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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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Advocates call for safer waters as B.C. island mourns the loss of Wisp the humpback whale
A 4-year-old humpback whale named Wisp washed up on Keats Island, B.C., after a suspected collision with a tour vessel, prompting advocates to call for stronger protections and safer boating practices. Authorities and locals are urging measures to reduce ship strikes in the area.
Keats Island, British Columbia, Canada
CTVNews

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

Flower mortality on vegetable crops
Unusual flower mortality on vegetable crops may suggests a potential decline in pollinator populations, as indicated by fewer insect collisions with car windshields.
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
MARYNA KAZAK, Katie Spellman, David Oswald

An extended fall reveals the existence of hair ice in Interior Alaska
Photos from Fairbanks show delicate “hair ice” forming on dead wood during an extended snow-free cold spell. Researchers link the phenomenon to the fungus Exidiopsis effusa, which enables hairlike ice strands to grow in humid, slightly subfreezing conditions.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Norton Sound issues alert as dust troubles Nome air quality
Norton Sound Health Corporation issued an air quality alert for Nome after PM10 levels exceeded 301 (hazardous) on Oct. 23. Officials cite recent freeze–thaw cycles and dry conditions for the unusual late-October dust; residents are advised to limit outdoor exposure and use N95 masks.
Nome, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Maine issues new do-not-eat advisory as wildlife tests positive for PFAS in Waldo County
Maine has issued a do-not-eat advisory for white-tailed deer and wild turkeys in parts of Knox, Thorndike and Unity after tests found elevated PFAS in muscle tissue. The advisory expands earlier restrictions tied to contamination from sludge-applied farm fields.
Waldo County, Maine, United States
The Portland Press Herald

Mass fish die-off in renowned salmon river: ‘Never seen anything like it’
Hundreds of Atlantic salmon and sea trout have died in the Gaula River in Midtre Gauldal, Trøndelag. Researchers suspect a severe outbreak of egg-spore water mold (Saprolegnia) and are investigating the scale and causes.
Midtre Gauldal, Trøndelag, Norway
NRK
Trond Odin Myhre Johansen; Jøte Toftaker

Bats in Strendur
A resident in Strendur, Faroe Islands, filmed bats in her yard—an uncommon sight in the Faroes. The bat was seen over about four days before disappearing.
Strendur, Eysturoy, Faroe Islands
Dimma

Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Hits Khuvsgul Aimag
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Tsetserleg soum in Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia, at 5:14 p.m. on October 21, 2025. The epicenter was southeast of Tsetserleg and near the borders of Tsagaan-Uul (Khövsgöl) and Tosontsengel (Zavkhan).
Tsetserleg, Khuvsgul, Mongolia
MONTSAME News Agency

Confirmed: New wolf territory in Uppland has several pups
Authorities confirm a new wolf territory called Lapphällarna between western Uppland and eastern Västmanland in Sweden, where several pups have been born. The County Administrative Board provided imagery and details in an SVT video report.
Uppland and Västmanland, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Extreme drought conditions leave N.L. homesteader adapting to a lower water supply
A homesteader near Mobile on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula is hauling water from a pond as extreme drought leaves his well near empty. He’s seeing impacts on livestock and bees, and calls for government support to build community resilience.
Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
CBC News

Locals describe ‘river running down the roads’ as heavy rain hits parts of Ireland
Intense rainfall triggered surface-water flooding in Newcastle, County Down, where locals used shovels and sandbags to protect homes as roads closed. Authorities deployed over 900 sandbags; further unsettled weather is forecast nationwide.
Newcastle, County Down, United Kingdom
The Irish Times

Never before seen in Scandinavia: People jumped in their cars to find it
A Tennessee warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) was captured and identified at Mølen in Vestfold after Storm Amy, marking the first record for Scandinavia. Ornithologists believe it was carried across the Atlantic by strong jet streams; birders rushed from around Norway to see it, though it is unlikely to survive the Norwegian autumn.
Mølen, Vestfold, Norway
NRK

Sea lions prefer the north
Sea lions are increasingly favoring the northern regions of Cape Chukotka, Russia, a shift from their usual habitats, possibly due to changing environmental conditions.
Cape Chukotka, Chukotka, Russia

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

Driving zigzag between rocks on E45
Rockfall has sent stones onto the E45 at Kløfta in Alta, forcing motorists to zigzag between debris. Authorities warn of hazardous driving conditions and the situation is being updated.
Alta, Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Mosquito has arrived in Iceland
A mosquito species, Culiseta annulata, has been confirmed in Iceland after specimens of both sexes were captured in Kjósarhreppur on October 16–18, 2025. The find suggests mosquitoes may now be present in the country, long considered free of them.
Kjósarhreppur, Capital Region, Iceland
Vísir

