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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

Bears in the backyard: Sightings on the rise in southwest Finland
A brown bear was filmed running through downtown Loimaa after emerging from the Loimijoki River, one of several recent sightings in Southwest Finland this spring.
Loimaa, Southwest Finland, Finland
Yle News

Mild winter draws first migratory birds back
Early sightings of migratory birds in southwest Finland, including bean and greylag geese, suggest milder winter conditions and highlight the impact of climate change on traditional migratory patterns.
Parainen, Southwest Finland, Finland
Yle News

Fishing trawler likely behind Hanko's dead fish, fire chief says
Local fire chief Clas Tallberg stated that fish washed up on Hanko's shore showed injuries suggesting they were crushed by a fishing trawler's net, leading to a mass die-off of brisling sardines. Meanwhile, volunteers are cleaning up white clumps on the beach believed to be vessel wash water.
Hanko, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle News

Ship working for Neste likely behind white clumps on Hanko's shore, company confirms
Finnish fuel firm Neste confirmed that white clumps on Hanko's shore likely resulted from wash water containing used oils from one of its vessels, prompting cleanup efforts and an ongoing investigation.
Hanko, Uusimaa, Finland

Warm waters prompt fishing permit suspensions
The sale of fishing permits has been suspended for two sites where water temperatures have risen to critically high levels, especially for salmon.
Salo, Southwest Finland, Finland
News

Finland sweats as temperatures approach summer highs
Finland is experiencing warm and sunny weather with temperatures ranging between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, and an advisory for strong ultraviolet radiation has been issued for the south and southwest.
Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland
News

Elk swims to island in Finnish archipelago, first sighting in 40 years
An elk was spotted swimming to the island of Utö in the Finnish archipelago, marking the first sighting of the animal in 40 years.
Utö, Finland
News

Avian flu detected in Uusimaa
The H5N8 virus was detected in sick and injured birds in February and early March this year, including in a swan found dead in Helsinki's Eläintarhanlahti park and a goshawk sent to Korkeasaari Wildlife Hospital from Kumpula. Several birds infected with avian influenza have been found in Uusimaa this winter.
Hanko, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Bottlenose dolphins sighted off Finnish coast for first time in nearly 70 years
Ascension Thursday, a Finnish holiday, was unforgettable for Keeri Sjöblom, 13, who lives in Kimitoön, a maritime municipality in southwest Finland.
Southwest Finland
Yle Uutiset

Turku's cherry blossoms bloom out of season in mid-winter
The cherry blossoms along the Aura riverbank are a huge draw for tourists and photo enthusiasts every year around mid-May. The city's head gardener said he was amazed by the sight of the flowers budding this time of year.
Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Spring flowers in southwest Finland archipelago
According to Simo Laine, head horticulturalist at botanical garden in Turku, southwest Finland, it could well be the first time that the blooms have made an appearance in the country as early as January.
Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland

Mild winter puts squeeze on Saimaa ringed seal
Sipilä said that during his 40 years working for state-owned parks and wildlife management agency Metsähallitus, he has never seen such poor ice conditions in January.
Gulf of Finland

Tick, tock: Finland's ticks still thirst for blood
The incidence of ticks at all of Turku University’s research sites in Turku as well as in Helsinki has risen over the past 20 years, and they can still active into the fall, even after periods of freezing weather. Southwestern Finland and Uusimaa have reported 29 cases of tick-borne encephalitis and some 1,500 people have contracted Lyme disease, an illness caused by ticks carrying Borrelia burgdorferi.

Migratory birds still sighted as far as southern Finland
Various species can be spotted in different parts of the country till early October due to warm weather in the south.

Satellite photos show blue-green algae blooming in blistering heat
Researcher Sirpa Lehtinen from the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) said that cyanobacteria exist in seawater all year round, but intense heat causes them to multiply quickly.

Waterspout touches down in Finnish Archipelago
A close cousin to the tornado - the waterspout - touched down in south-western Finland on Friday.
Pargas, Southwest Finland, Finland

Brush fire warnings in effect across Finland this week
A fire chief in the south-west said firefighters were called to several fires a day in recent days, saying that all were caused by people who ignored warnings.
Mynämäki, Southwest Finland, Finland

Outdoor air quality at seasonal low
Spring blossoms, dusty streets, distant fires and a lack of rain combine to create hazardous respiratory conditions.

Unusually heavy pollen season getting underway in Finland
Alder catkins (the pollen-rich flowers on alder trees) haven't reached their peak yet, but there are a lot of them. There can be four to five million pollen particles in a single catkin.

Chemically-cleaned Finnish lake still clear, but now overrun by waterweed
Littoinen Lake made headlines in 2017 when it was chemically treated because it was overwhelmed with phosphorous and algae. Now there is a new problem.
Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland

Finland experiencing worst birch pollen season in years
As many allergy-sufferers across Finland may have already suspected, birch pollen levels were very high on Wednesday, according to the University of Turku.
Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland

Researcher blames lack of ice on Baltic Sea for southern Finland's messy winter
The Finnish researcher says the source of southern Finland's unusually slippery roads and messy snow this winter is very likely due to warm air from the sea.

Toxic glowing organism poses new threat to Baltic Sea
The Natural Resources Institute is developing new ways to combat Alexandrium ostenfeldii, a toxic organism now thriving due to climate change.
Naantali, Southwest Finland, Finland

Alpha male shot as wolves set up territory west of Helsinki
Wildlife authorities say that a new wolf pack has established a territory in Raseborg, but that its future is in doubt after the apparent shooting of its alpha male. Hunters had been issued with a special permit to shoot a young male.
Kisko, Southwest Finland, Finland

Storm winds knock out power to thousands
High winds blasted across south-western Finland Friday, cutting electricity to customers. The rare June storm peaked on Friday afternoon.
West of Helsinki, Finland

Finland endures coldest May in nearly half a century
As many people resident in Finland already know, May was an exceptionally cold month. According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute FMI, the last time May daytime temperatures were this low was in 1969.
Paimio, Southwest Finland, Finland

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