LEO Network

About the LEO Network
The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Scientists have unlocked 1 secret to Arctic ground squirrels deep-freeze - and that could be a big deal for humans.
An enzyme protects squirrels during and after hibernation, and something similar could help people whose hearts shut down, a new study finds.
Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Early Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) Bloom
Early fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) bloom
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Filled with Pus
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Leopard or Giant Garden Slug (Limax maximus) Found
Leopard Slug Found
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Caterpillar Infestation
Caterpillar infestation in Village
Holy Cross, Alaska, United States

California anchovy (Engraulis mordax) schools
Turnstall Bay, Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

Fritillary (Boloria alaskensis) Butterfly
Unusual Butterfly(?)
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Quite Early for Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus)
In Southcentral Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Yellow Fungus (Phragmidium) on Wild Rose and other Plants
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Crack in the Tundra
Possibly an effect of thawing permafrost.
Kipnuk, Alaska, United States

Dolphins in Salish Sea signal warming worries
Times Colonist

Toxic algae blamed for die-off at 2 salmon farms in Clayoquot Sound
Millar Channel, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

Thunder Storms
Thunder Storms (?)
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States

March Flies (Bibionidae) All Over Sand Point
Flies all over Sand Point
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Early Breakup Causing Lots of Change
Early breakup brings early arrivals.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Extremely High PSP Levels
Extremely high PSP levels
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Ripe Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium) In June!
Ripe blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium) in early June?
Fort Wrangel, Alaska, United States

Dump Fire Raises Wildfire Concerns
Dump and hill fire
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Unusual Ladybug (Calvia quatuordecimguttata)?
First time we have seen so many ladybugs on our island.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Bluff Erosion
Bluff/cliff side erosion along the Ningikfak River.
Chevak, Alaska, United States

Recreational Razor Clam Fishery Closed in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties
Klamath, California, United States

Rats Run Rampant in Kodiak this Season
Kayla Desroches/KMXT It looks like it’ll be a ratty season for Kodiak. The rodents are running rampant this year, at least according to one local pest cont
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
KMXT 100.1 FM

Rare 'gentle giant' shark spotted off West Coast
Bella Bella, british columbia
CBC News

Unknown Purple Plant
Unknown purple plant species.
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States

Early Ripe Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium)
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Very Early Crow Berries (Empetrum nigrum)
Very early berries this year.
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States

Sinking Islands and Lost Harvest and Hunger
Climate change is effecting the people of the Solomon Islands in many ways. Sea level rise is a major driver.

Black or perhapsTail-dropper Slug
Invasive Black Slug
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Melting permafrost is turbocharging global warming
It’s a vicious cycle: As the weather warms, the Earth’s permafrost is melting, releasing greenhouse gases that are going to make the planet even hotter.
Central - Interior, Alaska, United States
Newsweek

Eight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata) Moth or Langston's Forester (Alypia langtoni)
An Eight-spotted Langson's (Fabricius, 1775) or Langson's Forester Couper observed lower Kenai Peninsula of Alaska.
Jakolof Bay, Alaska, USA

Early Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Large Goldfish (Carassius auratus) populations in two stormponds
Okotoks, Alberta, Canada

Global warming winners? North Slope brant thriving amid changes
Climate-induced habitat changes on Alaska's North Slope such as coastal erosion and permafrost thaw have produced more food for migrating brant, a study says.
North Slope, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Pacific walrus population dropped drastically in 1980s-90s, study indicates
The notoriously difficult-to-study Pacific walrus population decreased by about half between 1981 and 1999, likely due to hunting and changes to sea-ice habitat, according to a new USGS study that is considered the most up-to-date and comprehensive so far. The Pacific walrus is being considered for Endangered Species Act protections.
Walrus Islands — State Game Sanctuary, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

River Erosion
Shungnak, Alaska, United States

Thousands of Velella (by-the-wind sailors) Washed Up In Southeast AK
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Across much of the Arctic, a thawing landscape is sinking
Because ice makes up a good portion of the underground foundation of northern Alaska, thawing has dropped the landscape as much as 3 feet in some places.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Salmon Berries (Rubus spectabilis) Early
Wrangell, Alaska, United States

Unusual Weevil (Curculionoidea)
Unusual weevil (Curculionoidea)
Russian Mission, Alaska, United States

Spruce Aphid (Elatobium abietinum) Damage
Nuka Passage, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, United States

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Caught in Village
Brown bear (Ursus arctos) caught in village.
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon aliaska) Butterfly
Large Old World Swallowtail Butterfly

Black Fly
Black fly
Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States

Early Growth Of Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis - Highbush)
Early Growth of Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis - Highbush)
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Early Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Bloom
Early salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) boom
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Unusual Atmospheric Rainbow
Unusual atmospheric rainbow-like
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Blooming Raspberry (Rubus arcticus) Plants
Blooming Raspberry plants
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Floodwaters recede after Deering declares disaster
For one day last week, the village of Deering needed to use a boat to get to the airport.
Deering, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

Why Alaska's Arctic tundra is slowly sinking
Alaska’s tundra landscapes carpet a good portion of the state, from the North Slope to the elbow of the Alaska Peninsula. Researchers say it's slowly sinking in places -- as much as a fifth of an inch each year.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Lots of Spruce (Picea glauca) Pollen and Early
Windows have been open during the record heat and the interior of the house is also full of pollen, a thin layer can be seen on the floor near windows. Everyone, even people like myself who rarely experience allergies, are feeling the effects, burning eyes, runny nose, and cough.

Early Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) Sprout

Early breakups seen on Kenai Peninsula
The rivers on the Kenai Peninsula are shucking their ice much sooner in the past few years than they have in decades, some flowing freely as early as
Soldotna, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Early Wasps (Leucospid spp.)
Early wasps

Ravens (Corvus corax) Are Scarce This Spring
Resident Ravens Disappeared in Early April
Dillingham, Alaska, United States

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Calving On Kobuk River
Caribou calving on the Kobuk River, seems early to calf.
Kiana, Alaska, United States

Mange grågås (greylag geese - Anser anser) på Spildra
Many Greylag Goose on Spildra, Norway
Spildra, Kvænangen, Norway

Deadly fungus threatens B.C.'s bats, biologist says
After a bat was found near Seattle with deadly White Nose Syndrome, a conservation group has teamed up with cave explorers to find out if B.C.'s bats are also affected. The White Nose fungus can kill 99 or even 100 percent of a population it infects.
Seattle, Washington, United States
CBC News

Unusual Weather Pattern
Unusual weather pattern that changes conditions quickly.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum Wal)
Communities on the southern coastline of Kenai Peninsula have noticed changes to trees as a result of the aphid.
Kasitana Bay, Alaska, United States

On Arctic island, a reindeer tragedy
In less than three years, the number of animals on the island of Kolguyev dropped from more than 12,000 to only 153.
Колгуевский сельсовет, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Unusual Bird (lxoreus naevius) on Lake Iliamna
Identified as a male Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)

Alaska birch pollen is getting so bad, even those without allergies might suffer
Spiking levels of birch pollen around much of the state are also being seen during an early spring in Anchorage this week, as doctors deal with an influx of allergy and asthma patients.

West Coast Harmful Algal Bloom
Over the past few months, a massive toxic bloom of the marine diatom *Pseudo-nitzschia*, stretching from central California to the Alaska Peninsula, has resulted in significant impacts to coastal resources and marine life. NOAA has been working closely with federal, state, tribal, academic, and other partners to respond to this unprecedented harmful algal bloom (HAB).
Pacific Ocean, Northern to East Coasts
National Ocean Service (NOAA)

Southern Squirrels moving North!
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Southern Squirrels Moving North
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Another Warm Month in Alaska
Least Surprising News: Another Warm Month in Alaska
Alaska, United States

Lots of Furry Moths
Unknown furry moth
Holy Cross, Alaska, United States

Early Allergy Season
Allergy season happening sooner
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Unalakleet River Goes Out Early
Unalakleet River goes out early
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

5 billion MNT bridge collapses after heavy rain |
A newly built bridge in Tes soum of Uvs Province collapsed on Saturday during a heavy rain.
Тэс, Uvs, Mongolia
The UB Post

Moose (Alces alces) Near Village
Moose (Alces alces) near village

Early Birch (Betula papyrifera) Tree Leaves
Early green up following a very mild winter with little snow.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Growth On Sheefish (Stenodus leucichthys) Heart
Tapioca like growth identified as larval trematode parasites (digenean metacercariae).
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Flood and drought extremes in southeastern Alberta
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Early Break-up, Low Water
Early river break-up and low water
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Increased Spread of Japanese Knotweed
Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada

Unusual Insect Observed On Willow
On the upper Klamath River
Tulley Creek

Marine Mussels Clean of PSP (Toxins)
Declining after years elevated.
Klamath, California, United States

Lowest Water Table on Record (Summer 2015)
Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)
A mountain lion is robbing the tribal fish wheel in Tazlina. There have been several sightings in recent years.
Tazlina, Alaska, United States

Sperm Whales Found Dead In Germany, Stomachs FULL Of Plastic And Car Parts
In January, 29 sperm whales were found stranded on shores around the North Sea, an area that is too shallow for the marine wildlife. Only recently were details of the animals’ necropsy released. However, scientists were deeply disturbed by what they found in the animals’ stomachs.
North Sea, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
True Activist

Lake Level Peak Elevation Shift, Shuswap Lake
Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada

Low Water On Taieri River
Low water on the Taieri River
Outram, Otago, New Zealand

Earliest River Break Up Ever
Earliest Tokositna River break up ever in Denali State Park.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States

Stage 3 Water Restrictions in Shawnigan Lake, BC
Shawnigan Lake, BC

It's official: unusual Atlantic salmon catch confirmed in Clyde River, Nunavut
Science has confirmed what fishermen in Clyde River, Nunavut, have been saying for decades: Atlantic salmon do make their way to the hamlet on Baffin Island north of the Arctic Circle.
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Unusual Bird (Lanius excubitor) Sighting
Identification pending.

