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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

Hemorrhagic Disease Reported in Deer in Numerous Counties
Scattered observations of sick and dead deer due to an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease have been reported in numerous counties across the Mountains, Piedmont and Coastal Plain of North Carolina over the last month. Officials with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are asking that citizens report dead or obviously sick deer to their local district wildlife biologist to help monitor the impact of the disease on deer herds across the state.
North Carolina, United States
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

Good, though late, berry picking season
The berry picking promises to be good all over Iceland this year, even though it is starting late, due to the cool, wet summer. Arna, the lactose-free dairy company based in Bolungarvík, has already received a tonne of wild bilberries, which will be used in yoghurt for sale in shops all over Iceland.
Iceland
RÚV

Drought-related disaster declared in Rhode Island, most of New England experiencing drought conditions
Federal officials have declared a drought-related disaster in Rhode Island while New England’s second-largest city is restricting outdoor water use as the drought in the Northeast worsens.
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Connecticut Public

Fort Smith residents should expect heavy smoke this week as wildfire burns 38 kilometres away
There's a wildfire burning near Fort Smith, N.W.T., about 9,000 hectares in size. Fire crews are currently at the scene. People are being evacuated from the Taltson Dam area "out of an abundance of caution," the territory says.
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

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

Researchers find high concentrations of harmful algae in regional waters
Researchers stepping off the research vessel Norseman II in Nome last weekend, brought significant news of having found very high concentrations of a phytoplankton called Alexandrium catenella in regional waters. Alexandrium is an algae that can produce saxitoxins, which can cause dangerous paralytic shellfish poisoning in people. The scientists issued an advisory, notifying Norton Sound Health Corporation, UAF Sea Grant and the Alaska Division of Public Health.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Strange eggs observed in grass
Unidentfied deposits or growth was observed covering plant in Larsen Bay.
Larsen Bay, Alaska, United States
Brandie Radigan, Teresa Carlson, Derek Sikes

Landslides close dock, cause cruise stop cancellations in Skagway
At least 36 ships will skip scheduled stops in Skagway this summer because the cruise dock closed after a landslide sent debris toppling from the mountain above.
Skagway, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Mat-Su flooding closes roads, threatens homes after deluge soaks Talkeetna Mountains
August 9, 2022 Borough officials said multiple roads were closed Tuesday and more were being monitored after several days of rain.
Houston, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Salmon run disrupted by trench dug across Coquihala River
There were alternatives for Trans Mountain Corporation to digging a trench in the river to lay pipe during the time the salmon were running.
Hope, British Columbia, Canada

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

Algae bloom continuing to affect North Pond in Rome, Smithfield
The algae on North Pond began blooming about two weeks ago during a patch of hot weather, making the pond resemble a bowl of pea soup, according to Danielle Wain, lake science director for 7 Lakes Alliance, which works to preserve land and water in the Belgrade Lakes region.
Norridgewock, Maine, United States
Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel

Two cases of suspected avian flu found in Nunavut
In Sanikiluaq, the suspected case was discovered in a thick-billed murre, which is a large seabird, on Coats Island. In Cambridge Bay, one was detected in a herring gull. It has been detected in birds in all 10 provinces and the Yukon so far.
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Coastal Maine enters severe drought conditions as dry weather continues
Eight counties on the coast have gone from moderate to severe drought status since last week, according to the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Meanwhile, almost one-third of the state remains in moderate drought, and wells across the state are beginning to run dry.
Cape Elizabeth, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Drought is killing the economy in the French Alps
The French Alps region is getting hit hard by drought, most likely exacerbated by climate change. And that's putting the entire economy there in serious jeopardy, because where there's no water, there are no tourists. Summertime in the Alps sees tourists visit for rafting and swimming. In the winter, skiing is what attracts visitors from all over. At least one resort is trying
Les Houches, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
The World from PRX

