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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

Whitehorse residents baffled by 'annoying hum' that no one seems able to explain
Residents across Whitehorse report a persistent low mechanical hum with no clear source. Yukon Energy says it’s unlikely to be its diesel generators, and the city is investigating noise complaints.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC News

What's with the white stuff? Why the N.W.T. has so much tree fluff this summer | CBC News
The increase in tree "fluff" is likely a stress response from poplars, aspen and willows reacting to the dry conditions from the past few years, according to the N.W.T.'s department of Environment and Climate Change.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC

Whitehorse saw driest June in nearly a century
Whitehorse recorded its lowest June precipitation since records began in 1941, leading to extremely dry conditions but stopping short of an official drought.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC News

Escarpment Unstable: Localized Erosion Prompts Whitehorse Airport Trail Closure
Localized erosion from the spring melt has led Whitehorse city officials to temporarily close portions of the airport area trails to safeguard the public.
Yukon News

Person Missing After Vehicle Breaks Through Ice on Yukon's Lake Laberge
A person is missing after a vehicle fell through the ice on Lake Laberge in Yukon. Two others managed to escape.
Lake Laberge, Yukon, Canada
CBC News

Tsunami from Takhini River landslide reminds Yukon geologist of Dawson City's risk
A landslide on the Takhini River created a 'small' tsunami, raising concerns about similar risks to Dawson City. Experts are monitoring potential hazard cascades from future slides.
Yukon News

Whitehorse digs out after another heavy dump of October snow
The Yukon capital was already buried under a thick blanket of autumn snow at the start of the week. Then residents woke to another big dump on Wednesday.
CBC

In Yukon, salmon for dinner used to mean fresh-caught fish. Now, it's flown in
CBC Radio’s What on Earth travelled to Yukon this summer to explore how a warming climate has threatened chinook salmon, endangering not just the species but a cultural keystone for some Indigenous communities.
CBC Radio

Landslide forces closure of section South Klondike Highway north of the U.S. border
A landslide caused by heavy rains has shut down the South Klondike Highway, affecting travelers and requiring officials to coordinate an alternative route for stranded cruise passengers.
Carcross, Yukon, Canada
Juneau Empire

'Yo-yo kind of weather' hits southern Yukon with rain, slush and flooded streets
Winter has taken a brief holiday in southern Yukon this week, with a sudden spell of spring-like weather making for wet, slushy conditions — and setting the stage for some slippery roads when winter conditions return later this week.
CBC

Permafrost slump near Alaska Highway in Yukon eats up 13 more metres of land
The slump is so close to the Alaska Highway, the Yukon government is moving the road, creating a new section that will help protect the only year-round road linking parts of the Yukon, and the U.S. state of Alaska, to the rest of the continent.

Residents prepare to flee wildfire burning off Alaska Highway in the Yukon's Ibex Valley
Takhini River resident Georgina Widney said she is packed and ready to go if the evacuation alert for her area in the Ibex Valley changes to an evacuation order.

Landslide closes Robert Service Way and surrounding trails in Whitehorse
Traffic in Whitehorse will be difficult for anyone looking to get in and out of the city for the Easter long week after a landslide on the escarpment early Saturday morning forced a section of Robert Service Way to be closed until further notice.

French tourist came to Yukon for a 'real Canadian winter,' and fell through the ice
A French tourist in Whitehorse somehow defied the odds last week when she fell through thin ice into a lake, several times, and still managed to pull herself out of the water to safety, unharmed.

Slushy streets in Whitehorse, as warm spell hits the region
Southern Yukon is basking in some unusually mild January weather this week, with temperatures climbing well above the freezing point on Wednesday and expected to stay that way into Thursday.

Yukon smashed 8 high temperature records this past weekend
The Yukon saw an unusually warm Thanksgiving weekend — there were multiple record highs set throughout the territory. Local weather watcher says a high pressure ridge creating warm and dry conditions was the cause.

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.

Two more large slides prompt property evacuation orders in downtown Whitehorse
Each of the latest escarpment slides over the weekend were larger than the initial slide on April 30
Yukon News

Two wild birds test positive for avian flu in a first for the Yukon
The Yukon is the latest place to be hit with avian flu cases as an outbreak continues to spread across the country. Officials from the department of environment said in a press release Friday that two waterfowl carcasses in southern Yukon tested positive for the H5N1 virus strand. The Yukon government is asking residents to report sightings of sick or dead birds to their TIPP line at 1-800-661-0525.

Landslide closes Robert Service Way and Millennium Trail in Whitehorse
Robert Service Way and the Millennium Trail and the Airport Trail near downtown Whitehorse are temporarily closed due to an apparent landslide on the escarpment around 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Whooper swan far from home spotted in the Yukon
The lone adult bird was spotted among the migrating trumpeter swans at Marsh Lake.
Marsh Lake, Yukon, Canada

N.W.T. has now detected mosquito borne viruses
Of the 92 pools of mosquitoes tested, 30 had at least one mosquito that tested positive for California serogroup viruses. There has been one confirmed diagnosis of meningoencephalitis — a severe neurological condition — caused by the snowshoe hare virus. There have been no positive cases yet of West Nile Virus.