Early Bloom of Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis Highbush) Bushes
Early bloom of salmonberry bushes.

No Permanent Winter Ice and Early Break Up For Nome
Nome, Alaska, United States

Band-tailed Pigeon - Lower Mainland BC
South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Early leafing of trees this spring
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

Dry winter and low water table in Southern Alberta
Okotoks, Alberta, Canada

Record High Temperatures for April 18, 2016
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Early Kuskokwim River Breakup at Chuathbaluk
We have had an extremely warm winter, and the river had many open holes that never froze completely.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Psoroptic Mange (Psoroptis ovis) in Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
South Okanagan Similkameen
Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

Lynx Spotted in Kamloops Suburbs
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Early Spring / Early Waterfowl
Early spring and early waterfowl
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Early Birch (Betula neoalaskana) Sap
The birch trees are producing sap earlier. (baseline post)

Mosquitoes (Culicidae) Hatch
First mosquito (and bite) of year.

A large wet snow avalanche cycle in West Greenland quantified using remote sensing and in situ observations
On 11 April 2016 we observed high slushflow and wet snow avalanche activity at the environmental monitoring station Kobbefjord in West Greenland.
Nuuk, Sermersooq, Greenland
Natural Hazards
Jakob Abermann, Markus Eckerstorfer, Eirik Malnes, Birger Ulf Hansen

Flora Blooming Early in the Valley
Birch leaves bud early.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

From winter to summer: Where is the spring in Toronto?
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

White Nose Syndrome (WNS) Bats
Not in Alaska yet - Help with Surveillance Requested.
Seattle, Washington, United States
Bailey Richards, Karen Blejwas, Marian Snively

Lack of ice allows dredging to start early
Previously, the dredging started around May and ran through October, but the past three winters it has started earlier and run longer.

Dead Murres At Boat Harbor

Second year of unusual seasonal temperatures: affects black bears and native plant growth?
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Unusually High March Temperatures
Unseasonably warm in Arctic.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Beaver (Castor canadensis) Activity Near Community
Beaver activity impacting water level
Chignik Lake, Alaska, United States

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Bloomers
More early bloomers in Southcentral Alaska.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) with Elongated Bill
A mysterious condition continues to inflict some Alaska birds

March Rainbow
Have you ever heard of such a thing? In Anchorage?

Volcano Spewing Ash and Lava
Pavlov Volcano provides spring show and showers
Mount Pavolf, Alaska, United States

Volcanic Ash Fall
Ash from Mount Pavlof Lands in Nelson Lagoon
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Dead Birds On Spit Beach
Residents concern over die-offs persist

Hummingbird Sightings on the Sunshine Coast
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Dandelions (Taraxacum) in Bloom
First dandelions of spring
King Cove, Alaska, United States

First Mosquitoe (Culicidae) of Spring
An early season?
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Fish and Game look to round up invasive starlings
The Department of Fish and Game plans to trap a flock of birds not native to Alaska that is trying to move in. The agency says starlings could cause big problems for humans and other birds native to the area. They want to get rid of the flock before their numbers grow.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

March Pollen and Active Honey Bees (Apis)
Warm temperatures drive emergence of early willow buds, pollen and honey bee activity.

50°F in March!
Unseasonably warm in Chistochina.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) in Full Bloom
Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) are in full bloom on Baranof Island.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Early Willow (Salix scouleriana) Bloom
Early Pussy Willows in Denali Park.
Denali Park, Alaska, United States

Wolf reports (Canis Lupus) on Nelson Island
An unusual visitor, or new neighbor?
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Coyotes are everywhere, even in Alaska
Department biologists do not keep track of coyote numbers, but Fairbanks-area trapper Randy Zarnke said coyotes began showing up on his trapline trails three or four years ago.
College, Alaska, United States

Early Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) and Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Bloom
Early blooming salmonberry (*was'x'aan tléiGu* and blueberry (*naanyaa kanat'aayi* - Tlingit language) blossoms.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Jerry Hupp, LoriAnne Barnett, Sudie Hargis

Fuel tanker plunges through ice road in N.W.T., ice road
An ice road near Deline, N.W.T. is closed after a fuel tanker plunged through on Saturday.
Déliné, Northwest Territory, Canada

Another Dead Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
Second sea otter stranding in one week.
Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Lack of snow shortens Iditarod start
Persistent warm temperatures the last few weeks have melted much of the snow, including stockpiles the city tried to set aside.
Alaska Public Media

Living in Ice Land
Winter transformed from time of snow to time of ice.

Crecimiento del nivel del mar
Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

Seldovia beach erosion and glacial rebound
Rapid changes raise questions.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Still No Sea Ice
Open water interferes with subsistence practices.
Hajo Eicken, Anna R John, Moses Tcheripanoff

Early thaw around Mukluk Slough
Early thaw of sloughs in and around Nulato
Nulato, Alaska, United States

Early Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Blossoms
Early Salmonberry Blossoms in February on Kodiak Island
Ouzinkie, Alaska, United States

Sand Point's Unsafe PSP Toxin Levels
Unusually high PSP toxin levels making shellfish unsafe to eat.

Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) Stranding at Chignik Lagoon
Community wonders about cause of illness.
Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Flooding on Mackenzie Valley Winter Road
Tulita, Northwest Territories, Canada

Local arborist works to fight desertification |
A resident of the 20th khoroo in Sukhbaatar District, D.Chuluunbaatar, has been planting fruit trees for 20 years.
Sühbaatar, Selenge, Mongolia
The UB Post

No Ice on Iliamna Lake
Iliamna Lake is not frozen, very unusual for midwinter conditions.
Lake Iliamna, Alaska, United States

Willows (Salix scouleriana) Budding Along Chistochina River
Pussy willows (Salix scouleriana) - a sign of spring in Interior Alaska.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Avistamiento de ballena en playas de Puerto Progreso, Yucatán
Progreso de Castro, Yucatán, Mexico

High Number of Lynx (Lynx Canadensis)
The lynx population is up this year in Kivalina
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

B.C. government urged to stop spread of deadly diseases to wild bighorns
B.C.'s wild bighorn sheep are facing a deadly threat from a pneumonia-causing bacterial disease
Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada

Early Iceberg Season - Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador
Canada and U.S. Coast Guard Monitoring Conditions
Ellsiton, Newfoundland, Canada

Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) Blooming In February
Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) Blooming in February

Bighorn sheep in B.C. dying from domestic sheep pneumonia
A bighorn sheep herd in B.C.’s interior is in trouble after coming into contact with domestic sheep and the contagious disease they carry.
Chasm Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada

Fuzzy Winter Caterpillar
A small black fuzzy caterpillar seen in the NPS administrative building in King Salmon, Alaska
King Salmon, Alaska, United States

Dead Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
A fin whale washed ashore in St. George, Pribilofs, Alaska.
St. George, Alaska, United States

Winter Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Sighting
The lack of sea ice in Toksook Bay, has allowed for a uniquel sighting - a January beluga whale!

Early Western Tree Frogs (Pseudacris regilla)
Observers note that the western tree frogs are singing earlier then usual this year, perhaps taking advantage of a break in the drought.
Yurok Indian Reservation, California, United States

Winter Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Black bear (Ursus americanus) sighted during a rather warm winter this year.
Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States

Sure Has Been A Warm Winter
It was a very warm week of the 25th of January, on my way home it started raining pretty heavy, mind you, no snow, but rain. I was expecting maybe some wet snow, but it was not to be...
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Dead Murres (Uria aalge)
Sea bird mortality observed on southeast end of Homer Spit
Homer, Alaska, United States

Common Murres (Uria aalge) Sighted On Iliamna
Common murre sightings; a concern for the predatory and scavenger bird numbers

Observing Eklutna Lake Water Level
The level of Eklutna Lake seems to be very low this winter. Over the long term, decline of the Eklutna Glacier is a concern for water and energy supply.
Eklutna Lake, Alaska, United States

Glide Cracks In Turnagain Pass
Glide Crack in Turnagain Pass
Turnagain Pass, Alaska, United States

This May Be The Most Contaminated Killer Whale Ever Recorded
Tiree, Scotland, United Kingdom
Huffington Post

Woodpecker (Picoides pubescenc) In Coastal Southwest
A woodpecker never seen before.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Dead Porpoise and Birds
A dead porpoise and eight seabirds found along shoreline
Haines, Alaska, United States

Delayed Winter River Travel
Poor ice quality on the Teedriinjik (Chandalar) River
Venetie, Alaska, United States

Dead Murres (Uria aalge)
More reports of dead Murres observed in the Bristol Bay region.
Port Graham, Alaska, United States

Unusually Warm In Northwest Arctic
Above normal temperatures in the Northwest Arctic region
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Start of January felt like early springtime
The start of January 2016 felt like it was early springtime.
Kwethluk, Alaska, United States

Common murre (Uria aalge) in Anchorage
Murres have had a tough year due likely to the Blob effect of warm water and (potentially) displacement of food resources. Many murres have been reported that are sick or starving.