Hunters seeing lower quotas for Fortymile, Nelchina caribou herds
08-03-22 In response to declining numbers of Fortymile and Nelchina caribou, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is taking a more conservative approach to both harvests this fall.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Norton Sound crab fishery bounces back with record year following fishing hiatus
After no commercial crabbing since 2019, this summer’s Norton Sound Red King Crab fishery had a record year of $3.7 million dollars in ex-vessel value.
Nome, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Massive hailstone found near Markerville, Alta., breaks Canadian record, research group says
According to RCMP, 34 vehicles were damaged Monday — down from an earlier estimate of 70 — while numerous people suffered minor injuries. Three collisions were caused by the storm, police said.
Innisfail, Alberta, Canada
CBC

Cormorants establishing new rookery
The cormorants moved in when the peregrins did not return this year. "We believe (they did not return) because of the bird flu."
Golovin, Alaska, United States
Mike Brook, Gay Sheffield, Toby Anungazuk Jr

Alaska’s first monkeypox case recorded in Anchorage
Anchorage Health Department officials say the person who tested positive is an Anchorage resident and is isolating at home. Officials say the person did not require hospitalization, and was a close contact of a person who recently traveled out of state.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Wesley Early, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Visiting cormorant to White Mountain
A cormorant was observed in White Mountain. See also recent report from Golovin.
White Mountain, Alaska, United States

Dolphin Species Never Before Seen in Iceland Beaches in Northwest
Two Risso’s dolphins washed ashore in Hrútafjörður in Northwest Iceland last week. Risso dolphins are a warm-water species found a bit to the east of Ireland and Northwest Scotland. But the largest number is found further south, in warmer seas.
Hrútafjörður, Iceland
Iceland Review

Bacterial Infection Brucella Canis Suspected in Dogs in Iceland
The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) has reason to suspect that a bacterial disease called Brucella canis has been found in dogs in Iceland. RÚV reports that Bruncella canis can—in very rare instances—be transmitted from dogs to humans, with young children, pregnant, and immunocompromised people at the greatest risk of serious infection.
Iceland
Iceland Review

Summer storm hits Kotzebue
There has been alot of heavy weather hitting western Alaska this summer. Here are photos from recent storm surge in Kotzebue.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
James Benzschawel, Richard L Thoman Jr, Susan Tessier, Jacqualine Schaeffer, Joanna Barton

Coastal fishermen report dramatically smaller herring catches in the Baltic Sea
Fishermen fishing close to the shore in the Baltic Sea have seen a steady decline in herring and Baltic herring catches over many years. Large-scale trawling further out at sea could be one of the reasons behind it.
Baltic Sea
Sveriges Radio

Intense Flooding Hits Russia's Black Sea Resort Sochi
Local power supplies were cut off, apartment buildings were flooded, cars were seen being washed away and a river overflowed, leading to one civilian death and several injuries.
Sochi, Krasnodarskiy, Russia
The Moscow Times

Evidence of invasive crab that could wreak havoc on Alaska fisheries found near Metlakatla
The European Green Crab are a threat to ecosystems and commercial fisheries. They uproot eelgrass beds in search of food, which serve as habitat for herring and salmon.
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

The spruce beetle invasion’s exhausting toll on Southcentral Alaska property owners
For property owners, the beetles present a vexing scenario, as some scramble to keep their trees alive while others mourn the loss and embark on the oftentimes costly removal process.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

What's a shark ordinarily associated with the Arctic doing in Belize?
A half-blind shark that is typically thought to live in freezing Arctic waters, scavenge on polar bear carcasses and survive for hundreds of years, recently turned up in perhaps an unexpected place—a coral reef off Belize. This marks the first time a shark of its kind has been found in western Caribbean waters off the world's second longest barrier reef.
Glovers Reef

A polar bear in Russia is rescued after getting its tongue stuck in a milk can
In a report this week, a team of Canadian and U.S. scientists warned that hungry polar bears are increasingly turning to garbage dumps to fill their stomachs as their icy habitat disappears due to climate change.
Dikson, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia
ArcticToday

Tale of two salmon fisheries: Bristol Bay breaks record, but Yukon River collapses
The booming Bristol Bay salmon run has broken the record set just last year, while on the Yukon River, Chinook are too scarce to harvest.
Bethel, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Anchorage could see wettest July on record as continuing rain prompts flood advisories
Anchorage has already seen nearly 4 inches of rain so far this month, the weather service says.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Extremely windy on the lagoon
Many boats had to be secured & moved this morning. Hoping winds & rain slow down, but in the forecast.
Golovin, Alaska, United States
James Benzschawel, Carol Oliver, Anahma Shannon, Richard L Thoman Jr, Racheal Lee, Edward "Ted" Smith, Gay Sheffield