Whitehorse residents warned not to feed wildlife after black bear killed in Riverdale
After a black bear was shot dead in her front yard, a Whitehorse resident is concerned that people are inadvertently luring bears into the neighbourhood by feeding wildlife.

Flood Level on Takhini River
"River is running bank full with all gravel bars and low islands underwater."

Rapid permafrost thaw expected in N.W.T., Yukon after heat wave, experts warn
The heat wave sweeping through the N.W.T. and Yukon will have a major impact on permafrost thaw in both territories, experts warn.

Whitehorse hasn't seen this much snow in nearly half a century
Environment Canada says this winter's snowfall in Whitehorse is in near record-breaking territory. It's the most snow the city has seen since 1972.

Dog attacks not typical lynx behaviour, says Yukon biologist
Twice in the last couple of weeks, dog have been attacked by lynx. Biologist Tom Jung says climate change may be a factor, affecting the amount of food available. Snowshoe hares in Yukon are now in about the third year of decline.

Whitehorse city workers pile snow high to keep roads clear after early winter storms
City of Whitehorse crews have been dealing with record amounts of snow on residential streets and roads. Thousands of truckloads of snow will be hauled away keeping a small army of city workers and contractors busy with plenty of overtime.

Snow has meteorologist expressing his disbelief
Whitehorse residents woke this morning to their vehicles buried in snow, with even driveways being impassable, particularly for vehicles without four-wheel drive.
Whitehorse Daily Star

Highways reopening in southern Yukon after 'record-breaking territory' snowfall
Doug Lundquist, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, has worked in B.C. and Yukon for over three decades, and says he's "never quite seen a storm like this."

A rare Jay spotted in Whitehorse. But was it a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) or Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)?
An unusual blue bird was sighted in Whitehorse this month. It was not captured on film but the observer thinks it was a Blue Jay or a Steller's Jay. A Steller's Jay was reported to eBird in Haines Junction, Yukon Territory, just two days later.

Salmon and smiles: 30,000 pounds of fish distributed in Whitehorse
The Yukon First Nations Education Directorate gave away 30,000 pounds of free fish as part of its nutritional program in Whitehorse this week. People were particularly happy to receive the donation because salmon are well below the historical average this year.

Yukon River fall chum run the worst on record
About 189,000 fall chum had entered the Yukon River as of Sept. 7. At least 300,000 fish must enter the river before either Alaska or Yukon fishers can begin harvesting.

Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee recommends halt on fishing for Chinook
The Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee is recommending the complete cessation of fishing for Chinook salmon this year on the Yukon River.

Yukon sees most mosquitoes in many years, control program says
It may not come as a surprise, but Yukon has seen an unusually high number of mosquitoes this year — and they aren't physically distancing.

Bear chases child near Whitehorse before mom intercepts, say conservation officers
Yukon conservation officers are patrolling after a black bear chased a child near Whitehorse last weekend. The boy's mom managed to get between her child and the animal.

Yukon conservation officers warn against feeding foxes
Officers are dealing with more reports of foxes than in the past. The animals can be a nuisance, denning on people's properties, digging in gardens, making off with pieces of clothing or footwear, and preying on pets.

South Klondike Highway hit with way above average snowfall, closures due to avalanche risk
This year’s large snowfall in southern Yukon has caused issues for highway staff and for people contracted by Highways and Public Works to deal with avalanches.
Carcross, Yukon, Canada

Whitehorse man warns others after falling through ice
The ice may look solid, but emergency officials are warning Yukoners to be wary. M.A. Chartrand learned that the hard way last week.

Power restored to 5,500 people after a month's worth of snow hits southern Yukon
Marsh Lake was the hardest hit, but power was out 'all over,' said Jay Massie, manager of ATCO Electric Yukon, 'from Teslin to Tagish, Carcross out to Deep Creek and west towards Haines Junction.'
Marsh Lake, Yukon, Canada

Whitehorse fish ladder sees fewest chinook salmon since 1977
The number of chinook salmon that reached the Whitehorse fish ladder this year hit a 40-year low, and it's not clear why. Just 282 chinook passed through the fish ladder this year, compared to 690 last year. "We did see some large pre-spawn mortality die-offs in a tributary of the Yukon River — the Koyukuk in Alaska. This was for summer chum, and not chinook — but we expect that that higher water temperature also affected the chinook migrating through."
Whitehorse Fish Ladder, Yukon, Canada

Whitehorse fish ladder sees delayed start to Chinook run
The Whitehorse fish ladder is seeing a slower start to the season than usual, with fewer fish than average having passed through at this point compared to previous years.

General open fire ban in effect for much of Yukon
Due to 'extreme fire danger,' all open fires have been banned across much of Yukon, effective immediately.