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Pez poco común observado en Las Glorias
Estos peces son venenosos y difíciles de ser observados por confundirse muy bien con el ambiente.
La Pitahaya, Sinaloa, Mexico
David Martínez, Evaristo Rojas, Juan Carlos Villasenor-Derbez, Yutzil Lora Cabrera

Grounded Murres (Uria aalge)
Flocks of Common Murres were seen flying overhead, along with dying and grounded birds scampering around the Fish Lake area, just to the southeast foothills of Mount Yealo in the Susitna Valley.
Mount Yealo, Alaska, United States

Common Murre (Uria aalge) Stranding
Wayward Murre
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Algae Bloom
Appears to be smothering all aquatic plant life.
Gakona, Alaska, United States

Winter Storm Grounds Birds
Winter storm grounds birds along the shores of Iliamna Lake.
Iliamna, Alaska, United States

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

Sargassum algae invades the coasts of the Great South of Haiti
For over one year the coasts of the Great South of Haiti, are invaded by an unusual species of algae known as Sargassum or Seaweed. The most affected communities are : St Jean du Sud, Les Cayes, St Louis du Sud, Côtes de fer, Jacmel, Cayes Jacmel...
Saint-Louis du Sud, Sud, Haiti
HaitiLibre.com

Warm Wind with Drizzling Rain
A heatwave in Unalakleet, Alaska.

Thunder & Lightning
Unusual weather event; thunderstorm and fluctuating temperatures
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm and Rainy
Nome was hit by unseasonably warm temperatures and strong winds.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Good Year for Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
Good year for Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)

Unseasonably Warm
Very warm conditions for this time of year in Southcentral Alaska
Turnagain Arm, Alaska, United States

Warm Storms Bring Winter Melt
At lower elevations, there has been melting, hurricane force winds and rain, which have stripped away the snow and left the trails bare, wet, and icy.

Delayed Freeze-Up
Delayed freeze-up on Lake Iliamna.
Iliamna, Alaska, United States

Migratory Birds In December
Ducks were fly north along shoreline of Kivalina
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Roses blooming in December in Haida Gwaii

Sea Pens (Pennatulacea), Peanut Worms (Sipuncula) and Sea Cucumbers (P. californicu)
Interesting Marine Invertebrates
Yakutat, Alaska, United States

A plea to take air pollution seriously
After wearing a disposable air pollution mask for two weeks, I am completely disgusted, and scared of the processes that happen in my lungs.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
UB Post

Winter flooding, warm ocean likely affected Southeast humpies
This season's pink salmon were slightly bigger, but southern Panhandle runs fizzled.
Southeast Panhandle, Alaska, United States
KTOO Public Media

Dead Murres (Uria aalge)
Murre die-off in Seldovia continuing.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Extreme Weather
High rate of change in weather conditions

Seabird Deaths
A large number of bird die-offs
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Sick Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
Sick brown bear
Koliganek, Alaska, United States

Periwinkle (Vinca minor) causes suppression of Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum)
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

Black Fungus (phaeohyphomycoses) on Smelt
Smelt caught on the Kugkaktlik River were found to have dark spots on the skin. Photo examination suggests that the cause is the same black fungus found in saffron cod in Norton Sound. Continued surveillance for this condition in fish is requested by LEO Network members.
Kipnuk, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, James Berner, Jennifer Dobson, Jayde Ferguson, Nick Slim

Late Sea Ice Freeze Bring Together Seals and Caribou
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Entangled Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) Whale
Dead humpback whale
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Ticks already on the move – take the necessary precautions
The first ticks have been observed in the northwest region of Oulu, meaning they are assuredly on the loose already further south. Entomologist Reima Leinonen recommends that people who have been enjoying the outdoors take a shower at the end of the day to help check for ticks.
Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) with Saprolegnia Mold
Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) with Saprolegnia
Replogle Swan, Jayde Ferguson, Ali Hamade, Janet Mitchell

School Fire Raises Health Concerns
Ayaprun School Fire
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Japanese Knotweed in Remote Area
Tipella, British Columbia, Canada

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Blue Heron near Humpback Bay
Perryville, Alaska, United States

Spruce Tree (Picea glauca) Rapid Growth
Spruce trees growing fast.

Coastal Erosion
Coastal erosion near Cape Blossom

Dead Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) Near Birchwood
I was flying on Monday and found a giant beached dead humpback whale up on the mudflats near Birchwood. I see belugas all the time but never a humpback.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Sierra Leone's stinking seaweed linked to Caribbean invasion
Proliferation of thick brown algae is affecting fishing, tourism and marine life on both sides of the Atlantic, say scientists
Tokeh, Western, Sierra Leone
the Guardian

Dead Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) and Starfish (Phylum: Echinodermata)
Dead sea otter and star fish
Prince of Wales Islands, Alaska, United States

Blue Sail (Velella) Jellyfish
Blue Sail Jellyfish

A Very Large Grasshopper (Melanoplus)
Unusual Insect
Yakutat, Alaska, United States

Eroding Arctic coastline reveals human bones
When a storm exposes human remains in Barrow, there isn’t an established protocol. They are usually given to the federally recognized Native Village of Barrow for repatriation.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Eye on the Arctic

Crayfish invade Kodiak waters
Alex Hughes is a Fish and Game technician who volunteers with KSWCD. He said based on their studies at the Buskin river, crayfish are successfully breeding. Crayfish are originally from the Pacific Northwest and as with many invasive species, it’s anyone’s guess how they got to Kodiak.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Are Vancouver's recent Gray Whale sightings the start of regular seasonal visits?
Tuesday’s (September 29) sighting of a gray whale swimming and possibly feeding right off the Stanley Park Seawall brings recent sightings up to three in that area. It isn’t clear if it is the same whale or different whales in the widely reported incidents since August 12. One whale, perhaps the same animal each time, was observed for days in the same area in English Bay, sometimes travelling into Burrard Inlet and off West Vancouver’s Ambleside Beach.
Stanley Park Seawall, British Columbia, Canada
Georgia Straight

Presencia de águila calva (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) en Isla Santa Margarita e Isla Magdalena
Puerto Alcatraz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Yutzil Lora Cabrera, Margarita Delgadillo A., María Félix-Lizárraga, Norma Castillo

River Changing - Chistochina Low and Slow
Chistochina River change

Low Waters For Fish in Kodiak
Pink salmon die-off, and low water levels at Antone Larsen Creek
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Seabird Deaths
Sea bird deaths

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
A dead juvenile female humpback whale near Dolgoi Island

Unusual Mussel (Mytilus californianus) Species
Unusual Mussel Species
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

More Murre Deaths (Uria aalge)
Dead murres on beach
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States
Caroline Van Hemert, Barbara Bodenstein, Christopher Anahonak

Unusual sighting: mule deer in Interior Alaska
FAIRBANKS — Michael Houx was driving Tuesday evening between Eielson Air Force Base and Salcha when he saw an animal that he at first thought was a caribou.
Salcha, Alaska, United States
FairbanksDaily News-Miner

Western Arctic caribou migration returns to traditional route past Northwest villages
With caribou herds in decline and migration patterns swaying in recent years, news that caribou are following a more traditional migration route near Kivalina and Noatak caused a buzz this fall.
Northwest Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Arribo de langostas en la playa de Puerto de Progreso, Yucatán
Chelem, Yucatán, Mexico

Murre die-off reported around Kodiak
Kodiak Island residents have been reporting a large number of common murres washing up dead on local beaches.
Alaska Public Media

'Did I really see a mola mola down there?'
Scientists and fishermen have reported more unusual species in Alaska waters, including the subtropical mola mola, or ocean sunfish. It's likely because of warming sea surface temperatures.
Gulf of Alaska, United States
KTOO Public Media

Low Beaver (Castor canadensis) Activity
Beaver activity declining in Campbell Lake area

It's a different ocean right now: First great whites, now hammerhead sharks spotted in Orange County waters
Malibu Beach, California, United States
Orange County Register

Why More Hammerhead Sharks Are Popping Up Off Southern California Coast
Huntington Beach, California, United States
CBSLA.com

Polystyrene Debris
Polystyrene debris on beaches
McDonald Spit, Alaska, United States

Unusual Flora - Yellowdot Saxifrage (Saxifrage bronchialis)
Unusual Flora
Nelson Island, Alaska, United States
Ben Balivet, Gino Graziano, Matt Carlson

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus)
Unusual beetle
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Global Warming Pushes Maple Trees, Syrup to the Brink
The polar bear is a powerful symbol of the effects of climate change in the Arctic.  Here in New England, our symbol may soon be the sugar maple tree.
Durham, New Hampshire, United States
National Geographic

Dead Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Sea lion washes ashore in Nanwalek.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Lake Washington is at its lowest in nearly three decades
Washington State's historic drought is pushing Lakes Washington and Union below the normal annual 20-foot mark for the first time in 28 years, and officials anticipate another foot drop.
Kirkland, Washington, United States
Kirkland Reporter

Odd Marine Debris
Unusual debris found on beach
Shismaref, Alaska, United States
Sharon Nayokpuk, Gay Sheffield, Peter Murphy, Ali Hamade

Poor Bird Fledgling
Poor seabird chick fledging rates
St. George, Alaska, United States

Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Die-off, Jakolof Creek
Drought and high temperatures have dried the creek and caused thousands of pink salmon and Dolly Varden to die before they could spawn. The event raises questions about vulnerability of area salmon streams to climate change, and for local residents food security.
Jakolof Creek, Alaska, United States
Michael Opheim , Stephen Payton, Ryan Brubaker

Summer of Slime (Freshwater Algae)
Low water, warm temperatures and our seasonal waterfowl population are factors we think are contributing to the unprecedented algae and weed growth in the lake at the the Alaska Native Health Campus.

Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Sighted
A salmon troller saw a leatherback turtle in the summer of 2015.
Southeast Region, Alaska, United States

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

Slimy Beach
Slimy Algae on beach
Port Lions, Alaska, United States

Unusual Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Behavior
Majority of the red salmon went up the middle of the Klutina River and tended to weigh a pound or less.
Copper Center, Alaska, United States

Strange Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
Strange chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
Koyukuk, Alaska, Unites States
Ali Hamade, Jayde Ferguson, April Williams

Low Seal Numbers
Low seal numbers
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Dead Birds - Murres (Uria aalge)
Murre deaths reported along the shore of Nanwalek.

Whales Are Dying Off North America’s West Coast
West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada
VICE News

Soupfin Shark (Galeorhinus galeus) Strandings
Near Pesuta Shipwreck, Tlell, Haida Gwaii

Low Water In Area Rivers
Low water on area rivers
Nome, Alaska, United States
Jacob Martin, Scott Kent, David Streubel, Ed Washburn, Michael Sloan

Stinking mats of seaweed piling up on Caribbean beaches
Some tourists have canceled summer trips and lawmakers on Tobago have termed the sargassum invasion a “natural disaster.”
Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Miami Herald

Caribbean-bound tourists cancel holidays due to foul-smelling seaweed
Algal blooms threaten the economies of the globe’s most tourism dependent nations, scuttle holidays plans and give climate scientists more to worry about
Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
the Guardian

Increased Algal Activity in West Bragg Creek Pond
West Bragg Creek Pond, Alberta, Canada

Hot Weather for Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus)
Hot weather for wood frogs.

Abundant Japanese Wireweed (Sargassum muticum)
A species of invasive seaweed is becoming very abundant and displacing native species.
Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada

Novel Bat (Myotis lucifugus) Sighting
Bats sighted in Goodnews

Dead Birds (Cepphus columba) In Harbor
Dead birds in harbor

Dead Birds On McDonald's Spit
Dead birds on beach

Diseased Salmon
Torneälven, Lainioälven

Plant Has Red Gall
Unusual plant has red buds

Swimming Moose (Alces alces) Dies
Swimming moose dies
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States

Extreme rain
About 30 people were evacuated from an Anchorage apartment building following flash flooding that stranded cars and shut down some Anchorage streets Saturday night.
Anchorage Alaska

Dead Birds - Seagulls and Magpies
Dead seagulls and magpies

Bullfrogs threaten B.C. ecosystems
While their kin are declining worldwide, Canada’s largest amphibian, the bullfrog, is multiplying out of control in British Columbia — with some human help
Southwestern British Columbia
Canadian Geographic

Dead Birds - Seagulls, Puffins, Murres
Dead seagulls, puffins, murres

So Many Pinks (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)!
Amazing run of pink salmon.

Arribazon atípica de sargazo
Andrés Quintana Roo, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Erosion Threatens Boardwalk
River erosion damaging pedestrian walkway
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States

Unusual Mouse Species
Unusual mouse species

Low Water at Mouth of Klamath River
Causing muted tidal influence
Klamath, California, United States
Micah Gibson, Mike Brubaker, Paul Van Mechelen, Joe Hostler

Where are all the jellyfish on Melmerby beach?
Little Habour, Nova Scotia, Canada

Iqaluit gets a month's worth of rain in 9 days
Environment Canada has confirmed what residents in Nunavut's capital know all too well - it has been a cold, dreary start to summer on southern Baffin Island.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Starfish Wasting Disease
Near MacDonald Spit, southern end of the Kenai Peninsula.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Smokey Air
Smokey air

Smokey Air
Hazy fourth of July...
Wales, Alaska, United States

Starfish Wasting Disease
A starfish that did not appear healthy.
Kake, Alaska, United States

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) an Unusual Catch
Sablefish an unusual catch
Seldovia, Alaska United States

Infected salmon just another problem for Yukon subsistence fishermen
Yukon subsistence fishermen face challenges with gear restrictions, closures, and reports of salmon potentially infected with ichthyophonus, impacting their summer fishing activities.
Yukon River, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Unusual Swallow Species
Unusual swallow species
Noorvik, Alaska, United States

Jellyfish Bloom
Jellyfish bloom

Death Toll From Heat Wave in Karachi, Pakistan, Hits 1,000
Searing temperatures, which have been as high as 113 degrees, were below 100 on Thursday, but a sense of panic and crisis persisted in the city.
Karachi, Sind, Pakistan
New York Times

Wind, rains cool Pakistan heat wave that killed at least 838
Wind from the sea and pre-monsoon rains cooled southern Pakistan on Wednesday, likely marking the end of a scorching heat wave that killed at least 838 people, authorities said.
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Invasive weed makes its way into world's largest floatplane base
Elodea, an aggressive invasive plant, was discovered this month in the lake used by hundreds of floatplanes, raising fears that it will be spread to multiple sites within flying reach.

Invasive Russian Boar
Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

Climate change brings new insect arrivals to Finland
New insect species typically arrive in Finland via Russia’s Karelian Isthmus. Entomologists say that the number of species in the
Savonranta, Southern Savonia, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

Wildfire smoke Alert
Air Quality will vary between Good and Unhealthy depending on wind flow and proximity to the fire.-Southcentral areas near–Willow, Wasilla, Palmer, Butte, Anchorage, and south over the Kenai Peninsula to include Cooper Landing, Kenai Keys and Skilak Lake areas.

Sighting of White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
White-winged crossbill
Diomede, Alaska, Unites States

Deformed Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
Deformed halibut (Hippoglossus stenoloepis)
Cape Vancouver, Alaska, United States

Lightening and Wildfire
There were lightning strike-caused fires at Paul's Creek and Coffee Creek north of King Salmon, AK.
King Salmon, Alaska, United States

Drought
6/17/15 Drought - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Big Mama and the return of the humpback whales to the Salish Sea
Not a single humpback whale was seen in the Salish Sea for nearly a hundred years
Salish Sea
Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

Smokey Air
Smokey air as a result of wildfires to the north and south of Anchorage.

Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) Reeled-in
Unusual fish catch
Kake, Alaska, United States

Wildfire
Sockeye wildfire at mile post 77 of the George Parks Highway near Willow.
Willow, Alaska, United States

Jeff Lowenfels: A bumper crop of spruce cones
There seems to be an unbelievable bumper crop of spruce cones both in trees and on lawns this spring. Their abundance has been quite a topic of conversation, at least in my circles. It is coneucopia!

Rotten Smell and Mushy Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
Mushy meat texture, and rotten smell found in sockeye salmon and pacific halibut.
Meshik River, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, United States

Mysterious Sheep Death Investigated
Sheep, primarily ewes and their lambs, have died in great numbers this past lambing-season. The cause has yet to be determined, and farms all around Iceland appear to be affected.
Búðardalur, West, Iceland
Iceland Review

Abandono de nidos de Pelícano cafe
Isla Coronado, Baja California, Mexico
Yutzil Lora Cabrera, Jesus Miguel Corrales Sauceda

Ocean 'blob' brings bad fish food to B.C. waters
The so-called 'warm blob' of water in the North Pacific has brought unusual plankton, which lack the nutrients wild salmon and other marine animals count on.
Northeast Pacific Ocean

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.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Dead Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
Dead gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) reported off the Alaska Peninsula
Kate Wynne, Lauren Divine, Cosette Nielsen

Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara)
Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Scientists may have solved 2011’s mysterious marine die-off along the Pacific coast
Scientists first caught on to the strange event when they found thousands of purple sea urchins and other organisms dead in their laboratory tanks.
Northern Pacific Coast
Washington Post

Sheen on Water in Shishmaref
Photos and observations of the sheen thought to be caused by a fuel leak in the village of Shishmaref.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

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

Velella en Isla San Martín

Spring River Ice Change
Spring river ice change - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA

Insect Die-off
5.21-15 Insect die-off - Chistochina, Alaska, USA
Chistochina, Alaska, USA

Ruby Tiger (Phragmotobia fuliginosa) Moth
Unusual moth
Kwinhagak, Alaska, USA

Visiting Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)
We have never had cranes stop in here before. Something has changed that these migratory birds are stopping here.

