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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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Ferry port calls to Unalaska, Akutan cancelled after fall storm reroutes aging Tustumena
A powerful fall storm with hurricane-force winds forced the M/V Tustumena to cancel port calls to Unalaska and Akutan, turning back at Cold Bay. The aging ferry will remain in Cold Bay until Sept. 7 before heading back up the Aleutian Chain.
Unalaska and Akutan, Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States
KUCB

'Stay alert': Unalaska eagles begin nesting season early
Eagles in Unalaska are nesting earlier than usual, prompting local authorities to caution residents about potentially aggressive territorial behavior near the nests.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
KUCB

Unalaska jostled by magnitude 5.6 earthquake, scientists say no cause for alarm
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck southwest of Unalaska, impacting locals in Nikolski and Akutan, but poses no tsunami threat or concern for further seismic activity.
Unalaska, Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, United States
KUCB

Unalaskans help document largest single-species wildlife die-off ever recorded
The murre die-off might have gone unexplained if it weren't for decades of observations from researchers and citizen scientists.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
KUCB | By Sofia Stuart-Rasi Published January 7, 2025 at 11:32 AM AKST

Orcas challenge the Bering Sea’s black cod industry
Orcas are starting to show new feeding behaviors around large trawler nets. They’re trying to steal fish caught in nets that are typically being hauled back. Scientists aren’t sure why orcas are doing this, but it’s dangerous for them because it increases their chances of getting caught in the net and dying.The problem is so bad that some fishermen have decided to skip fishing for black cod this year.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

NOAA responds to entangled whale in Unalaska's Iliuliuk Bay
Authorities are gathering images and information to coordinate helping an entangled humpback in Unalaska’s Iliuliuk Bay.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

End of year brings record rains to Unalaska
A typical December brings about 6 inches of rain to Unalaska. But the island has already received more than 10 inches this month. Michael Lawson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said an atmospheric river above the Eastern Aleutians acted as a funnel to allow warm and rainy weather to move from the south to the north, directly across the region.
KUCB - Unalaska

H5N1 Avian influenza detected in a red fox in Unalaska
Most likely foxes become infected from feeding on deceased birds. In the past month, HPAI has been detected in red foxes in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario in areas where the virus was also detected in wild birds.
KINY

Eagle that died in Sitka park has tested positive for bird flu
An eagle that died in the Sitka National Historical Park this month tested positive for the avian influenza. A second eagle that died in the park was also tested for the virus, and results are pending.
KCAW

Avian flu confirmed in wild birds at multiple Alaska locations
Alaska State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Gerlach said they have now confirmed avian flu in several bald eagles on Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands, several Canada geese in the Anchorage area, and a Canada goose in Delta Junction.
KINY

Japanese skeleton shrimp found in Nateekin Bay
Historically cold temperatures made it difficult for invasive species survive in Alaska. The Japanese skeleton shrimp *Caprella mutica* is now established in Unalaska area and in this observation observed on a buoy line in Nateekin Bay.
Melissa Good, Tammy Davis, Elizabeth E Mears

Unidentified Waxy Substance
Unusual waxy, white substance washed up on beach.
Chyna Williams, Johanna Tellman, Tom Okey

Unalaska records 120 mph winds during record-breaking August storm
The strong winds toppled boats, threw shipping containers into the bay, and even blew the windows out of American President Lines crane. The winds came during a storm from the remnants of Typhoon Bavi.
Alaska Public Media

Dead whales wash up near Unalaska, but pandemic complicates necropsies
Two dead whales have washed up on Unalaska's shores in the past week: an adult fin whale — which is the second largest mammal in the world — and a juvenile humpback.

Biologists hope dead sea lion will provide insight into endangered Aleutian population
Officials have been receiving reports of Steller sea lions hauling out on beaches in poor condition, but have been unable to retrieve the animals for research — largely because they are in remote areas.

A person was fatally poisoned by mussels in Dutch Harbor, and now Alaska warns of high toxin levels
A person has died from paralytic shellfish poisoning after eating blue mussels and snails in the Aleutian Island community of Unalaska, state health officials confirmed Wednesday.
KCUB Unalaska

Washed-up Stellar Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) on Front Beach
Female Stellar sea lion found dead on the beach, partially scavenged by eagles. There was no sign of any bullet holes. In addition, there wasn't any other evidence of what happened to the sea lion.
Barbara Mahoney, Gay Sheffield, Julieanne Renee Berikoff, Melissa Good

Possible Pacific White-sided Dolphin Sighting (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
Unusually active marine mammals seen near Unalaska may actually be Pacific white-sided dolphins.
Melissa Good, Julieanne Renee Berikoff, Asia Beder

