "river piracy" — incredibly rare, and hugely significant. The terminus or end of the Kaskawulsh glacier had receded enough that a glacial lake that fed the Slims River suddenly drained when the glacier outflow found a new direction to a new river.
Kluane Lake
The Weather Network

Rising Seas Forcing Changes on Maryland's Historic Eastern Shore Farms
Scientists search for options as coastal farms surrender to salt water
Princess Anne, Maryland, United States
VOA

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Gray Catbird found northwest of its normal range.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Dead Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
Dead sea otter (*Enhydra lutris*) found on the beach with no obvious sign of injury although it did show signs of hair loss.
McDonald Spit, Alaska

The Abandoned Graveyards on a Thawing Arctic Island
Climate change is causing trouble on Herschel Island.
Herschel Island, Yukon Territory
Atlas Obscura

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) living near Race Rocks
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, British Columbia, Canada

Large Sea Purse (Big Skate, Raja binoculata?)
Large egg case found on beach, perhaps belonging to a Big Skate (*Raja binoculata*)

The worst U.S. storm landfall since 1935 leaves Northern Mariana Islands devastated
Residents of the U.S. territory were bracing for months without electricity or running water in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu.
Northern Mariana Islands
Anchorage Daily News
Caleb Jones, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Associated Press

Sea Nettle Jellyfish (Chrysaora melanaster) are Landing
Sea Nettle (*Chrysaora melanaster*) jellyfish washed up on the beach.

Cordova windstorm wrecks roofs, sets derelict fish processor adrift
A 100-foot vessel, the Polar Bear, ended up aground on an island across a channel from the town.
Cordova, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Odd Starfish Appearance (Pisaster ochraceus)
Sea Star (*Pisaster ochraceus*) appears sick but is actually healthy.
Larsen Bay, Alaska, United States

Remote Hawaiian island vanishes underwater after hurricane
East Island, a strip of gravel and sand northwest of Honolulu, "appears to be under water" after Hurricane Walaka surged past Hawaii, officials said.
East Island, Hawai'i
USA TODAY

Two rare earthquakes shake western Alaska coast
Two quakes shook the coast of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Tuesday night about 45 miles offshore of the community of Hooper Bay.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Natural anthrax killed 13 bison on farm in northern B.C.
The animals are thought to have contracted the disease from exposure to dormant anthrax spores in the soil of a feeding site on a farm. This is the first documented case of anthrax in livestock in B.C
Fort Saint John, British Columbia, Canada
680 NEWS

Nearly 3,000 people evacuated in Puerto Vallarta
Between two thousand and three thousand are estimated to have been evacuated in Puerto Vallarta, according to estimates by municipal authorities; however,
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta News

Coyote (Canis latrans) Sighting
Uncommon coyote sighting in the Interior.
Fox, Alaska, United States

Possible green Halloween on the horizon in Fairbanks
With Halloween just over a week out, Fairbanks is looking at the potential of a third straight year with minimal snow cover, and a possible first ever green Halloween.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Kodiak rancher says bears have killed 30 head of cattle this year
Chris Flickinger says the number of animals killed by bears is way above average, causing a sizable financial loss.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

The warm-water blob is back off the B.C. coast
The blob is the popular name for a huge patch of warm water that has reached above normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.
Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Ketchikan on 24/7 diesel power for foreseeable future
During Thursday’s Ketchikan City Council meeting, City Manager Karl Amylon said that Ketchikan Public Utilities started switching back and forth between hydro and diesel a few weeks ago, but starting Oct. 15th, extremely low lake levels meant switching completely to diesel.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
KRBD

Seismologist says earthquake may have triggered mudslide on the Haines Highway
Southeast Alaska had a very dry September. Heavy rains returned to the region this month, triggering a large mudslide on the Haines Highway.
Haines, Alaska, United States
KHNS - Haines

'A really, really significant sighting': Vancouver Island birdwatchers aflutter over unusual arrival
It's believed the pine bunting has never been seen south of Alaska — until this week.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
CBC

'Son of the blob': Unseasonably warm weather creating new anomaly off B.C. coast
A meteorologist says unseasonably warm weather in B.C. is once again causing a large area of the Pacific Ocean to heat up considerably, emulating a phenomenon from past years known as the “blob.”
Gulf of Alaska
CBC

Warm early winter topples century-old records
For the first time in more than a century with no recorded snow -- not even a trace -- this late in October, as of Tuesday the 16th. On top of that, warm weather across the state is setting marks for the latest freeze date on record.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Unusual Squid Found on Shoreline
Squid are becoming more common on the shoreline over the past few years.
Aleksandrovsk, Alaska, United States