Biologists ponder effects of a warmer ocean as pink salmon fry leave early
Biologists suspect climate change and mild winters may have prompted April's early out migration from Auke Creek.
Auke Bay, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) absent around Isla Todos Santos
Around Isla Todos Santos, a massive Giant Kelp (_Macrocystis pyrifera_) bed die-off was observed, which may be linked to the 2015-2016 El Niño event.
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Low Lake Water
Low lake water on ANTHC campus (Algae)

Moose (Alces alces) with Hair Loss
A moose was seen with some of its fur missing.

Mystery hairless elk leave scientists puzzled
A succession of mystery hairless elk have have been spotted in the village of Neiden close to Norway's far northeastern border with Russia, leaving scientists scratching their heads as to the cause.
Neiden, Norway
The Local

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
Near San Diego, California

Urban Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)
5/2/15 Urban Canada goose - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

The Blob: Why warmer oceans are a big concern
Warm water threatens marine habitats off the coast of BC
Northeast Pacific Ocean
Sooke News Mirror

Late Snow
4/20.15 Late snow - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Lightning and thunder
4/20/14 Thunder and lightening - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

Dead Black-capped (Parus atricapillus) Chickadee
The bird was flying and just dropped dead.
St. Marys, Alaska, United States

Early Waterfowl
4/16/15 Early waterfowl - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Black bear family roaming Anchorage neighborhood
A family of five black bears is roaming an Alaska neighborhood, toppling trash cans as the group rummages for food and scaring some residents who believe the animals are the same ones seen in the area last summer.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Early Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Blossoms
Salmonberry blossom seem a little early this year.

Increase in Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
4/4/15 Increase in pike - Quinhagak, Alaska, USA
Quinhagak, Alaska, USA

The warm ‘blob’ in Canada’s Pacific Ocean
Last year, 2014, was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth. Unlike other worldwide problems from which Canadians might feel relatively safe and isolated, but Canada is actually ground zero of global climate.
Gulf of Alaska / Northeast Pacific
Times Colonist

Hunting restrictions on 2 Alaska caribou herds to take effect this summer
Restrictions on bag limits and season length will start July 1 for both the Western Arctic and Teshekpuk herds, whose numbers are dropping. Restrictions will affect both resident and nonresident hunters.
Northwest Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Low Snow Pack
Normally, we have so many feet of snow throughout the village and the mountains would be packed with snow.

Early Golfing
3/24/15 Early golfing - Palmer, Alaska, USa

Early Pussy Willows
Early pussy willows - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Early Song Birds
3/18/15 Early songbirds - Haines, Alaska, USA
Haines, Alaska, United States

High PSP in Clams
High PSP in clams - Sand Point, Alaska, USA

Pregnant whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

Tourist Killed by Ice fall, Knik Glacier Alaska
The victim, identified as 28-year-old Alexander Hellweger, was part of a group of eight friends from Italy and Belgium vacationing in Alaska.

Deformed Blackfish
2/27/15 Deformed blackfish - Tooksook Bay, Alaska, USA

Dead Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
A highly decomposed whale carcass was identified as a gray whale.
St. Paul, Alaska, United States

Dead Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
This is one in a string of dead whale sightings that have been designated as the [2015 Gulf of Alaska Large Whale Unusual Mortality Event From May to mid-August, 30 large whales were reported including 11 fin whales, 14 humpback whales, 1 gray whale and 4 other unidentified large cetaceans.
St. Paul, Alaska, United States

No Sea Ice
South winds blew out most of the sea ice. Going to be bad ice if it refreezes for spring hunt.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

February Bees
We have bees in February
Arlene Gunderson, Amy Mack, Ian Williams

Wet Snowgo Race
Warm weather has made for unsafe traveling conditions, including a snowmachine race.

Lighting Strikes
Nome experienced 2 lightning strikes and thunder Monday morning during a snow squall.A

Needle Fish Die-off
2/20/15 Needle fish die-off - Kongiganak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

DOT says weather likely caused rockslide that closed Seward Highway
DOT spokesperson Shannon McCarthy said the weather this week -- alternately freezing and thawing -- was likely the culprit.
Seward Highway  Alaska, USA

High PSP in Clams
High PSP level in Sand Point, Alaska

Lantern Fish (Stenobrachius leucopsarus)
2/15/15 Lantern fish - Haines, Alaska, USA
Haines, Alaska, United States

Deformed Whitefish (C. nelsonii)
Nice looking whitefish, but had a bulged out eyeball on one side of head.

Victoria Harbour 2: Contaminants in Sediment and Mussels
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Early Plants
1/27/15 Early plants - Klawock, Alaska, USA
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Early earthworm
Earthworm found while cleaning yard
Haines, Alaska, USA

PSP High in Clams
The paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) results for Sand Point, Alaska (butter clams collected 1/5/2015) had PSP toxin levels of 112 micrograms/100 grams.

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

The Last Skiers
The physical poetry of skiing well can make you feel like a spiritual being. It feels like meaning. That's why we teach our kids to ski. Not because we want
Girdwood, Alaska, United States
The Anchorage Press

Record High Temperatures
1-9-15 Record high temperatures - Bethel, Alaska, USA
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Thousands of small seabirds wash up on West Coast in die-off mystery
Scientists are trying to determine why thousands of tiny seabirds called Cassin's auklets have washed up on the West Coast, all the way from B.C. to California.
Long Beach, Pacific Rim National Park

Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Pine grosbeak

Never below 0 in 2014
Anchorage Alaska.

Anchorage Sets New Temperature Record
The city of Anchorage can claim a new record. The city did not see a temperature drop below zero for the entire year of 2014. The last time Anchorage residents saw a below zero reading was December 26, 2013.

Coastal Erosion
Weekend storm eroded the face of the sea wall.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Bethel Receives an Unusual Winter Visitor – A Robin
A rare winter robin has been spotted in Bethel and it has folks wondering what exactly it means. Locals and a biologist say they think it has to do with climate change.

Unseasonably Warm Weather
We used to be able to go ice fishing in the lagoon as well as ice skating. Now community members are using a net to get the tomcods.
Nanwalek, Alaska, USA

Light on snow, high on risk, Turnagain Pass stays closed to snowmachiners
More than two weeks after the area typically opens for snowmachiners, the pass remained closed Tuesday as lower elevations continued to see below-average snow levels.
Turnagain Pass, Alaska, United States

Late Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
12-31-15 Late coho salmon - Klawock, Alaska, USA
Klawock, Alaska, United States

No Sea Ice Yet
By this time of the year, we usually have 2-3 miles of shore-fast ice that sticks to our beach. We as a village have not done our winter harvest of seals and walrus, and we are worried that we will not be able to bowhead whale hunt.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Whitefish (C. nelsonii) has Brown Skin
Fish had a brownish moldy growth all over its body.

High PSP in Clams
High PSP in clams

Sick Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
11-29-14 Sick harbor seal - Chefornak, Alaska, USA
Chefornak, Alaska, United States
Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Gay Sheffield, Janelle Kinegak

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

Dead Orca (Orcinus orca) Whale
Dead orca observed in the Bering Strait region.
Wales, Alaska, United States

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

Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus) with Hair Loss
11-18-15 Bearded seal with hair loss - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA

Winter River Breakup
11-18-14 Winter river break-up - Kongiganak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm
11-15-14 Unseasonably warm - Kwinhagak, Alaska, USA
Kwinhagak, Alaska, United States

Jellyfish Bloom
11-14-14 Jellyfish bloom Haines, Alaska, USA

Unseasonably Warm
11-13-14 Unseasonable warm - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA

Late Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Run
11-12-14 Late coho salmon run - Cordova, Alaska, USA
Cordova, Alaska, United States

Caribou Migration Changing
The caribou are crossing at different times and locations as the years go by.
Kiana, Alaska, USA

Unseasonably Warm and No Sea Ice
The ocean is still open, and have not even begun to freeze yet.