Along Utqiaġvik’s eroding coast, hope that a seawall can help keep the community safe
In Utqiaġvik, where the coast is eroding at some of the fastest rates in the nation, storms, flooding and thawing permafrost damage houses, roads and cultural sites. Ice forms later each year and storms are becoming longer and more severe.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Monster avalanche triggered by extreme deluge raises new climate change questions
An extreme winter rainstorm in New Zealand triggered one of the largest avalanche cycles observed in decades, raising questions about the risk of more hazardous events under climate change.
Mount Cook Village, New Zealand
NewstalkZB

Belugas spotted swimming in Lake Aleknagik
Sherol Mershon runs the Silver Fin Bed and Breakfast, on the shore of Lake Aleknagik. She’s hung fishing nets for 45 years and has seen her fair share of wildlife. So when her guests told her they saw whales in the lake, she had her doubts.
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Large forest fire hits Upper Gullies, C.B.S.
Amid intense smoke, flames and temperatures up into the high 20s C, Conception Bay South Fire Department (CBSFD) firefighters and provincial forestry crews along with a waterbomber fought a major forest fire in the town on Sunday afternoon.
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Saltwire

Numbers of peregrine falcons could be down by 40% since last year, birdwatchers say
Bird flu may be the reason behind a drastic decrease in the number of peregrine falcons in Sweden this year. Every year there is a stock count of the number of peregrine falcons in Sweden and this year early numbers indicate there may be a big drop in the number of birds counted.
Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
Sveriges Radio

Visiting walrus causes stir in southern Finland town
Harju said that due to its long tusks, she guessed that it was an older walrus, adding that the animal was calm during the hour that she watched it lay on the beach.
Hamina, Kymenlaakso, Finland
News

Cysts on tree at Kincaid Park
Interesting cysts covering a young choke cherry tree.
Anchorage
Neena Brubaker, Mike Brubaker, Gino Graziano, Jessie Moan, Derek Sikes

Lightning strikes Nunavut from top to bottom
Nunavut is being hit with lightning from top to bottom because a “pretty significant heat wave” created the right conditions for a phenomenon that’s ordinarily uncommon in the North, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada says. Since Saturday, there have been reports of lightning strikes as far north as 79 degrees latitude.
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada
ArcticToday

The Castner Glacier ice cave is collapsing and gushing meltwater
Scientists and officials are advising hikers to be careful around the ice cave.
Castner Glacier

Reported Landslide Port Saint Nicholas Road, Prince of Wales Island
Landslide at 3 mile PSN happened outside the typical time of year for slides.
Craig, Alaska, United States
Jacyn Schmidt, Edward "Ted" Smith, Richard L Thoman Jr

B.C.’s sea life is bouncing back, slowly, after the 2021 heat dome
One UBC scientist says his early estimation that a billion creatures died from the 2021 heat dome was too low. Today, life is returning to areas scorched by last year’s unprecedented heat wave. The die off was patchy and the plants and animals in the intertidal zone that survived the heat wave “are the parents to the next generation,” Harley said.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Narwhal

Southeast Alaska’s budworm infestation is still going, and they seem to be moving on to spruce trees
Last summer’s unusually warm weather fueled an explosion in the western blackheaded budworm, leaving masses of browning trees in many areas of Southeast. The worm, which is the larval stage of the budworm moth, is known to feed on the new growth of trees, leaving them with a brownish-red appearance.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
KCAW - Alaska Public Media

Over 24 hours, Harry Potter Lake pulls a disappearing act on Alaska’s North Slope
Drained lake basins make up more than half of the Arctic coastal plain, but the complete drainage of a lake is rarely witnessed by people.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Thousands of lightning strikes and another 13 fires recorded as Alaska's intense fire season continues
There were 4,500 lightning strikes in Alaska Tuesday — the latest in a run of days with thousands of ground strikes. There were also another 13 new, primarily lightning sparked wildfires in the state Tuesday, mostly in the Interior. The lightning storms have coincided with very dry conditions.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Wildfire breaches north Klondike Hwy in Yukon, burns up power poles
The North Klondike Highway remains closed from Stewart Crossing to Pelly Crossing after fire breached the highway, the Yukon government has confirmed.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC

