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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

Bad air quality prompts advisory from chief public health officer
Wildfire smoke drove air quality in Yellowknife to high-risk levels, prompting Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola to issue an advisory urging residents to limit outdoor activity and take health precautions. The advisory highlights vulnerable groups and directs people to the Air Quality Health Index for up-to-date information.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
NNSL Media

High lead levels confirmed in water at third Yellowknife school
Testing found lead above Health Canada’s limit in several classroom sinks at N.J. Macpherson School in Yellowknife, the third city school affected. The N.W.T. chief public health officer ordered daily flushing and alternate drinking water while fixes are pursued.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

Air quality advisories as heavy smoke blankets Northwest Territories
Dense wildfire smoke has prompted air quality advisories across several Northwest Territories communities, leading to health warnings and the opening of clean-air shelters in Yellowknife and Fort Providence.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

Substance in Great Slave Lake water likely ash, says DFO
Residents reported an unknown black streak in the waters of Great Slave Lake near Mosher Island; Fisheries and Oceans Canada confirmed it is likely ash, posing no risk to drinking water or wildlife.
CBC News

Where's all this smoke coming into Yellowknife from?
Smoke drifting into Yellowknife on May 29, 2025, mainly originated from wildfires in Alberta, with additional smoke forecast from northern British Columbia, according to FireSmoke Canada projections.
NNSL Media

Fire at Yellowknife landfill likely caused by wrongly tossed electronics
A small fire broke out at the Yellowknife landfill on April 22, likely ignited by improperly disposed electronics, but was quickly extinguished by city staff and the Yellowknife Fire Division.

This unusual fox keeps being spotted in Yellowknife
Some have dubbed the creature Anubis, referring to the ancient Egyptian god usually depicted as a canine or a man with a canine head.
CBC

Wildlife officers kill wolf near Yellowknife's Ranney Hill, days after hiker bitten
Wildlife officials in Yellowknife have confirmed that they killed a wolf in the Ranney Hill area, days after a person was bit by a wolf on the walking trail. They have not yet determined if it's the same animal.
CBC

Blue-green algae bloom found in Yellowknife not toxic, government says
The N.W.T.'s Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Canadian Coast Guard tested samples from various locations in the area. The results showed no toxins present.
CBC

Residents in parts of Yellowknife say tap water smells, tastes swampy
The city says the water is tested and safe to consume. The city is switching water source back to the Yellowknife River as a primary source, as a result of warm weather consumption, several known leaks, and perhaps other still unknown failures.

Freezing rain warning issued in Yellowknife during a mild late January
Yellowknife encountered unusual weather with freezing rain and temperatures around -1°C, despite average late January temperatures being around -20°C.
NNSL Media

El Niño effects around Great Slave Lake made for 'spring-like' December in Łútsël K'é, N.W.T.
El Nino and climate change led to an unusually warm December in Łutsël, N.W.T., affecting Christmas plans and ice-related activities due to Great Slave Lake not freezing over as expected.
Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada

Wolf believed to have killed pet dog in Yellowknife area
A black wolf that was seen travelling between Dettah and Ndilǫ this weekend is believed to have “mauled and killed” a pet dog, according to the N.W.T. Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Pack of wolves north of Yellowknife reported stalking hikers, pets
The N.W.T. Department of Environment and Climate Change has warned anyone using trails north of Yellowknife to use "extreme caution" after wildlife officers reported a pack of wolves stalking a hiker and their dogs in the area on Saturday.

Wolf expert praises Yellowknife woman for handling of 'not atypical' encounter
A wolf expert commended a Yellowknife woman for her response during a typical encounter with a pack of wolves, advising caution and proper behavior in such situations. "I had hiking poles and I started banging them together and I'm just like 'hey, hey, hey.' I know sometimes dogs respond to deeper voices, so I put my best deep voice on. I started yelling at them."

Boaters urge others to be more prepared after Great Slave Lake rescue
Samuel Roberts, 65, and Mark Elson, 51, said they were not prepared to be lost along the shore of Great Slave Lake when they headed out for a short fishing trip. But it became smoky and foggy, and the men became disoriented. The following day, when the air cleared, Roberts said they couldn't recognize anything. "We had no idea that we crossed over the Dettah side and [were] headed to the East Arm," said Elson.
Dettah, Northwest Territories, Canada

Canada wildfire: all 20,000 Yellowknife residents evacuating
Canadian fire crews on Thursday battled to prevent wildfires from reaching the northern city of Yellowknife, where all 20,000 residents are leaving by car and plane after an evacuation order was declared.
Reuters

There was a blue-green algae bloom in Yellowknife Bay. Here's what you should know about it
A blue-green algae bloom in Yellowknife Bay sparked worry for people's dogs. Here's what an aquatic quality scientist and a veterinarian have to say about it.