Unseasonably Warm and Bad Ice
11-11-14 Unseasonable warm - Ruby, Alaska, USA
Ruby, Alaska, United States

Bering Sea Superstorm Among the Strongest Extratropical Cyclones on Record
Partially derived from former Super Typhoon Nuri, the typhoon's remnants joined up with the polar jet stream and a very strong disturbance in the mid-latitude belt of westerly winds, leading to explosive development of low pressure.
The Weather Channel

Unseasonably warm and raining
11-01-14 Unseasonably warm - Pitkas Point, Alaska, USA
Pitka's Point, Alaska, United States

Mollusks in Moose (Alces alces) Gut
11-29-14 Mollusks in moose gut - Egegik, Alaska, USA
Egegik, Alaska, United States

Arctic Char with Sores and Parasites (Salmincola)
10-24-15 Arctic char with sores and parasites - Quinhagak, Alaska, USA
Quinhagak, Alaska, USA

Pacific Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus)
10-20-14 Sleeper shark - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA

Summer heat, invasive insects take toll on Interior Alaska birch trees
Interior Alaska’s hot and dry summer of 2013, coupled with an invasion of insect pests, has taken a steep toll on the region’s birch trees, experts say.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Unseasonable weather
10-10-14 Unseasonable weather - St. Michael, Alaska, USA
St. Michael, Alaska, USA

Landslide destroys Starrigavan restoration projects
High rainfall this month is being blamed for a major landslide near Sitka. The US Forest Service reports that a 100-acre slide came down in the Starrigavan Valley, about ten miles from town. The slide, and water damage to an ATV trail in the valley and other hiking trails elsewhere in Sitka -- all add up to a tough month for the agency.
KCAW

Berry Harvest Failure
A terrible year for berry harvest in the Upper Nushagak River.
Ekwok, Alaska, United States

Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with Parasites
9-24-14 Coho salmon with parasites - New Stuyahok, Alaska, USA
New Stuyahok, Alaska, United States

Lots of wasps
9-23-14 Lots of wasps - Kolikanek, Alaska, USA
Koliganek, Alaska, United States

Abundant Mossberries (Empetrum nigrum)
A great year for harvesting mossberries.
Cold Bay, Alaska, United States

High Sea Water Temperatures
9-18-14 High surface water temperatures - Bering Sea
Bering Sea, Alaska, United States

Rare whale shark sighting documented near Catalina
Near Catalina Island, California, United States
Pete Thomas Outdoors

Unusual species in Alaska waters indicate parts of Pacific warming dramatically
Hinchenbrook Entrance, Alaska

Grey Seal
Truro, Massachusetts, United States

Unusual Caterpillar
9-10-14 Unusual caterpillar - Big Lake, Alaska, USA
Big Lake, Alaska, United States

Amber Snail
These ladies found a snail that they had never seen before and brought them.

Sighted - Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
9-04-15 Swainson's thrush - Wales, Alaska, USA
Beth Paluso, Brit Oxereok, Dean Stockwell

Caterpillar (Hyles gallii) with reddish tail
9-2-14 Caterpillar with reddish tail - Tyonek, Alaska, USA
Tyonek, Alaska, United States

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) Sighted at Possession Point, Southern Vancouver Islan
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada

Sink Holes next to Main Street
Koyuk, Alaska, USA

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

Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Die-off
Chum salmon die-off in the Kobuk River.
Ambler, Alaska, United States
Virginia Commack, Susan Georgette, Jayde Ferguson

Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena)

Abundant Bees
08-17-14 Abundant bees - Eagle River, Alaska, USA
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Funnel Cloud
A funnel cloud was sighted minutes after it passed us.
Nightmute, Alaska, United States

Abundance of Fireweed (Chamerion agustifolium) on Popof Island
Abundance of Fireweed on Popof Island

Rare and friendly sea otter spotted in waters off Saanich
[VIDEOS & PHOTOS] A rare and entertaining sea otter spotted along the shores of Saanich this week has locals thrilled, but wildlife experts warn to keep a distance.
Ten Mile Point, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

Thousands of Caterpillars
8-10-14 Thousands of caterpillars - Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, USA
Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, United States

Northern Sea Nettle Jellyfish Die-Off
Northern sea nettle jellyfish die-off

BC Peace River Region - 2014 Drought
Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada

Northern Grasshoppers
The northern grasshoppers never been observer here before.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Unusual Spider
8-1-14 Unusual spider - Wales, Alaska, USA

Crab larvae wash ashore
7-29-14 Crab larvae wash ashore - Port Graham, Alaska, USA
Port Graham, Alaska

Longhorn Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus) Observed in Late July
A photo of a black unknown insect taken in late July.

Fuzzy Black Caterpillars
7-28-14 Furry black caterpillars - Nondalton Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska

Summer Snow
7-27-14 Summer snow - Wasilla, Alaska, USA
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Longhorn Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus)
Could invasive insect be an indicator of changing weather patterns?

Koyukok River Erosion
7-15-14 River erosion - Evansville, Alaska, USA
Evansville, Alaska, United States

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

Abundant Bees and Berries
7-14-14 Abundant bees & berries - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Arctic Loon?
The bird is not commonly seen in the Teller area.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Dead Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
7-10-14 Stranded sea otter - McDonald Spit, Alaska, USA
Seldovia, Alaska, USA

Early Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Early blueberries in Jakolof Bay, Alaska

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus) Larvae
Unusual insect observation approximately 2 1/2 inches in length and moved slowly, but had long strides.

Mystery Mite
Mystery mite

Bugs Swarm at 2017 Mount Marathon Race
The 2017 Mount Marathon races were run under cloudy skies and damp conditions. A man swats at bugs that swarmed at the top of Mount Marathon during the race Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Seward.
Seward, Alaska, United States

Interesting moth
Interesting moth - One Tree Island, near Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus)
7-3-14 Kelp greenling - Golovin, Alaska, USA
Golovin, Alaska, USA

Warm spring results in high gas prices

Bright Green Bug
7-1-14 Bright green bug - Kongignak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

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

Moth invasions cause widespread damage in the sub-arctic birch forest
In just seven years, as much as one-third of the mountain-birch forest in the North Calotte region was severely defoliated by two moth species. Researchers now have a better understanding of what happened.
North Calotte Region, Northern Fennoscandia
ScienceNordic

New Beaked Whale Species (Berardius)
New beaked whale species: Berardius
Saint George, Alaska, United States
Karin Holser, Joshua Prokopiof, Hertha Kashaverof, Aaron Merculief

Dead Spotted (Phoca largha) and Ringed (Pusa hispida) Seals
We are spotting dead baby 'spotted' and 'ringed' seals washing up on the beach with no signs of lesions or signs of gun shots.
Gay Sheffield, Olivia Lee, Robert Tokeinna, Hajo Eicken

Sick Cod
6-12-14 Sick Cod - Tununak, Alaska, USA
Tununak, Alaska, United States

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Caterpillar (Aglais milberti) Infestation
Milbert's tortoiseshell caterpillar infestation
Chalkyitsik, Alaska, United States
Tricia Wurtz, Jessie Moan, La'ona DeWilde

Thawing ATV Trail
Thawing all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trail.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Abundant Herring Roe
Abundant herring roe, most ever seen during the low tide - Toksook Bay, Alaska, USA

Gravesite Erosion
Permafrost thaw and storms are drivers.
Jennifer Demir, Ryan Brubaker, Racheal Lee, Anahma Shannon, Mike Brubaker, Kendra Lee, Tom Wolforth

Pavlof Volcano Ash
Volcanic eruption in the Aleutian's.

Pavlof Volcano Eruption
6-2-14 Mt Pavlov volcano eruption - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Extreme Shore Erosion
Loss of shoreline and subsistence camps.

Unusually Cold and Snow
5-30-14 Unusually cold and snow - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Over-heated
This sea lion was seen for over an hour floating along the shore and holding one front and one back flipper in the air.

Early Salmonberry (Rubus chamaemorus) Blossoms
5-27-14 Early salmon berry blossoms - Toksook Bay, Alaska, USA

Growth on Broad Whitefish (C. nelsonii)
Fishing this spring and caught a broad whitefish that had a growth.
Selawik, Alaska. United States

High Spruce Pollen
5-25-14 High spruce pollen McDonald Spit, Alaska, USA

Low Lake Water
Dry conditions in Southcentral Alaska have resulted in low lake levels including here on the ANTHC campus

Pollen Makes for Poor Air Quality
5-19-14 Poor air quality - Anchorage Alaska, USA

Hot, dry weather brings wildfires near Palmer
Unseasonably warm, dry weather in a large section of the state set the stage for a roughly 20-acre wildfire near Palmer and kept authorities across Southcentral and Interior Alaska busy putting out backyard fires despite ongoing warnings against open burning.

Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii Early
Hunters noticed some herring were starting to spawn near Cape Denbigh. The herring scheduled to arrive on May 25th, are over a week early.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire and smoke seen from Hatcher Pass, AK
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Laysan albatross chicken die-off linked to Santa Ana winds
Laysan albatross chickens died from causes related to abnormal Santa Ana winds
Campamento Sur, Baja California, Mexico
Daniela Munguía, Julio Montoya, Yutzil Lora Cabrera

Spawning Marine Worms
Spawning marine Pileworms observed along shoreline.
Nikolski, Alaska, United States

High PSP Levels in Clams
4-30-14 High PSP levels in clams - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Dry April triggers fire warnings in Anchorage

Sea Ice Rescue
4-29-14 Sea ice rescue - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Geometridae moth
4-27-14 Geometridae moth - Naknek, Alaska, USA
Naknek, Alaska, United States

Rare Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
4-25-14 Rare brown bear visit - Bethel, Alaska, USA
Bethel, Alaska, Unites States

River Ice Treacherous
4-13-14 River ice treacherous - Bethel, Alaska, USA

Heavy snow kills at least 15,000 reindeer in northern Siberia
Animals cannot forage for lichen under the snow crust on the Yamal peninsula.
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Bed bugs are calling Alaska home at increasing rates
In Anchorage, the city logged 68 bed bug complaints in 2013, a decrease from the 84 in 2012. There was just one complaint in 2007 and 2008 combined, according to city data.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta caradensis) with Elongated Bill
An intense bundle of energy at your feeder, Red-breasted Nuthatches are tiny, active birds of north woods and western mountains.