Potentially deadly infection hits California sea lions
A rescue center says California sea lions are coming down with a potentially fatal bacterial infection in near-record numbers.The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito says more than 220 sea lions rescued this year have been diagnosed with leptospirosis.
Sausalito, California, United States
ABC News

Missing Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) Bed
Large bull kelp (*Nereocystis luetkeana*) bed near the 1st channel marker, which used to attract sea otters, has disappeared.
Larsen Bay, Alaska, United States
David Harmes, Joy Britt, Mandy Lindeberg

'It's like a war zone': Nun among 12 dead as flash flooding hits France
In what the local weather agency said was some of the worst flash floods the Aude river has seen in more than a century, the heavy rainfall brought the equivalent of up to seven months' rain fell in just a few hours.
Villegailhenc, Aude, France
ABC News

20°C in October, Autumn temperature records broken
October temperature records were broken on Sunday afternoon, with the mercury surpassing 20°C in many places, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
Ylivieska, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa, Finland
Yle Uutiset

One killed as Wales battered by storms
Rivers burst their banks, homes were flooded and travel was impacted as Wales was battered by Storm Callum.
Wales, United Kingdom
BBC News

At least 34 dead after Uganda landslide
At least 34 people have been killed after a river in eastern Uganda burst its banks, sending thick sludge and rocks barreling into homes.
Bukalasi, Uganda
The Times of India

Magnitude of Storm Callum captured as Scots hit by landslides and 70mph winds
The stunning image from the University of Dundee shows the scale of the extreme weather engulfing the country. And it comes as heavy rain has caused further landslips delaying the reopening of the key roadways.
Scotland, United Kingdom
The Scottish Sun

European aspen still in summer foliage
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

Feed the birds, people urged
The latest group to feel the ongoing effect of Iceland’s poor summer weather this year is the country’s bird population. With few berries and seeds on trees and bushes in the southern half of the country, experts worry for the birds’ survival this winter.
Reykjavík, Reykjavík, Iceland
RÚV

Catching some hell; Hurricane Michael slams into Florida
Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle with terrifying winds of 155 mph Wednesday, splintering homes and submerging neighborhoods before continuing its destructive march inland across the Southeast.
Port Saint Joe, Florida, United States
AP NEWS

Bad weather impacts grain harvest
Grain harvests in North Iceland this autumn do not look encouraging, farmers say. A frost in late August damaged the corn and wet weather in the autumn has delayed harvests.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland
RÚV

Warm weather prompts migratory birds to extend stay in Finland
Unusually mild weather and foggy mornings have caused many migratory birds to delay their departure south, according to Birdlife Finland.
Muhos, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa, Finland

Officials Weighing Options As North Strabane Landslide Threatens More Homes
More rain fell over the weekend, which is adding to the urgency in North Strabane, where a landslide has led to the demolition of two homes.
Strabane, Pennsylvania, United States
KDKA

Whaling captain, crew member die in boating accident
The two men, who were both part of an active whaling crew, were in one of the boats on a towline, towing a whale to shore, when their boat flipped, according to fellow whalers who were there when it happened.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Late blooming iris (Iris setosa) and lowbush cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
During fall time, we only hand pick when the blackberries turn brown. As I was picking I saw this wild iris, like it bloomed just a few days ago. I was very awed to see this flower in October.
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Powerful winds rock Baffin Island, sending debris flying through Iqaluit
Nunavut is bracing for another day where wind gusts could reach 140 km/h after severe weather sent debris flying through the streets of the territory's capital overnight.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Vancouver temperatures hit an all-time record low yesterday
The low temperature in Vancouver hit a chilling 1.6°C, breaking an all-time low that's stood in place since 1937 when temperature gauges hit 2.8°C.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Daily Hive

Officials warn of potentially lethal levels of biotoxin in Bellingham Bay mussels
The Whatcom County Health Department is warning residents that PSP a common biotoxin is now at potentially lethal levels in mussels harvested in Bellingham Bay.
Bellingham, Washington, United States
Longview Daily News

Arctic communities won't get crucial supplies after barge cancelled due to excess sea ice
Three Arctic communities fear they've been cut off from crucial winter supplies and other necessities after a government-owned company cancelled an annual barge run.
Paulatuk, Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay
Global News

Another minke whale washes ashore dead in Marshfield, adding to 'exceptional' year of die-offs
The whale washed up in the Brant Rock neighborhood, the second in the past two months.
Marshfield, Massachusetts, United States
masslive.com

Adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Snatches a Seagull
Bald eagle feeds on seagull
Larsen Bay, Alaska, United States

Foam in Womens Bay
Sea foam collecting on the beach where it is not normally seen.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