Heat wave forecast for many N.W.T. communities
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued heat warnings for Yellowknife and many communities in the South Slave, Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions — where day time temperatures near 30 C and overnight lows near 20 C are expected in the coming days. People are urged to seek out air conditioned spaces to seek relief.

Yellow-headed blackbird has great Northern adventure, winds up in Ulukhaktok
Usually found in marshy areas of Alberta, the bird has occasionally been spotted in more southern N.W.T. communities. Last week, one crossed a stretch of the Arctic ocean and found itself in Ulukhaktok, astonishing birders who say it's never been spotted so far north.

Residents take stock of flood damage in Fort McPherson, N.W.T.
People in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., have been picking up the pieces after last month's flood on the Peel River. CBC's Dez Loreen spoke to Bill Prodromidis, whose family cabin was among those washed away.

Fire danger rising in southern N.W.T., with no relief in sight
The risk of wildfires remains high in the southern part of the N.W.T., and the forecast is calling for more hot, windy weather in the days ahead. That makes for "a dangerous, truly extraordinary combination for this time of year."

Pilots reported mysterious lights 'dancing' over Yellowknife last month
An airline crew flying into Yellowknife a few weeks ago reported seeing some unidentified high-altitude lights near the airport — apparently leaving both the crew on board and air traffic controllers on the ground perplexed.

Yellowknife struggling to clear above average snowfall
YELLOWKNIFE - Residents and city staff in the Northwest Territories capital are struggling to keep up with an onslaught of snow.
thestar.com

Lynx killed by ENR officers
The wildcat showed no hesitancy in actively interacting with people or traffic an ENR spokesperson said. It was likely the animal involved in other interactions with pets.

Lone lynx likely culprit behind pair of Yellowknife dog attacks, biologist says
On Monday, Shania Tymchatyn saved one of her dogs from a lynx, and Yellowknife kennel owner Trevor Lizotte says one of the big cats attacked his dog team last week.

Lynx spotted in downtown Yellowknife
A “not very shy” lynx attracted some attention in Yellowknife Monday. Daniel Bourke saw it near Avens seniors complex where staff called ENR.
NNSL MEDIA

Coyotes are being spotted in Yellowknife
The N.W.T.'s environment department is warning Yellowknifers to be careful while out for walks after a number of coyote sightings were reported over the weekend.

High water rising: above-average levels and flow rates in NWT lakes, rivers, streams
The Taltson River, below the hydro dam south of Great Slave Lake, typically sees 215 cubic meters per second. As of November 12, the water flow was recorded as 628 cubic meters per second.

Cougar spotted on Ingraham Trail on Sunday: GNWT
Cougar sightings are rare in the North Slave region, but not unheard of. The big cat was seen at 1 p.m. crossing the highway at kilometre 49, between the Cameron Falls trailhead and Reid Lake campground.

July on pace to set rainfall record in Yellowknife
With several days left in July, there's a chance that Yellowknife may be on track to break the monthly and summer records for precipitation.

Lutselk'e man says he saw a grizzly bear near Yellowknife
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources says that although it's not typical for grizzlies to live in the Yellowknife area, there are cases in which an animal will leave its normal range.

Fort Resolution residents spot American Black Vulture ‘way, way out of its range’
Residents posted photos of the bird on social media this week, remarking on the unusual sighting and sharing pictures of the animal perched and in flight. The bird, known for its dark plumage and black, featherless head, is typically a southern species, concentrated around Mexico, parts of Arizona, Eastern Texas and the East Coast. It’s rarely spotted in the Midwest or West Coast.
Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, Canada

Heavy smoke in parts of N.W.T., air quality statement in effect
Environment Canada has issued air quality statements for parts of the N.W.T.'s Mackenzie Delta region, including Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic.

Fire crews pulled from wildfire near Yellowknife that's too dangerous to fight
The department of Environment and Natural Resources says fires were caused by lightning.

Unusual Yellowknife Weather "Light Sleet"

Sleet Storm
Not seen in at least my 15 years in Yellowknife.