Will die of exhaustion or malnutrition
A reindeer in Nordkapp, Finnmark, was found entangled in trash and was freed by a passerby. The article warns that litter can kill reindeer through exhaustion or starvation.
Nordkapp, Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

State of emergency issued for northern Manitoba community
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in northern Manitoba declared a state of emergency after a severe snowstorm dropped about 30 cm of snow and caused widespread power outages. Restoration efforts are underway.
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Manitoba, Canada
CTV News

New York confirms state’s first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus
Chikungunya is found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions, according to the state health department. Its symptoms include fever and joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and rashes. It’s the first case in the U.S. in six years.
Smithtown, New York, United States
Anchorage Daily News

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

115-year-old temperature record broken in B.C. Monday
Environment and Climate Change Canada reports Thanksgiving Monday (Oct. 13, 2025) was the coldest Oct. 13 on record in 10 B.C. communities, including one site where a 115-year-old low-temperature record fell.
Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada
CTV News

Remnants of Typhoon Halong bring widespread damage to Western Alaska
A powerful, ongoing storm in Western Alaska has flooded communities, destroyed homes and left some residents injured by flying debris. Officials say rescue efforts are underway after floodwaters in multiple communities swept homes off their foundations. The remnants of Typhoon Halong tracked farther east than expected, slamming into the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta coast early on Sunday morning. Officials said Sunday afternoon that the hardest hit communities appeared to be Kipnuk, Kwigillingok and Napakiak.
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Evan Erickson, Casey Grove, Desiree Hagen, Alena Naiden, Ben Townsend, Samantha Watson

Warm air brings unseasonably high temperatures to the Northeast
Unseasonably warm October air is bringing temperatures up to 18°C in northeastern Iceland today, following peaks over 21°C in East Iceland yesterday, driven by a foehn effect. South to southwesterly winds and intermittent rain accompany the warmth, with the east and northeast remaining mostly bright.
Borgarfjörður eystri, East Iceland, Iceland
Iceland Monitor

Ducks extend the season: migratory birds linger at a Yamal resort
In Novy Urengoy, authorities and volunteers began rescuing a flock of ducks that failed to migrate before freezing weather, after the birds lingered on Lake Molodezhny. Locals also recalled a recently rescued mute swan now recovering en route to a rehabilitation center in Tyumen Oblast.
Novy Urengoy, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Yamal-Media

Flooding, but no damage reported for Yukon Delta coastal communities after powerful fall storm
Communities are tallying up damage from a severe Bering Sea storm that brought flood warnings to a vast swath of Alaska's western coast.
Kotlik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

High tide and strong winds on Iqaluit waterfront
A storm surge and strong winds pushed tides to the edge of the waterfront road in Iqaluit on Friday morning. Environment Canada had warned of higher-than-normal tides and possible flooding of ground-level spaces.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Mandatory evacuations ordered in Kotzebue as flooding from coastal storm begins
Flooding had already begun by Wednesday afternoon, and the weather service forecast said water could rise as high as 10 feet above the high tide line. Flood waters are expected to peak around 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Flight delays and power outages as the district addresses cyclone impacts
A cyclone brought wet snow and wind gusts up to 28 m/s to Chukotka, causing power outages, water supply disruptions, and widespread flight delays. Ferry service across the Anadyr Estuary was suspended in the morning, with plans to resume service later in the day.
Anadyr, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
IA Chukotka (prochukotku.ru)

Whales flock to the herring
The vessel Beitir NK landed 700 tons of herring in Neskaupstaður, as skippers report many whales—especially orcas—converging on herring grounds and following the net to the ship. Recent catches suggest the herring has shifted north toward Bakkaflói.
Neskaupstaður, Austurland, Iceland
mbl.is

Dead Arctic fox did not have rabies – but avian influenza
An emaciated Arctic fox found dead at Vindodden in August tested positive for avian influenza, not rabies, according to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
Vindodden, Svalbard, Norway
Svalbardposten

Fall’s Running Late This Year in Alaska
Autumn is marked by delayed leaf fall and reduced rainfall, with temperatures higher than historical averages, suggesting potential climate shifts.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

New October Record
A temperature of 10.2°C was recorded Tuesday morning at Svalbard Airport, the warmest October reading since measurements began. Mild weather is reported around Longyearbyen.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
Svalbardposten

Rare sight in Ofotfjorden: First time I see this
Two walruses were seen swimming in Ofotfjorden near Lillevika, surprising a local observer. Such sightings are rare in this area.
Narvik, Nordland, Norway
Fremover