‘Mosquito-pocalypse’: North Carolina residents battle massive bugs after hurricane
Massive, aggressive mosquitoes are swarming North Carolina weeks after Hurricane Florence tore through the region.
Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States
Global News

Drought in a Rain Forest
The Tongass Forest in southeast Alaska, a temperate rain forest, is experiencing record-low precipitation and severe drought conditions, impacting community hydroelectricity production.
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

Hot weather impacts growing conditions in Pakistan
Weather conditions including drought are effecting vegetation in Punjab and other areas of Pakistan.
Gojra, Punjab, Pakistan

Beetle damage skyrockets to nearly 1 million acres in Southcentral Alaska
The latest tally of beetle kill shows more than 550,000 acres of forest with dead spruce from the ongoing infestation this year alone, much of it in Mat-Su.
Knik-Fairview, Alaska, United States

Delphiniums (Delphinium glaucum) Growing Again
Delphiniums (*Delphinium glaucum*) are still growing late in to the season.
Grayling, Alaska, United States

Accelerating Erosion at Kincaid Beach
Erosion of Kincaid beach bluffs accelerated compared to previous years.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) off Haida Gwaii
An adult dark morph Red-footed Booby came into BC waters at 2pm on Sept 27-2018. He was first discovered on Sept 22-2018 by Kyle Brynjolfson, as it flew onto his commercial fishing vessel "La Porsche."
West of Haida Gwaii
BC Rare Bird Alert

Parasite found in walrus meat in Sanikiluaq, warns health department
A walrus has tested positive for trichinella, also known as “pork worm” in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut according to the territorial health department.
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, Canada

Scientists stumble across endangered whale not seen in Canada in years
An endangered whale that has only been seen off Canada's west coast twice in the last 50 years has been seen alive and well in BC waters.
Canada's Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone
CTVNews

Record levels of toxic blue-green algae invade Lake Agawam in Southampton
Toxic blue-green algae were found in record levels in Southampton’s Lake Agawam earlier this month, capping a summer during which a dozen South Fork lakes and ponds were closed due to high levels of the harmful bacteria.
Southampton, New York, United States
Newsday

Beluga whale sighting in Britain’s River Thames
An off-course beluga whale was spotted splashing around near London, and Brits can’t quite believe it.
Gravesend, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Washington Post

Home break-ins by black bears surge in Connecticut suburbs
In recent months, bears have shredded a car’s interior, wandered into a liquor store, even woken residents in their own bedrooms.
Canton, Connecticut, United States
Associated Press

Across the Arctic, bubbling lakes are leaking carbon dioxide, methane and other dangerous greenhouse gases
Set against the austere peaks of the Western Brooks Range, the lake, looked like it was boiling. Its waters hissed, bubbled and popped as a powerful greenhouse gas escaped from the lake bed.
Western Brooks Range, Alaska
National Post

Investigating threats from invasive species in the Aleutians Islands
The results of the Plate Watch program only indicated one invasive species in the area, Caprella mutica, otherwise known as the Japanese skeleton shrimp.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Alaska Sea Grant

Another Southern Resident killer whale is losing body condition, and researchers are concerned about the pregnant females
Salish Sea
Candace Calloway Whiting

How much has this caribou herd dropped since 2001? 99 per cent
The George River caribou herd, which straddles Labrador and Quebec, is in a critical state, according to biologists.
Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Seabirds found with more than 250 pieces of plastic lodged in their stomachs
Scientists examining the devastating impact plastics are having on the world's oceans have identified seabirds with more than 250 man made objects lodged in their stomachs.
The Telegraph

‘Rare September thunderstorm’ brews after fall’s first big windstorm hits Southcentral
Lightning strikes seen Monday in Cook Inlet and on the Kenai Peninsula were heading toward South Anchorage, a meteorologist said.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Nunavut hunter calls for changes to polar bear rules after fatal summer attacks
A hunter from Arviat says more polar bears seem to have no fear at all of human activity. He says recent human-polar bear conflicts have left hunters feeling scared and helpless to defend themselves.
Arviat, Nunavut, Canada

Spread of the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) into Southern Ontario
Welland, Ontario, Canada

Trash and a shortage of wild foods are creating a ‘perfect storm’ of bear trouble in Alaska cities
Black bears have taken over a Juneau arboretum, shut down a fish-cleaning facility in Cordova and added to an unusually high year of bear kills in Anchorage, prompting one wildlife authority to call this summer the "craziest" year of bear encounters he's seen.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Warmer Arctic waters attract surprising visitors: clams, fish and whales
Ice in the north Bering Sea is diminishing, researchers aboard a Coast Guard ship report.
Washington Post

Unusually warm weather ‘obliterating’ September records in Anchorage, while dry streak continues
You're not imagining things: September's weather has been one for the record books, for both the warm weather and unusual streak of sunny days.