High number of seal deaths linked to bird flu, feds say
The rate of dead seal strandings in Maine is about three times the normal rate for the summer and is close to 60. Most of the seals that have been stranded this summer have been found dead, NOAA said. The dead seals have included gray seals and harbor seals.
Portland, Maine, United States
Press Herald

5 power outages in Yukon caused by lightning storms, hydro unit trips
On July 1, approximately 1,400 people experienced an outage in Dawson City caused by lightning. The community was partially restored after eight minutes, and fully restored after an hour. Five power outages occurred in Dawson City, Mayo and Whitehorse over the Canada Day weekend.
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

More orchids this year
The first observations of orchids in the area were in 2020. Now they are becoming more common.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Brandie Radigan, Gino Graziano, Susan Tessier

In Anchorage, June’s record heat and little rain ramp up holiday weekend fire risk
Anchorage saw temperatures spike above 60 degrees every day in June for the first time in recorded history. The city also experienced near record low precipitation: Only 1/10 of an inch of rain fell the entire month.

Unidentified spider in Anchorage
Unidentified spider observed outside of a commercial building.

Yukon fire crews fight to contain fires near Finlayson Lake
Yukon fire crews are targetting wildfires near Carmacks and the Finlayson Lake fire, with the hopes of reopening a key highway when fire becomes less extreme and visibility improves.
Carmacks, Yukon, Canada

Infestation of caterpillars
A resident of Seldovia reported an infestation of worms infesting an area of salmonberry brush and nettle.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

The European Arctic suffers through a heat wave
Temperatures surpassed 30 degrees Celsius across northern Scandinavia on Wednesday and many meteorological stations hit new record high temperatures for June. The thermometer in Saltdal, northern Norway, reached 31.6 degrees C. Further inside the Arctic Circle, at 69 degrees north in Skibotn east of Tromsø, the temperature was 31.7 degrees (89 F).
Skibotn, Troms, Norway

Sudden lake draining event
"The event occurred on June 29th, on our native allotment near Kotzebue (Illivak). We left home in the morning and when we came back around 8:00 PM in the evening the whole lake had drained! It looked like it was blown up with dynamite."
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Ken Tape, Richard L Thoman Jr, Gemini , Guido Grosse, Susan Tessier, Benjamin Jones, Anna Liljedahl , Vladimir Romanovsky, Jacqualine Schaeffer, Joanna Barton, Ingmar Nitze, Bruce Forbes

Unknown Insect
This eye catching insect is the adult stonefly.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Small landslide closes cruise ship dock in Skagway
A small landslide has closed the White Pass Railroad Dock to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in Skagway. “No one was injured during the occurrence,” Marketing Manager Jacqueline Taylor-Rose wrote. “The cruise ships scheduled for the pier have made alternative plans for the day.
Skagway, Alaska, United States

Firefighters work to contain Anchorage wildfire
The fire also comes as the state of Alaska enters its second highest level of fire preparedness, based on the high number of wildfires burning statewide and the possibility for more.

Dead birds prompt warnings across Island
Health and animal control officials on the Island are warning that possible avian flu, specifically highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), may have infected hundreds of dead cormorants that have been found on Martha’s Vineyard beaches. On Wednesday, the state issued a press release saying that there has been an increase in shorebird deaths statewide, with …
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States
The Martha's Vineyard Times

30,000-year-old mummified baby mammoth found in Canada’s Yukon permafrost
On June 21, 2022, when miners working on Eureka Creek in the Klondike gold fields within Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Traditional Territory made an astonishing discovery.There, covered over by permafrost, they found the near-perfect mummified remains of a baby woolly mammoth.
Moosehide Creek, Yukon, Canada
SyFy