Finally Snow in Golovin
There has been a lack of snow in the Golovin area ever since the January 2014 warm spell.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) Sighting
Rare Layson Albatross (*Phoebastria immutabilis*) sighting.

Mountain Snow and Ice Declining
Mount Sanford has been losing its ice cover for decades around its base.
Gakona, Alaska, United States

Advisory - Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Safety
3-5-14 Advisory - beluga safety
Point Hope, Alaska, United States

Ocean acidity wipes out 10 million scallops near Qualicum Beach
Ten million scallops that have died in the waters near Qualicum Beach due to rising ocean acidity are the latest victims in a series of marine die-offs that have plagued the West Coast for 10 years. . .
Island Scallops Ltd., Vancouver Island, Canada

Seasonal Change
2-25-14 Seasonal change - Nightmute, Alalska, USA
Nightmute, Alaska, USA

Climate Change Threatens the Future of the Winter Olympics
By mid century, past Olympic venues like Squaw Valley, California; Oslo, Norway; Chamonix, France; and—of course—Sochi, will be too warm to ever host the Winter Games again.
Sochi, Krasnodarskiy, Russia
National Geographic

Very Little Snow
2-20-14 Very little snow - Bethel, Alaska, USA

Windy, No Snow
2-17-14 Windy, no snow - Wasilla, Alaska, USA

Needle Fish with Lesions
Needle fish with lesions observed.
Chefornak, Alaska, United States

Early Fur Seals
This winter has been especially mild in the central Bering Sea and this is the earliest recorded fur seal on St. George Island ever.
St. George, Alaska, USA

Evidence of Sea Star Wasting Disease
Laguna Beach, California, United States

High PSP Levels in Clams
High PSP levels in clams near the end of the Aleutian Peninsula, Alaska.

Dust, lack of snow conspire for poor air
Increasing winds may drive the air quality to become "unhealthy to hazardous," said a statement from Eileen Probasco, planning director with the Matanuska-Sustina Borough.

Heavy Rains and Flooding
Heavy rains and flooding.

Winter Break-up
Copper River largely open.
Cordova, Alaska, United States

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

Where is the Snow?
1-27-14 Where is the snow - St. Mary's Alaska, USA

Heavy Sea Ice
Heavy sea ice observed in southeast Alaska.

Bad Ice Disrupts Subsistence
1-26-14 Ice disrupts subsistence - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA

Dog ticks burrow into Alaska, plan to stay
Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen, the sole veterinarian with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, has investigated 48 tick infestations in the past three years. She’s found evidence that two exotic species are established and reproducing in Alaska.

Lack of Snow
1-24-14 Lake of snow - Nanwalek, Alaska, USA

Willows Budding in Winter
1-24-14 Winter plants blooming - Bethel, Alaska, USA

Coyote sighting
1-23-14 Coyote sighting - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Mt. Alyeska closes due to unseasonable weather
Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood will not open for skiers and snowboarders Tuesday because of unseasonably warm temperatures and severe weather, according to a post on the resort's Facebook page.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Finally snow - then rain
1-20-14 Snow then rain - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

High winds, rain, flooding in Anchorage
A band of wet, warm weather barreled into Southcentral Alaska on Friday and stirred up an odd blend of high winds, slushy roads and even rainbow sightings.

Loss of Fuel Header Due to Coastal Erosion
Fuel headers leading to bulk fuel farm out of service due to coastal erosion.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

No Sea Ice
No sea ice alone the northside of the Alaska Peninsula.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Where is the Snow?
1-3-14 Where is the snow - Solomon, Alaska, USA
Solomon, Alaska, United States

Dead Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
Dead walrus observed while assessing for coastal erosion.
Port Heiden. Alaska, United States

Wind Blew Out the Ice
12-19-13 Wind blew out the ice - Elim, Alaska, USA
Elim, Alaska, United States

With warm December winds, shaken faith in Arctic weather
Folks here are famous for being able to handle the cold, but anything wet in December has always made us nervous. Especially wet falling from the sky. Lately, weather, our favorite nemesis, has broken the rules. Our confidence in the most-trustworthy feature of the Arctic -- winter -- has been wounded.

Unusually Warm
Unusually warm weather in Port Heiden.

Unseasonal Warm Winter
12-7-13 Unseasonably warm weather - Quinhagak, Alaska USA
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Unusual winter flooding of Anchorage homes
Chester Creek overflowed its banks Tuesday, sending cold water into the basements and crawl spaces of a handful of homes near Valley of the Moon Park.

Vermonts bumble bee populations declining
Three of the 15 bumble bee species found in Vermont are thought to be extinct and at least one other species is in decline.
Norwich, Vermont, United States
VTDigger

Delayed Winter In Nondalton
11-30-13 Delayed winter - Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Advisory - Avian cholera
Hundreds of birds washed up on the shores of St. Lawrence Island.
St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, USA

Persistent High PSP Levels
Persistently high levels of PSP recorded in the Shumagin Islands.

Starvation killed 80,000 reindeer after unusual Arctic rains cut off the animals’ food supply
Sixty-one thousand reindeer starved to death in the northwestern reaches of the Russian tundra in November 2013 in the largest recorded mortality event of its kind.
Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
Washington Post

Weather Effects Caribou Migration and Season
11-11-13 Weather effects caribou migration and season - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Storm Surge
Early fall weather conditions brought on an extreme storm surge in a Norton Sound community.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States

Storm Damage
Series of storms contribute to flooding, erosion, infrastructure damage.

High PSP levels in clams
11-7-13 High PSP levels in clams - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, Unites States

Dead Seabirds
11-6-13 Dead seabirds - Nanwalek, Alaska. USA

Alaska farmers scramble for hay
A one-two punch of mid-May snow followed by a six-week drought cut the supply of Alaska-grown hay from Homer to Fairbanks by a third to a half, state Division of Agriculture officials say.

Ice Fishing Hazardous
11-4-13 Ice fishing hazardous - Golovin, Alaska, USA
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Krill Die-off
11-1-13 Krill die-off - Metlakatla, Alaska, USA
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

Boats Still on the River
11-1-13 Boats still on the river - Koyukuk, Alaska, USA
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Warm and Wet Halloween
Anchorage is having the warmest October on record with an average temperature of 43 degrees. That will beat the record set in 1936 and residents are remarking on the novelty of having green grass and rain on Halloween.

106 mph winds knock out power in Anchorage
A windstorm pounded parts of Southcentral Alaska early Monday, knocking down trees and cutting off power for thousands of people from the Matanuska Valley to the Kenai Peninsula.

Warm weather delays subsistence
10-24-13 Warm weather delays subsistence - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Mussel Roe Fouls Fishing Gear
Salmon and crab gear seeing an incredible increase in mussel roe and slime.

Sinkhole Appears Along Road
Sinkhole appears along road
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Hairless Seal
10-19-13 Hairless seal - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA

No Ice Fishing Yet
10-17-13 No ice fishing yet - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA

Too Wet for Food Preserving
10-15 13 Too wet for food preservation - Elim, Alaska, USA
Elim, Alaska, United States

Sewage Lagoon Vulnerable - Coastal Erosion
Coastal erosion potential threat to community sewage lagoon.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Skin Illness on Whitefish (Coregonus nelsonii)
10-13-13 Skin illness on whitefish (Coregonus nelsonii)
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Sink hole damages airport
The runway, built in 1958, is over-top of permafrost and frozen soils.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Bluff erosion
9-24-13 Bluff erosion - St. Michael, Alaska
St. Michael, Alaska, USA

Central Welland River Fish Kill
Common carp (*Cyprinus carpio*) and channel catfish (*Ictalurus punctatus*) die from low dissolved oxygen and ammonia that are the result of an over-application of biosolids.
Welland, Ontario, Canada

Stickleback Fish Kill
9-14-13 Stickle-back fish kill - Lake Illiamna, Alaska, USA
Lake Illiamna, Alaska, United States

Anchorage ties record for most consecutive rainy days
Rain overnight in Anchorage pushed the number of consecutive rainy days in the city to 18 -- tying a record set in September 1919, the National Weather Service reports.

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
On my way home for a lunch break, I noticed a different type of bird that I have ever seen before.