White Fungi Spotted Under Tree Losing Leaves
A cluster of pale white mushrooms thriving under a leafless tree in Anchorage highlights the unusual impact of warmer, wetter conditions on fungal growth in northern climates, contrasting the tree's winter dormancy with the fungi's late-season fruiting.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Increasing Trash on Reynolds Bridge Road
An increase in garbage, including glass, has been observed accumulating along Reynolds Bridge Road in Benton, Tennessee, particularly in areas without houses.
Benton, Tennessee, United States

'Eventually the river wins': Dramatic video shows erosion causing Big Lake to drain into Koyukuk River
A viral video shows Big Lake near Huslia rapidly eroding and draining into the Koyukuk River, alarming residents who say recent high water and thawing permafrost are accelerating change. Locals fear the erosion could threaten parts of town built near the lake.
Huslia, Alaska, United States
Alaska's News Source (KTUU)

Storm Amy moves into Sweden
Storm Amy brought hurricane-force gusts at sea and heavy rain to southern and central Sweden, prompting SMHI orange and yellow warnings, transport shutdowns, and widespread power outages. The storm followed severe impacts in Norway and is expected to ease after Sunday, though windy, rainy conditions will persist along the east coast.
Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Storm Amy: Hundreds of Great Glen homes either side of Loch Ness hit by power cuts and some flights from Inverness Airport cancelled
Storm Amy brought down power lines around Loch Ness, cutting electricity to more than 200 homes in Foyers and Invermoriston and prompting transport disruption, including flight cancellations from Inverness Airport. Amber wind warnings up to 100 mph were in place.
Foyers and Invermoriston, Highland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Extreme weather “Amy” has hit – island communities in Rogaland isolated
Storm “Amy” is bringing red and orange warnings for wind and rain in southern and eastern Norway, isolating Utsira and Kvitsøy after ferry cancellations. Authorities and aid organizations have raised preparedness, with disrupted roads, flights and events, and advice for residents to secure items and stock essentials.
Utsira, Rogaland, Norway
NRK

Sitkinak Island deer start Kenai adventure
Alaska wildlife officials translocated 19 Sitka black-tailed deer from Sitkinak Island to near Port Chatham on the Kenai Peninsula to establish a sustainable herd. The deer were GPS-collared and will be monitored to assess survival, expansion, and the feasibility of future hunts.
Port Chatham, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, United States
Kodiak Daily Mirror

Mowi blames climate change for latest salmon die-offs on Newfoundland's south coast
Mowi Canada East reports 166,262 farmed salmon died at two sites near Chaleur Bay on Newfoundland’s south coast, blaming repeated sea lice infestations intensified by warm surface waters, low freshwater runoff, and calm winds. The incident follows earlier 2025 mass mortalities linked to a thermocline inversion and warm, low-oxygen conditions.
Chaleur Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
CBC News

Rare sighting on Snæfellsnes
A Cattle Egret was spotted west of Ólafsvíkurenni on Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula, a very rare occurrence. A bird expert links increasing appearances of southern species in Iceland to climate change.
Ólafsvík, West Iceland, Iceland
Iceland Monitor

Late Blooming Wildflowers After Leaf Fall
Wildflowers blooming in early October despite the leaf fall, likely due to warmer and rainier conditions, raising questions about climate change impacts on plant behavior and pollinators.
Palmer, Alaska, United States
Kendra Zamzow, Mylanda Forbis, Katie Spellman

Larger than the largest quakes in the biggest swarm
A magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck near Grjótárvatn on Mýrar this morning, the largest in the Ljósufjöll volcanic system in about three and a half months. Roughly 45 quakes have occurred since last night at 15–20 km depth, and the Icelandic Met Office notes concern would rise if activity shallows.
Mýrar, Vesturland, Iceland
mbl.is

It was the warmest September on record in Tromsø
Tromsø recorded its warmest September on record at 11.2°C, about 3.2°C above average, with Finnmark also nearly 4°C above normal. Meteorologists link the anomaly to persistent warm southerly winds and the broader influence of climate change.
Tromsø, Troms, Norway
The Barents Observer

Water flooded over the road: Homeowner demands compensation
Heavy overnight rain in Loppa caused water to flood a private access road, leaving it badly damaged. The homeowner is seeking compensation after emergency repairs were needed.
Loppa, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Asbestos discovery sparks anger from new housing estate’s residents
Residents in Inverness’s Ness Castle estate found asbestos fragments—some partially buried—and are being billed for removal, prompting anger at the developer and factor. Robertson Homes says the site was clean at handover; the factor Ross + Liddell is charging nearly 100 households for testing and cleanup.
Inverness, Highland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Still summer here – end of September
Although autumn has arrived across most of Sweden, meteorological summer persists along the coast between Skellefteå and Piteå, including Byske. SVT’s meteorologist says autumn is about two weeks later than the 30‑year average, and locals and tourists are enjoying the unusual warmth.
Byske, Västerbotten County, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

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