Warm, wet February linked to rise in ocean temperatures
At Unalaska's Tom Madsen Airport, temperatures haven't dropped below freezing yet this month. And in Cold Bay, the average temperature is running more than 8 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, making this the second warmest start to February since World War II.
Bristol Bay Times
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia) with Bill Abnormality
A thick-billed murre (*Uria lomvia*) was spotted with a bill abnormality that could be attributed to poxvirus or other virus, trauma, tumor, or congenital abnormality.
Devilfish Point, Unalaska Bay

Shearwater (genus Puffinus) Bird Die-off
Eighteen dead shearwaters (genus *Puffinus*) have washed ashore at Humpy Cove. Additional birds were observed by other community members at Wide Bay and Morris Cove.
Chris Price, Karen Pletnikoff, Melissa Good, Kathy Kuletz, Brian Berube, Shayla Shaishnikoff, Hillary Burgess

Krill (Thysanoessa spinifera) Found Washed Up on Beach
Krill (*Thysanoessa spinifera*) were found washed up along the beach in Dutch Harbor. Samples sent to University of Alaska Fairbanks are in the process of being tested for toxins.
Karen Pletnikoff, Asia Beder, Dean Stockwell, Melissa Good, Bruce Wright

Unidentified Orange Substance Found Washed Up on the Beach in Unalaska
An unidentified substance was found washed up on the Summers Bay beach. Samples were sent to University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and are being tested.
Karen Pletnikoff, Dean Stockwell, Asia Beder, Melissa Good

Late Arrival of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Late arrival of humpback whales may be related to a change in abundance of prey species.

Unusual bald eagles' (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flying behavior?
Two bald eagles observed flying together during breeding season, when eagles may remain closer to the nest.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) regurgitation full of plastic found in Unalaska
Regurgitation from a bald eagle contains plastic pieces.
Melissa Good, Anna-Katri Kulmala, Veronica Padula

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.
Alaska Sea Grant

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

Slow Red Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Run
Slow sockeye salmon (*Oncorhynchus nerka*) runs in the Aleutians potentially linked to warming ocean temperatures.

X-Cell Tumor Around the Gills of a Black Rockfish (Sebastes melonops)
Black Rockfish (*Sebastes melonops*) caught with X-Cell tumor.

Morris Cove Creek and Ocean Disconnection
An obstruction has disconnected Morris Cove from ocean waters, preventing salmon from moving upstream.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States

Washed-up Carcass Tangled in Netting
The remains of a possible seal carcass tangled in netting may have come into contact postmortem, "ghost fishing" as a potential cause.

With 50+ Ringed Seal Sightings, Unalaskans Start Tracking The Unexpected Species
Unalaskans are used to spotting marine mammals around the island. But lately, they're not just seeing whales or otters. They're seeing ringed seals — an Arctic species that typically lives far north of the ice-free Aleutian Islands.

Third ringed seal found in Unalaska sent for rehabilitation
After admitting a sick ringed seal from Unalaska, veterinarians at the Alaska SeaLife Center are cautiously optimistic about his chances for recovery.
KTOO

Many Ringed Seals (Pusa hispida) Hauling Out
Above normal than average seal strandings in the Aleutians.
Chris Price, Moses Tcheripanoff, Melissa Good

Scientists don't know why ice seals are appearing in ice-free Unalaska
There are plenty of seals in Unalaska, but ringed seals -- who make their homes on the ice -- are rare.
KTOO

Murre colonies struggle to reproduce following die-off
While reproductive failure is common for some species like black-legged kittiwakes, it isn’t for murres. In some places less than one percent of the chicks survived.
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Two dead squid in two weeks: Coincidence?
The novelty of seeing a jumbo squid in Unalaska is not wearing off: a second one washed ashore Monday night.
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Unalaska receives surprise visitor from the deep
What has eight arms, two tentacles and washed ashore on a beach in Unalaska Monday night? A more than six-foot long squid.
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Two Robust Clubhook Squid (Onykia robusta) Wash Ashore
Both squid were of the genus/species Onykia robusta, previously known as Moroteuthis robusta, and commonly known as the robust clubhook squid.

Cause of death unclear for Steller sea lion in Morris Cove
The carcass of a Steller sea lion washed up this weekend in Unalaska's Morris Cove. The dead marine mammal was an adult male, almost 8-feet long, according to Melissa Good of the Alaska Sea Grant program.
KTOO

Steller Watch lets anyone with internet access play wildlife biologist
Scientists are trying out crowdsourcing to comb through pictures looking for sea lions.

Dead Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
Dead sea otter (Enhydra lutris) raises concerns of zoonotic pathogen
Chris Price, Nikita Robinson, Melissa Good

Entangled Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) Whale
Dead humpback whale

Unusual Mussel (Mytilus californianus) Species
Unusual Mussel Species

Aleutian Avalanche
3-20-12 Aleutian avalanche - Akutan, Alaska, USA
Akutan, Alaska, United States

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