Dead and dying birds rain down in unexplained occurrence in B.C. community
A British Columbia man who witnessed dozens of birds falling from the sky just south of Vancouver says he was horrified by the sight.
Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada
National Post

Edmonton on way to new snowfall record for Sept. 21
Edmonton is on its way to the snowiest Sept. 21 since 1968, perhaps not what people wanted to see on the last full day of summer, says Dan Kulak, meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

A veil of spider webs is taking over entire town
The phenomenon is rare, although the webs have appeared before in other parts of the country. According to arachnologist Maria Chatzaki, they are always from the same type of spider: the Tetragnatha genus, a tiny critter no longer than 2 centimeters, or 0.7 inches.
Aitoliko, West Greece, Greece
WTAE

Angry Canadian crabs invade coast of Maine
While their main target appears to be the region's soft-shell clam population, they're also munching through acres of eelgrass, a native flowering plant that shelters and nourishes life under the sea.
Coastal Maine, United States
Mother Nature Network

87 days of smog: Southern California just saw its longest streak of bad air in decades
Southern California went 87 days without a clean air day, the longest stretch of consecutive ozone pollution violations in at least 20 years. Regulators blame the persistence in pollution on hot, stagnant weather and are studying whether climate change is driving it.
Los Angeles, California, United States
latimes.com

A 300-metre-long spiderweb has been woven in Greece
There's nothing for humans to worry about. Gnats, on the other hand...
Aitoliko, West Greece, Greece

Late-blooming Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)
Fireweed blooming in mid-late September after other plants have gone to seed.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Another Landslide Hits The Philippines
At least 15 people are dead and dozens more are missing.
Naga City, Naga, Philippines
New York Times

Rare birds stop off in Iceland
Two bird species that breed in the northernmost parts of the world are currently on a rare visit to Iceland as they make their way south for the winter.
Gardur, Southern Peninsula, Iceland
RÚV

The sea around Denmark hit by marine heat waves
Waters are up to eight degrees warmer waters than normal. DTU Aqua is conducting research into the impact of climate change on marine fauna and flora.
Skagerrak
DTU Aqua

Discolored Spruce (Picea sitchensi) in Seldovia
Spruce branch girdling causing discoloration in tree.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Mass die-off of clams fouls Revere Beach
The Division of Marine Fisheries is analyzing the clams and expects to have preliminary results in the coming days that might point to a cause.
Revere, Massachusetts, United States
The Boston Globe

Discolored Spruce (Picea sitchensis) Trees
Discolored spruce (*Picea sitchensis*) needles

For methane researcher, golf course bubbles are a first
“It’s an area that I and some other colleagues have started thinking about: can you get methane forming in terrestrial environments? But it’s a very new area of science,” carbon scientist Katey Walter Anthony said.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Ravenna Koenig, Alaska's Energy Desk - Fairbanks

Calls of bear sightings are up around Juneau. But why?
Last year, Fish and Game and the Juneau Police Department received roughly 470 calls about bear activity. By the end of August this year, they had already fielded more than 600.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Denver extends heat wave record for September with ninth consecutive 90-degree day
Denver's hot weather keeps on sizzling, tying a record for consecutive 90-degree days in September.
Denver, Colorado, United States
The Denver Post

Quebec farm under quarantine after animal with chronic wasting disease discovered in Laurentians
This is the first time CWD, which affects the nervous systems of deer and elk and has no known cure, has been discovered in the province.
Quebec, Canada

You're not imagining it — September is colder than usual in Yellowknife
According to Environment Canada, not even halfway through September, Yellowknife has already broken cold records for three days.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

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

Thousands of Pacific walruses again herd up on Alaska coast
Walruses over the last decade have come to shore on the Alaska and Russia sides of the Chukchi Sea as sea ice diminishes because of global warming.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) in Lund/Powell River
At 12pm on Sept 13-2018, while kayaking; Ken Wright found a 3rd cycle Black-tailed Gull near Lund. The bird was resting on Major Islet whic...
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada
BC Rare Bird Alert

'Absolutely abysmal': Alberta farmers lament early arrival of snow in harvest season
Farmers in Edmonton and into northern Alberta, still have plenty of crop out on the fields and the early arrival of winter conditions does not bode well for harvest season.
Gibbons, Alberta, Canada
Edmonton Journal

