LEO Network

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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

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

Strange fish caught in Togiak Bay area
No one in Togiak had ever seen a fish like this before. In the photo it looks like a cross between a tad pole and a piranha! With help from ADF&G it has been identified as the smooth lumpsucker fish, found at depths of up to 1000 meters.
Togiak, Alaska, United States
Heidi Kritz, Gabe Dunham, Jayde Ferguson

The Swallows Are Here!
Swallow populations are fluctuating as the environment changes. In 2016, the Alaska Songbird Institute began studying changes in swallow populations and formed the Alaska Swallow Monitoring Network. This is an opportunity for participation for community members to participate in a structured monitoring program.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Rare muskox sighting in Manokotak raises questions
The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages
Manokotak, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Times
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in Manokotak
A muskox (*Ovibos moschatus*) seen farther inland than usual during mating season.
Manokotak, Alaska, United States

Dead Seabirds, Including Shearwaters (genus Ardenna), Found on Beach
"I discovered possibly 43 seabirds and may have missed more on August 3, 2019, just on the southwest side and did not go further on southeast side of our beach. Not sure, maybe they died of hunger."
Togiak, Alaska, United States
Gayla Hoseth, Kathy Kuletz, Diane Abraham, Hillary Burgess

Dead Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Thousands of dead sockeye salmon (*Oncorhynchus nerka*) found dead along the beach during a period of warm weather. Additional salmon have been observed in the Togiak River, raising concerns about possible challenges to subsistence harvest.
Twin Hills, Alaska, United States

Smelt (Osmerus mordax) Mortality
Thousands of smelts were found dead during low tide in the Togiak slough. Is there an environmental cause?

Ross's Gull (Rhodostetia rosea) Spotted South of Normal Range
Ross's Gulls are normally seen in the high Arctic, this is the first reported sighting in Togiak. A similar sighting was reported to LEO Network from Hooper Bay.

Unidentified Skate Found on Beach
It is unusual for skates to wash up on the beach.

Ross's Gull (Rhodostetia rosea) Spotted at Togiak Beach
An unusual gull species (possibly Ross's gull) sighted within days of a confirmed Ross's gull sighting in Togiak.

Herring fishing off to windy start
The state's largest sac roe herring fishery got off to a windy beginning. Gusts over 30 mph posed a challenge for fishermen.
KDLG

Parasite (Taenia krabbei) in Caribou Meat
Muscle tapeworm cysts in caribou meat.

Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) Adapting to Warming Temperatures
Warmer winter temperatures are bringing Arctic Ground Squirrels out of hibernation
Twin Hills, Alaska, United States

A Not So Normal Summer
Drought, causing low waters in Goodnews River, no blackberries, and early cool weather.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with Cysts
Silver salmon, caught 10 miles up the Twin Hills River, had small white patches in flesh.
Twin Hills, Alaska, United States

Sea Creature
Unidentified, deceased, sea animal washes ashore on Togiak beach

Caterpillars spike around lakes and rivers near Aleknagik and Dillingham for second year
For the second year in a row, people around Dillingham, Aleknagik and Wood-Tikchik State Park and the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge are reporting a massive outbreak of caterpillars. Listen now
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Green Yellow Puss on Tiny Seal
I never thought of seeing sick seal but what is that?
Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Diane Abraham, Kathy Burek Huntington

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) with deformity
Fish has bend in spine.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States
Alice Julius, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) with Lesions
Lesions on this Dolly Varden or Arctic char are most likely furuncles caused by a common bacterial pathogen called Aeromonas salmonicida.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States
Alice Julius, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson

Unstable River Ice - Lack of Snow
From an average freeze-up to rewarming and a lack of snow. The winter weather is now gone making the river ice unstable enough to go across to the community of Togiak for groceries household goods, bad situation.

Hot Sun
It seems very warm when the sun comes out.

Lots of Lake Weeds
A problem for outboards.
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States

Unusual Fish - Whitespotted greenling (Hexagrammos stelleri)
Unknown fish caught this summer in Togiak Bay.

Black or perhapsTail-dropper Slug
Invasive Black Slug

Woodpecker (Picoides pubescenc) In Coastal Southwest
A woodpecker never seen before.

Dead Seabirds
Dead seabirds found in Goodnews Bay.
Alice Julius, Arlene Shimanek, Barbara Bodenstein

Novel Bat (Myotis lucifugus) Sighting
Bats sighted in Goodnews

Plant Has Red Gall
Unusual plant has red buds

Swimming Moose (Alces alces) Dies
Swimming moose dies

Unusual Mouse Species
Unusual mouse species

Unusual Beetle
5-31-15 Unusual beetle - Goodnews Bay, Alaska, USA

Squirrel Parka Tail Plants Early
Squirrel parka tail plants early
Brian Abraham, Aeshia Upton, Gino Graziano

Coastal Erosion
Weekend storm eroded the face of the sea wall.

Winter Spider
11-24-14 Winter spider - Togiak, Alaska, USA

Lions Mane Jellyfish Sighting
11-20-14 Unusual jellyfish - Togiak, Alaska, USA
Togiak, Alaska, Unites States
Kristin Cieciel, Aeshia Upton, Brian Abraham

Berry Harvest Change
Crooked Island, 25 Miles south of Togiak. Remnants of blackberries.

Yellow Flowers Genus Arnica
7-14-14 Yellow flowers genus Arnica - Togiak, Alaska, USA

Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) in Set-net Gear
Unknown fish species caught in set-net gear

Open Lake Water
1-28-14 Open lake water - Aleknagik, Alaska, USA
Aleknagik, Alaska, USA

Many Wolf (Canis lubus) Sightings
2-2-13 Many wolf sightings - Togiak, Alaska, USA
Togiak, Alaska, USA

Lake Froze Weird
Aleknagik, November 26, 2012 (ice) Our lake froze weird again this year.

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