Road to NWT’s diamond mines closes in the heat
The winter resupply road between Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories' three working diamond mines has succumbed to this week's warm weather.
Cabin Radio

Mild spell forces temporary daytime closure of Yellowknife's Snowking castle
Despite daytime closures, evening events expected to happen on schedule this week.

Record High Temperature For Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

'Spring heat wave': record temperatures in Canada's central Arctic
In Yellowknife, the territorial capital, temperatures climbed above zero over the weekend, breaking a record high on Sunday with a temperature of 3 C.
Eye on the Arctic

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.

Rainy summer leads to flooded basements
The city has seen 114 millimetres of precipitation so far this June, more than the average for the entire summer.

Tent caterpillar in Yellowknife

Hunter angry, says resource officers impeded caribou harvest
A hunter from Fort Resolution, N.W.T., is angered by what he claims is the harassment of caribou hunters by officers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC North

Detah ice road ties record for latest opening
The ice road between Detah and Yellowknife is opening Friday, a date that ties a decades-old record.
Yellowknife Ice Road, NWT

After responding to 3 vehicles that broke through ice so far this year, N.W.T. gov't asks public to be careful
The number of vehicles reported to have gone through the ice around Yellowknife continues to rise. According to the N.W.T. Department of Environment, its spill response team has responded to three vehicles through the ice so far this year.

At least 4 people, and 1 snowmobile, have broken through the ice in Yellowknife Bay
Darcy Bourassa was just walking around his house on Tuesday when 'I must have stepped right in the perfect spot and went through.' "What I think was happening here is there's a lot of snow built up it's really insulated in the snow and it hasn't been cold this fall or this winter so there's not a lot of ice penetration underneath that snow."

Walloping of snow in Yellowknife on Tuesday a record-breaker
It’s a winter wonderland in Yellowknife Wednesday, as the city cleans up after 24.2 centimetres of snow fell on Tuesday— a record breaking amount.

Hummingbird moths spotted in Yellowknife gardens
The moths hover in the air like hummingbirds, rapidly flapping their wings as they move from flower to flower, feeding on the nectar — and they've been seen in Yellowknife.

Yellowknife fire ban extends to Yellowknife River, Fred Henne parks
A fire ban, announced yesterday, includes two territorial parks, the GNWT confirmed.

What Is This Cotton-like Bug?

Caterpillars invade Great Slave Lake area
The tent caterpillar may be chewing its way through swathes of forest foliage, but there's no danger of harm to trees, says expert.

Tick discovered in Yellowknife, being tested for Lyme disease
It appears ticks have made their way to Yellowknife - one of the blood-thirsty bugs was plucked off a dog over the weekend.

Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum pluviale) Outbreak in Yellowknife
Jakub Olesinski, Brian Sieben, Moses Tcheripanoff

Some Of Our Birches Are Dying

Ice roads ease isolation in Canada's north, but they're melting too soon
The country's 3,300 miles of ice roads are a lifeline for marooned communities during frigid winters, but climate change is making the roads unsafe much earlier.
Alaska Dispatch News

Warm winter sets back construction of Dettah ice road
Construction is beginning today on the ice road connecting Yellowknife to Dettah on the N.W.T.'s Yellowknife Bay, but a warm November means that it will open in January for the second time since the 2006/2007 season, and the second year in a row.
Yellowknife Ice Road, NWT

Warm Fall Weather

Northern Birch Tree (Betula papyrifera) Die-off

Cougar spotted crossing Hwy 3 outside Yellowknife
The animal was spotted Thursday about seven or eight kilometres away from the sand pits.

More than 20 ptarmigan allegedly wasted near Yellowknife
In the wake significant caribou wastage late last month along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road, there is another instance of what appears to be wastage related to ptarmigan. Yellowknife resident Brad Olson shared a social media post earlier this month showing what appears to be almost two dozen birds killed and left to rot.

Yellowknife begins evacuation as wildfires approach
Yellowknife residents have been ordered to begin evacuating the city immediately as wildfires approach. The evacuation order says residents should leave "according to risk." People living along Ingraham Trail, in Dettah, and the Kam Lake, Grace Lake and the Engle business district in Yellowknife are considered at highest risk and are urged to leave as soon as possible.

Notes from the Trail: Caribou herds cannot withstand many more acts of senseless violence
Late last month, the carcasses of a dozen or more caribou were found along the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road by someone who said the slaughter and wastage was an act of disrespect and greed.

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