Ticks arriving in Yukon as stowaways
Yukon's animal health unit says there were four ticks found on people and pets in the territory this summer. Lab results revealed three different species of ticks including the rocky mountain wood tick and the American dog tick — are not found in Yukon.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Low Coastal Cloud Ceiling on Landing
White, puffy, clouds unusually close to the land.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Salmon fishing closes on large stretch of Columbia
The counts of fall Chinook at Bonneville Dam are 29 percent below preseason forecasts, and ongoing fisheries are approaching the allowable catch limits under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Columbia River, Washington, United States
The Columbian

33.48 tons of dead fish collected in Pinellas County as red tide bloom lingers
Red tide is officially impacting Pinellas County. Crews have picked up a total of 33.48 tons of dead fish and hauled them off to the county dump.
Madeira Beach, Florida, United States
WFTS

Coyote believed first sighted in Beaufort Delta region since 1974
A coyote caught on camera in the Richardson Mountain range is the first spotted in the region in decades, a wildlife biologist says.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

High And Dry: Swiss Army Airlifts Water To Cows In Drought-Stricken Mountains
Water scarcity and heat are threatening two of Switzerland's main agricultural products: milk and cheese. But the shortage affects far more than cows — Swiss glaciers also feed Europe's major rivers.
Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
NPR.org

Scientists baffled by number of whale deaths on the coasts of Scotland and Ireland
Scientists are baffled by a wave of whale deaths - which saw more carcasses wash up on the coasts of Scotland and Ireland in the past month than in the previous decade.
Scotland & Ireland
The Scotsman

When Heavy Rain, Erosion and Gravity Cause the Earth to Give Way
In the mountainous areas like western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, heavy rainfall is not just a hassle, but can lead to problems exacerbated by the region’s constrained topography.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Route Fifty

Russian salmon fishermen dumping excess catch
Salmon harvesters in the Far East parts of Russia have landed so much fish that they have begun to dump some of their excess catch wherever they can, forcing the region to confront an epidemic of rancid, rotting salmon.
Kamchatka, Russia
Moscow Times

DOT officials puzzle over soggy ground – with no recent rain – at site of Seward Highway landslide
State transportation workers found wet ground may have contributed to the small landslide, despite the lack of recent rain.

Seaweed Takes Over Popular Beach at the Grand Turk Cruise Center
Sargassum Seaweed has invaded the beach at the Grand Turk cruise center which is popular with cruise ship passengers.
Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos Islands
Cruise Hive

Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis) in Bloom WAY Out of Season
Prickly rose plant is blooming when others have gone to hips.

Shellfish Warning
Crescent City, California, United States

Shooting of bear highlights ‘infestation’ in Cordova after poor salmon returns
Residents speculate the black bears are venturing into town because they're hungry, after a poor run of pink salmon and rainy weather that hurt the abundance of berries, limiting food for the animals.
Cordova, Alaska, United States

Indian Summer: Unusually Warm September
Unusually warm September temperatures.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Residents of Aklavik spotting more grizzly bears in town
About 10 grizzly bears have been living at the community dump in Aklavik, N.W.T., this summer. Arey said a couple of bears were destroyed earlier this summer, but said more may need to be killed as residents are still seeing the bears coming into the community near homes.
Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Late-blooming Clover (Trifolium pratense L.?) or Perhaps Second Bloom?
"They are extremely fresh-looking, as if it were the springtime."

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) in Kelowna
At 4:30pm on Sept 9-2018, 15 year old Kalin Ocana found a female Orchard Oriole at Munson Pond. The bird was sitting in the grass at this l...
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
BC Rare Bird Alerts

Unusual September weather pattern brings sunshine to Southcentral Alaska
“We typically don’t see this type of pattern in September,” an Anchorage meteorologist said. Anchorage's record high temperature was broken on both Friday and Saturday.

Sargassum harasses South Florida during worst seaweed assault on record
South Florida beaches faced a sargassum assault this summer that some scientists believe is part of the largest spread of the nomadic marine weed on record, and one that could continue through September.
Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Palm Beach Post

Was it a tornado? Power outages persist from yesterday’s storm
Brunswick schools are closed today and CMP crews are out 'in full force' after Thursday's brief but intense thunderstorm.
Brunswick, Maine, United States
Press Herald

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

Changing ice conditions clear way for historic fuel delivery by barge to Alaska's North Slope
An Alaska company says changing ice conditions in the North Slope area have allowed it to make a bulk fuel delivery to Prudhoe Bay by barge for the first time.
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Bald Eagle Pairs (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Abandoned Nests
Bald eagles (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) disappeared from usual nesting spot.

16th Arctic-based emergency of the year involved, fog, ice, and a sinking sailboat
The men became trapped on August 29th in the ice and their vessel began to sink. They activated their emergency radio beacon and abandoned the sailboat.