Warm, dry weather expected to spread wildfires burning in upper Kuskokwim River region
The state has established a fire response hub in Aniak to issue supplies to the surrounding fires.
Sleetmute, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Manitoba heat wave breaks temperature record set in 1888
A record-high temperature set in Winnipeg in 1888 was among 21 previous records that were broken Sunday across the province.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Winnipeg

Carmacks issues evacuation alert for some homes as floodwaters threaten wastewater treatment plant
June 20, 2022 The wastewater treatment plant in Carmacks, Yukon, is at risk of flooding. The village has issued an evacuation alert for homes served by that plant.
Carmacks, Yukon, Canada

Volunteers confront an invasion of black slugs near Whittier
Volunteers at the Whittier Slug-Out learned about Alaska’s invasive species and helped mitigate European black slugs near a popular cove on Prince William Sound.
Whittier, Alaska, United States

Rare birds’ arrival an ‘unmissable sign’ climate emergency has reached Britain
Pushed north by global heating, birds like the European bee-eater seen in Norfolk likely to become established visitors
Mundesley, England, United Kingdom
the Guardian

Avian flu hits world's largest gannet colony on Bass Rock
The UK has been facing its largest ever outbreak of avian influenza, with cases found around Scotland including a recent outbreak on the remote archipelago of St Kilda.Samples were taken from hundreds of dead birds found on East Lothian beaches.
North Berwick, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

River erosion threatening old dump site
Community gravel source and old dump site threated by erosion.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Joy Britt, Kayla Nay, Sarah Durand, James Benzschawel, Jeffrey Luther, Erin Nelson, Desirae Mack, Joanna Barton

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

Spittle bug widespread in Clare, Ireland
I saw an extreme amount of spittle bugs not only on grasses and plants but on flowers.
Liscannor, Munster, Ireland

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 thunderstorms ignite fires around Bristol Bay
Southwest Alaska has had an unusual increase in lighting storms this month. That lightning has ignited at least half a dozen wildfires in the Bristol Bay area.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Yukon issues evacuation alert for areas of Ross River over potential flooding near Pelly River
The territorial government is alerting residents to be prepared for potential impacts of flooding in certain areas of Ross River.
Ross River, Yukon, Canada

Russian Cosmonaut Shares Unique Video of Shrinking Aral Sea as Seen From Outer Space
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev posted a video of the Aral Sea on his Telegram channel showing the surface of the Aral Sea.  “Flying over the Aral Sea… or rather, what is left of it,” Artemyev wrote under the video.
Aral Sea
The Astana Times

A very big whitefish
No one in Grayling has seen this big a whitefish before. ADFG lists state record for broad whitefish as 11 lbs. This one weighed in at 15 lbs!
Grayling, Alaska, United States
Bernice Nicholi, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson, Aren Gunderson

Thunderstorms in Southcentral Alaska spark at least 1 structure fire
It’s not often that Southcentral Alaska residents wake to thunder in the middle of the night. But what forecasters are calling an unusual storm moved from the Talkeetna Mountains into the Matanuska Valley and then Anchorage and south to the Kenai Peninsula from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. At least one lightning-caused structure fire was reported.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Atmospheric river dumping rain on overflowing rivers raises flood alarm
It's coming up to peak flood season in BC with extra thick snowpack melting into rivers. On top of that, an atmospheric river is coming.
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
Daily Hive News

Large tundra fire burns 12 miles away from St. Mary’s
“It’s been hot, it’s been dry, and it’s been windy. And those winds gusts of 20 miles per hour, it’s kind of funneled through the Andreafsky River drainage,” said Beth Ipsen. Federal entities sent in more firefighters this week, and some residents are thinking about preparing their go-bags.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Historic Lower Yukon wildfire forces evacuations from St. Mary’s and Pitkas Point
Two villages along the Lower Yukon River have begun evacuating their most vulnerable residents from a tundra fire.The fire late Thursday was burning less than eight miles from St Mary’s and nearby Pitkas Point, and wind continues spreading the flames closer to the villages with a combined population of over 700 people. Yute Commuter Service is sending all its planes to St. Mary’s to evacuate residents, and Grant Aviation is prepared to assist.
Pitkas Point, Alaska, United States

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