Insects feast on willows after unusually warm, dry spring
The willow blotch leaf miner appears to be having a banner year in Whitehorse, likely because of hot, dry conditions in the city this spring.

Record-high bird count at Yukon's Swan Haven over weekend
One wildlife expert says seeing more than 2,000 trumpeter swans at the sanctuary is unusual, but on Saturday there were nearly 3,000 counted.

Yukon Quest's route shortened this year because of lack of snow
For safety dogs and mushers will be trucked from Braeburn to Carmacks.

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.

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.

Cold weather means prime pelts for Yukon trappers
Trapping has its good years and bad years. After a few dismal ones the Yukon Trappers Association says the territory is finally seeing some prime pelts this year. It's all thanks to recent cold weather.

Shifting ground causes problems for Whitehorse office building
A large retail and office building in downtown Whitehorse has shifted so much in just a few years that its elevator is now out of service.

It's a week of weird, warm weather in Whitehorse
After some bracing winter weather in November, the city has seen an unusually mild start to this month, with temperatures soaring well above the freezing point, and even some rain.

63 bears destroyed in Yukon this year because of human conflict
The Yukon government crunched the numbers and confirmed that 2017 was a relatively bad year for human-bear conflicts in Yukon. It's estimated that more bears were killed this year than in any of the previous five years.

Elk population a headache for Yukon farmers
A 1990 elk management plan recommended 100 animals as a reasonable number, based on resources available for the animals, Cathers said. But that number has since ballooned, causing more agricultural conflicts. Part of the problem goes back to 2008, when elk wintered in fenced off enclosures after winter ticks were discovered.

Yukoners noticing more stinging insects — and stings — this summer
A pest control specialist in Whitehorse says he's getting a lot more calls about stinging insects this summer - and that the heat may be to blame.

Threat of moose-killing tick infestation looms as far-north climate warms
In New England where ticks have decimated moose, the average tick load is 40,000, and some have been found with 90,000.
Alaska Dispatch News

Farmers say government bleating over sheep disease concerns | Yukon News
Officials worry about the possible transmission of pathogens between domestic sheep and goats and wild thinhorns, an issue which has caused some tension among local farmers.

Second Spring in Whitehorse

Cold weather delays Yukon growers
Yukon growers report delay, because of colder than usual March temperatures.

Yukon species list shows climate change in action
A big emphasis in the last few years has been updating and adding to the list of species known to occur in the Yukon.
This past year, a whopping 1,973 species of plants, insects and animals have been added.

Go back to bed! Early-riser bear spotted near Whitehorse
Wildlife officials typically tell Yukoners to keep an eye out for bears coming out of hibernation in April. 'We don't generally get sightings reported this time of year.'

Warm, wet weather prompts road closures
Record-breaking warm temperatures had some people in Whitehorse basking in the sun. In Haines Junction it was raining so hard the sand was washing off the road.

Warm weather leading to worst Yukon trapping season in years

Whitehorse cougar evidence excites Yukon biologist
Environment Yukon's carnivore biologist is enthused about cougar sightings near Whitehorse, as tracks suggest the big cats are breeding in the territory.

Coyotes harass dogs, bikers on Whitehorse trail
Some Whitehorse dog owners have been startled by aggressive coyotes on a city bike trail recently. One dog owner says his pet was attacked and had a mouthful of fur ripped off by one of the wily canines.

'It's a genetic mutation,' says Yukon biologist of 1st recorded sighting of a black lynx
The lynx was seen in the Whitehorse area and it was captured on video by someone living there. That footage made its way to Jung who reported it in an article published in October in the scientific journal Mammalia. It was the first-ever recorded sighting of a black lynx in Canada.

Lack of snow adds to training challenge for Yukon Quest musher
In less than a month, the Yukon Quest will get underway in Whitehorse. But one first-time entrant says she hasn't touched her dog sled at all yet, because of the unusual weather conditions.

Record-breaking snowfall could bring wet spring in parts of Yukon
Over the past few weeks the Yukon, once again, received large dumps of snow, causing immediate problems — like impassable streets in some areas — and potential future problems like flooding in the spring.

Yukon Energy wants to lower Marsh Lake to reduce summer flood risk
Yukon Energy is again asking for permission this year to lower the level of Marsh Lake, in anticipation of possible flooding this summer.
Marsh Lake, Yukon, Canada

Whitehorse landslide cleanup and wall construction set to begin next week
Cleanup of the landslide debris in Whitehorse and the construction of the sheet pile wall are set to begin on Wednesday or Thursday next week, say city officials.

Yukon Southern Lakes residents in 'emergency mode' as water levels rise
Residents in Yukon's Southern Lakes region are bracing for the worst as water levels continue to creep dangerously high.

Over 1,300 Trumpeter Swans touch down in M'Clintock Bay, Yukon
The loudest sign of spring in southern Yukon is the return of the trumpeter swans. Thousands take a rest and refuel in M'Clintock Bay. As the CBC's Cheryl Kawaja reports, this year, they're about a week ahead of schedule.

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