Toronto beats temperature record as students swelter in schools without AC
Students and teachers at hundreds of Toronto schools without air conditioning sweltered their way through record-breaking heat on Wednesday, as the city’s largest school board said it understood why some parents might choose to keep their children at home.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CTVNews

Rare sighting of lone Brown Pelican in Oak Bay waters
Bird is uncharacteristically alone and far from home
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria News

Irish summer heatwave sees Shannon record hottest day in over 70 years
Ireland's highest temperature was reported at Shannon Airport, Co Clare on June 28 reaching a high of 32.0 °C, its highest since 1946. The summer of 2018 will be remembered for the scorching heatwave and drought conditions that affected the whole country.
Shannon, Clare County, Ireland
The Irish Sun

Gulf of Maine Water Temperatures Soar Near Record Highs After Ocean 'Heat Wave'
NOAA and NASA satellites measured an average sea-surface temperature of 68.93 degrees Fahrenheit in the Gulf of Maine on Aug. 8, only 0.05 degrees below the all-time record high of 68.98 set in 2012. It is the epicenter of the U.S. lobster fishing industry, an important feeding ground for rare North Atlantic right whales .
Gulf of Maine
The Weather Channel

May-August period was the warmest on record in Finland, says FMI
It was the hottest summer in the 174-year history of weather records in Helsinki, and the second hottest in the 118-year history of the weather station in Sodankylä, Lapland.
Finland
Helsinki Times

Erie records record-high temperature of 93 Wednesday
The 93-degree temperature was recorded at 2:13 p.m.
Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
GoErie.com

Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) in Campbell River
Guy Monty and Mark Wynja photographed a Common Ringed Plover at Oyster Bay on Sept 5-2018. They were there to view a reported Buff-breasted...
Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
BC Rare Bird Alert

Squirrel population surges in Northeast, as does roadkill
Biologists say plentiful food and other conditions are helping the rodents to thrive, and now the young ones are hitting the road.
Cape Neddick, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Dawson City had wettest August in 54 years
According to Environment Canada’s senior climatologist David Phillips, it was the third-wettest August in Dawson since records began in 1897.
Dawson, Yukon, Canada

Small Deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) Found with Signs of Injury or Illness
Small, approachable, deer found with possible broken jaw, discolored saliva, and injury on hindquarter.

Poaching: Almost 90 elephants dead in biggest ever slaughter in Africa
Botswana's 2018 Wildlife Aerial Survey has revealed large-scale poaching of the country's elephants with conservationists saying so far, 87 carcasses have been found.
The South African

Farmed Salmon Caught in Icelandic Rivers
Three farmed salmon have been caught in the Westfjords this season. Farmed salmon have a tendency to swim up rivers later in the season than wild salmon, meaning the true number of escapees may not be apparent until the end of the fishing season.
Isafjordur, Westfjords, Iceland
Iceland Review

Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) mortality from drought stress
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

After 3 days, ‘stressed’ sea lion that ventured into Sitka can’t find its way back to the ocean
Why did the sea lion cross the road? Scientists don't know yet.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Indigenous reindeer herders request emergency aid after drought, wildfires
The Swedish Saami Association is demanding a comprehensive aid package from Stockholm after a season of unprecedented drought and wildfire ravaged the country, including key reindeer grazing areas.
Swedish Sapmi
RCI | English

Pod of Pilot Whales Unexpectedly Spotted in Westfjords
A marine biologist at the Marine and Freshwater Research institute who specializes in whales says that it’s rare for pilot whales to venture so far north, but said that it’s possible that the pilot whales' appearance in Iceland’s waters can be credited to warming ocean temperatures.
Isafjordur, Westfjords, Iceland
Iceland Review

Tons Of Dead Fish Washing Ashore On Florida Beaches
Southwest Florida is reeling from a toxic algae bloom called red tide. Hundreds of tons of dead fish are washing up on beaches.
Bradenton, Florida, United States
NPR.org

Severe Bank Erosion from Permafrost Thaw
Thawing and eroding is destroying river bank, impacting access, threatening infrastructure, and causing safety concerns.
Selawik, Alaska, United States

Boston breaks temperature record
The temperature at Logan International Airport rose to 97 degrees shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, topping a record set in 1953.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
BostonGlobe.com

Fewer Summer Insects
I started looking for insects months ago only to find them significantly absent from this area.
Marietta, Georgia, United States

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

Late Blooming Rose (Rosa acicularis) Documented in Newspaper
Front page of the Daily News-Miner documents a late blooming rose during a colder than average August.

Survivor recalls deadly encounter with polar bears
A Nunavut hunter who survived a polar bear attack that killed one of his friends last week says the encounter started when a mother bear and her cub approached their camp.
Nunavut, Canada

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

Maine heat flirts with the record books, disrupting some school schedules
Temperatures in southern Maine topped 90 degrees Tuesday and are expected to do the same Wednesday, prompting school officials to dismiss students early and cancel sports practices, and sending people flocking to beaches.
Portland, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Hawaii’s rain from Hurricane Lane, topping 50 inches, is among most extreme in U.S. records
The total amount of rain, measured in feet, soared to historic levels: Over four feet or 52.02 inches were measured on Mountain View, about 15 miles southwest of Hilo.
Hilo, Hawaii, United States

Giant 50,000 pound whale washes up on beach shore
Scientists are working to find the cause of death of a massive 50,000 pound whale that washed up on shore.
Duxbury, Massachusetts, United States
ABC13 Houston

Red sunset in store as North American wildfire smoke spreads across Finland
Seija Paasonen has been tracking the patterns of the North American forest fires for several weeks now. She says that the smoke has traveled as far as Europe owing to wind patterns in the upper atmosphere.
Kainuu, Finland

Tornado strikes Icelandic farm
A large 4x4 with trailer was found overturned in a ditch, fencing had been flattened, and roof panels from seven buildings were found 100 metres away from their roofs when the family returned to Norðurhjáleiga farm.
Kirkjubaejarklaustur, South, Iceland

Record Numbers Of Beaked Whale Deaths Cause Alarm
The IWDG says a minimum of 16 beaked whale deaths were recorded along the North West coast of Ireland from Galway to Donegal between 3 and 22 August, 2018.
Galway, Ireland
Afloat.ie

More than 1,000 dead fish at Malibu Lagoon may be tied to record-warm ocean temperatures
California State Parks scientists are running tests this week to determine what caused about 1,500 fish to die in Malibu Lagoon last week, but officials suspect higher-than-normal water temperatures may have played a role.
Malibu, California
latimes.com

2nd right whale death of year reported off of Massachusetts
A member of a species of critically endangered whale that is struggling with poor reproduction has been found dead off of Massachusetts.
Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States
Associated Press

Rare Walrus Sighting in East Iceland
A lone hiker in East Iceland found a wandering walrus, and managed to snap some fantastic photos.
Isafjordur, Westfjords, Iceland

'No grass': Europe's livestock sector stricken by drought
Mediterranean countries long ago adapted their farming practices to little rain, but this year it is the north of Europe confronting a widespread drought that could see farmers having to send much of their herds to slaughter due to a lack of feed.
Northern Europe
YAHOO!

Spruce Rust (Chrysomyxa ledicola) Appearing on Spruce Trees (Picea mariana)
The spruce along the highway between mile 157 and 162 show signs of stress, the tips of the branches are orangish and the deep green of the trees are fading.
Slana, Alaska, United States

Full report: Damage exceeds $100 million as Madison area braces for more rain, flooding in wake of this week's massive deluge
Record-setting rainfall caused massive flooding in Dane County that killed a man, washed out roads and bridges and heavily damaged property.
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Wisconsin State Journal

Investigators, experts ask questions after ship grounded in Arctic
Investigators are on their way to Kugaaruk, Nunavut, after a passenger boat ran aground in the area.
Kugaaruk, Nunavut, Canada

Tests find dead seals had avian flu and distemper viruses
Many of the dead seals that washed ashore in northern New England in the past few weeks tested positive for either avian influenza or phocine distemper virus, but it is still too soon to say if those viruses are the primary causes of the unusual die-off.
Portland, Maine, United States
Lewiston Sun Journal

Reindeer herders say that if they don't get emergency funding, the animals may starve to death
“This is about the survival of the reindeer, and of Sami culture, which depends on them,” said Niila Inga, chair of the Swedish Sami Association.
Dikanäs, Västerbottens län, Sweden
Newsweek

High River Water Overflow
Heavy spring precipitation leads to strong river flow, sweeping away cabin and fish rack.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Bracing for Lane: County, state prepare as significant rain, flooding and high winds are expected from hurricane - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
President Trump approved Gov. David Ige’s request for a disaster declaration Wednesday as powerful Hurricane Lane spiraled closer to Hawaii.
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Nine Whales Stranded in Eastfjords
Nine whales have been stranded so far this year in East Iceland. Bottlenose whales and Curvier’s beaked whales are members of the family Ziphiidae and it’s often been said that they are more sensitive to noise pollution in the ocean.
Reykjavík, Reykjavík, Iceland

New England Seals Test Positive for Avian Flu and Distemper
Preliminary results suggest that avian flu and/or phocine distemper virus may be contributing to the elevated seal strandings in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts since June 1, 2018.
Lewiston, Maine, United States
NOAA

Drought has volunteers walking Cowichan Lake area’s dry rivers and creek-beds looking for stranded fish fry
Plans are underway for raising the weir: a reflection of widespread concern, says Ken Traynor
Cowichan Lake Area, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Hot, arid summer guts a third of Sweden's cereal harvest
An unusually dry, hot summer means Sweden will see smaller yields of crops like wheat, barley and oats.
Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
Eye on the Arctic

McCarthy Road reopened after being rocked by mudslide
Rain caused mudslides are affecting roads in the southeastern Interior. The Alaska Department of Transportation reports that the McCarthy Road was shut down by a slide last night. Listen now
McCarthy, Alaska, United States

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) in Port Renfrew
A White-winged Dove was photographed at the Port Renfrew Marina at 11:57 am on August 22-2018 but was misidentified as a Band-tailed Pigeon...
Port Renfrew, British Columbia, Canada

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) near Malcolm Island
Gord Curry and Ted Down found an adult Brown Booby sitting on a log in Queen Charlotte Strait, NW of Pultney Point Lighthouse on Malcolm Island, while they were fishing.
Queen Charlotte Strait

‘Atmospheric river’ from the tropics pours rain on Southcentral Alaska
Days of rain have triggered flooding in Cordova and slowed drivers on the Taylor Highway and McCarthy Road.
Cordova, Alaska, United States

Arctic’s strongest sea ice breaks up for first time on record
The oldest and thickest sea ice in the Arctic has started to break up, opening waters north of Greenland that are normally frozen. This phenomenon – which has never been recorded before – has occurred twice this year due to warm winds and a climate-change driven heatwave in the northern hemisphere.
Northern Greenland
the Guardian

Damage widespread, 1 dead after record rainfall causes flash flooding in Dane County
An epic rainfall swept one man to his death, washed out bridges, swamped homes, cars and businesses, and marooned dozens of shoppers overnight at a Middleton discount store Monday.
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
madison.com
BILL NOVAK, ROB SCHULTZ and CHRIS HUBBUCH Wisconsin State Journal

Northernmost American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) Observation on iNaturalist
The American Bullfrog is native to the Eastern United States and southern maritime provinces of Canada. It has famously spread west and now north in recent decades.
Inland Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
iNaturalist.org

6.4 earthquake was the strongest ever recorded in region
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake rattled a remote region of Alaska's North Slope southeast of Prudhoe Bay Sunday morning. The state seismologist called it the biggest quake ever recorded in the region.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

New Mexico plateau named for birds seeing them die off
A 10-year study on the Pajarito Plateau shows a 73 percent decrease in abundance and a 45 percent decrease in variety of species.
Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
Santa Fe New Mexican

Rare snowfall reported in Uruguay
Brazilian and North American meteorologists both agreed it was snow that was seen falling in parts of Uruguay on Sunday, August 19, 2018. Since Uruguay is located within the temperate zone of the tropic of Capricorn, the country has warm summers and ...
Uruguay
The Watchers - Daily news service | Watchers.NEWS

Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Sighting in Utqiaġvik
Unusual Stellar sea lion (*Eumetopias jubatus*) sighting in Utqiaġvik.

Rare Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) Sighting
Wood frog sighted on trail.
Ester, Alaska, United States

A summer without insect stings
Fewer wasp and mosquito interactions in Anchorage in 2018 than typical.

NOAA survey shows shocking lack of thermal barrier between northern and southern Bering Sea
The “thermal curtain” is another expression for “cold pool” that acts as a barrier to keep some species—pollock and Pacific cod, for example — from migrating across the eastern Bering Sea shelf and northward toward the Bering Strait. For the first time in 37 years of surveying the Bering Sea, we could not find the cold water barrier.
Diomede, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Unidentified Beetle Pupa Found Near River Bank
Unidentified beetle pupa found near camp on a river bank.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Race against time: Engineers use Apex River to refill Iqaluit's water supply
Stantec engineering designed the plans for pumping water from the Apex River to Lake Geraldine, the city's reservoir, which has lower water levels than in years past.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Hundreds Killed as Kerala, India, Hit by Worst Floods Since 1920s
Torrential rains left at least 324 people dead, and hundreds of thousands more have been made homeless.
Kerala, India
New York Times

Thick smoke in the Alberni Valley, lasting days
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

B.C. declares state of emergency as hundreds of wildfires burn across province
The British Columbia government has declared a state of emergency to support the provincewide response to the ongoing wildfire situation.
British Columbia, Canada

Over 30 dead harbor seals wash ashore in southern Maine in 2 days
Marine mammal experts are testing tissue samples for a potential common cause of the surge in carcasses found on the state's beaches this year.
Saco, Maine, United States

High Concentrations of PCB in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) sample
High concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyls found in blue mussels.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States

Support

Observation Template