Unusual Spider
9-11-13 Unusual spider - Chignik, Lagoon, Alaska, USA
Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Great Year for Mushrooms
This has been a great year for the mushrooms

Caribou Delayed
9-5-13 Caribou delayed - Kiana, Alaska, USA
Kiana, Alaska, United States

Abundant Berries
The blueberries are so ripe now that the best time to pick those are late morning while they are chilled down and the leaves are not so moist, otherwise they fall easily or squish in your fingers.
Kiana, Alaska, United States

Salmon Die-off
Thousands of varied salmon species reported dead at Klawock River.
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Spotted Tussock (Lophocampa maculata) Moth Caterpillars
8-20-13 Arctiid moth caterpillars, Kake, Alaska, USA
Kake, Alaska, United States

Unknown Caterpillar
Unknown caterpillar observed
Naknek, Alaska, United States

Growth in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
8-12-13 Growth in coho salmon - Hydaburg, Alaska, USA
Hydaburg, Alaska, United States

Long-horned Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus)
8-11-13 Long horned beetle - Pitkas Point, Alaska, USA
Pitkas Point, Alaska, United States

Muddy River Raises Salmon Concerns
Thawing permafrost and river bank collapsed on the Cheenik Creek.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) Butterfly Caterpillar
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) butterfly caterpillar

Abundant Salmon Berries (Vaccinium ovalifolium)
The past couple of years there haven't been a lot to pick.

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus)
Predaceous diving beetle

Dozens of dead caribou found on remote Nunavut island
When a scientist went to an uninhabited island in Nunavut to set up a research station he stumbled across something else: dozens of dead caribou.
Prince Charles Island, Nunavut, Canada

Extreme heat wave shrinks Sweden's tallest peak by 13 feet in a month
Kebnekaise mountain in Sweden will no longer be the tallest in the country as the glacier on its highest peak melts rapidly in an unprecedented heat wave.
Kebnekaise Mountain Peak, Sweden
NBC News

Alaska heat wave: Anchorage sets record for most consecutive 70-degree days
On Monday, Anchorage reached the 70-degree threshold for a record 14th straight day, breaking 2004's record of 13.
Washington Post

Tadpole Shrimp at Swimming Hole
7-26-13 Tadpole shrimp at swimming hole
Russian Mission, Alaska, United States

Invasive Fall Dandelion
7-25-13 Invasive dandelion - Levelock, Alaska, USA
Levelock, Alaska, Unites States

More Salmonberries (Rubus chamaemorus)
7-24-13 More salmon berries - Nondalton, Alaska, USA

Horntail wood wasp
7-23-13 Horntail wood wasp - Selawik, Alaska,
Selawik, Alaska, USA

Heat illness
7-22-13 Heat illness - Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, USA

Tiger Moth (Arctia caja)
7-21-13 Tiger moth - St. Mary's, Alaska, USA
St. Mary's Alaska, United States

Lots of Mosquitoes (Culicidae)
Mosquito populations are way up in Southcentral Alaska this year. Extremely high numbers are also reported from interior Alaska.
Interior of Alaska, United States

Crane Fly (Tipula oleraceaa) Adult Sighted
Crane fly adult

Red Phytoplankton Bloom
7-11-13 Red phytoplankton bloom - Jakolof Bay, Alaska, USA
Jakalof Bay, Alaska, United States
Kris Holderied, Dean Stockwell, Mike Brubaker

Road Washout
There were extreme rain events in September of 2012 that caused landslides, erosion and ultimately blockage of a culvert over Jakolof Creek.
Jakolof River, Alaska, United States

Risky Ice Conditions for Whaling
6-26-13 Risky ice conditions for whaling - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiagvik, Alaska, United States

Unusual Lightning
Residents were amazed to see lightning actually arching down to the ground.
Atqasuk, Alaska, United States

Extreme Temperatures
6-19-13 Extreme temperature Bethel, Alaska, USA

Extreme Heat
6-18-13 Extreme heat - Koyukuk, Alaska, USA
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Mosquito invasion in Southcentral Alaska leads to run on supplies
Each spring, it seems, the air of Alaska is filled with the buzz of mosquitoes and the whines of people declaring that this is undoubtedly the worst bug season they've ever experienced. This year they may have a case.

Bald Eagle with Facial Abnormality
6-6-13 Bald eagle with facial abnormality. King Salmon, Alaska, USA
King Salmon, Alaska, United States

Ice dam break suspected as cause of Rabbit Creek flooding
Rabbit Creek jumped its banks Friday morning on the Anchorage Hillside, washing over a bridge and prompting police to knock on doors asking people inside to evacuate.

Heatwave has toddlers falling from windows
The Anchorage Police Department is warning parents to be cautious after three separate incidents in a week involving toddler-aged children falling out of windows opened in the warm weather.

High pollen levels
High spruce pollen levels causing eye, respiratory irrigation and nose bleeds.

Strange bug
6-10-13 Strange bug - Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Low River Level
6-8-13 Low water level - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Risky Ice for Whaling
6-5-13 Risky ice for whaling - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiagvik, Alaska, United States

Erosion Disrupts Swallows
6-3-13 Erosion disrupts swallows - Evansville, Alaska, USA
Evansville, Alaska, United States

Low Number of Birds
6-2-13 Low number of birds - Golovin, Alaska, USA

Invasive Crawfish on Nose Creek
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

First Horned Grebes Settle in Reykjavík Pond
Two horned grebes have settled in Reykjavík Pond in the city centre, RÚV reports. It is the first time the species is found nesting at the location. At the turn of the century, the horned grebe population was placed on a watchlist due to its decline, but it seems to have made a recovery since. […]
Hafnarfjordur, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Leopard Slug (Limax maximus)
For a couple years, Sand Point residents have observed an increasing number of the non-native leopard slug.

Another record-setting year for snowfall
For the second year in a row, the Anchorage area set a new snowfall record. This year it wasn’t the amount of fluffy stuff that went down in the history books — last year Anchorage had more than 11 feet — but the days between the first and last snowfall.
The Alaska Star

Poor Sea Ice - Our Sea Garden
The sea is our garden for food and other things.

Longest Snow Season Ever
There were 231 days between the first and last measurable snow fall in the Anchorage region this year. Temperatures have also been significantly below average.

Volcanic Ash Fall
5-21-13 Volcanic ash fall - Sand Point, Alaska, USA

Flooding Kobuk River
5-30-13 Flooding Kobuk River - Kobuk, Alaska, USA
Kobuk, Alaska, United States

Late Winter Storm
We are having an unseasonable snow storm in southcentral Alaska.

Spruce Aphid (Elatobium abietinum) Infestation
5-15-13 Spruce aphid infestation Kake, Alaska, USA

Unusual Moose Sighting
It's not common to see animals of any kind, including moose, in the community of Pitkas Point.
Pitkas Point, Alaska, USA

PSP Levels Rising
5-1-13 PSP levels rising - Old Harbor, Alaska, USA
Old Harbor, Alaska, United States

Cold Arrival for Canada Geese
4-23-13 Cold arrival for Canada geese - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Wolf (Canis lupus) Roaming City
4-22-13 wolf roaming city - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Unseasonable Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
4-21-13 Unseasonable chum salmon - St. Mary's, Alaska, USA
St. Marys, Alaska, United States

Early Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
4-21-13 Early brown bear - Pedro Bay, Alaska, USA
Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States

Sick Spotted Seal (Phoca largha)
Local hunter reported that he had caught a spotted seal that he thought was sick.
Eek, Alaska, United States

Herders caught between cashmere and climate change
Batogoo Dorj is a nomad in southern Mongolia’s Bayankhongor Region who makes his living raising cashmere goats. Each spring, Dorj can shear about 300 grams of the valuable, downy wool from each of his 350 goats. Those voracious and sharp-hoofed animals are contributing to the desertification and climate change that is reducing Mongolia’s available grazing land.
Баянхонгор, Bayanhongor, Mongolia
The UB Post

Bloom Turns Beach Orange
A mystery bloom brightens up local beach.
Annette Islands, Alaska, United States

Could Alaska's mystery seal illness be Arctic sunburn?
An Alaska scientist challenges the so-called “unexplained” lesions and deaths observed among Arctic sea life in 2011 and 2012.
Arctic Coast of Alaska

Buggy ptarmigan
3-13-13 Buggy ptarmigan - Noatak, Alaska, USA
Noatak, Alaska, USA

Storm Disrupts Transportation
Severe storms wreak havoc to a Bering Sea community; the following weather conditions contributed to flooding, disrupting transportation routes, electrical transformers and seepage into local water wells.

Changing Sea Ice
3-5-13 Changing sea ice - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA

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

Winter Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Black bears are not normally seen during this time of the year.

Wolf (Canis lupus) Sighting Causes Concern
St. Marys residents concerned about possible interactions
St. Marys, Alaska, USA

Winter Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
1-17-13 Winter brown bear - St Marys, Alaska, USA
St. Marys, Alaska, United States

Creeks Choked by Ice
There is a lot of overflow and flooding happening in Anchorage area streams, as a result of the recent record rain fall.

Avalanche closes road
The avalanche north of Girdwood affected three lanes of traffic for several hours. Delays are expected Tuesday morning as crews attempt to thwart additional slides.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Drivers battle wet, icy roads and floods
Much of the state became one heck of an ice rink over the weekend, with temperatures spiking into the 40s in much of Southcentral Alaska and thawing reported as far north as Fairbanks.
Alaska Dispatch

Winter Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
A rare sighting to observe a brown bear in January.
Port Heiden Alaska, United States

Bearded seal
Niigata, Niigata, Japan

Ringed Seal
Ōfunato, Iwate, Japan

Poor Sea Ice Changes Hunt
Lack of sea ice affects seal hunting.

Lots of Earthquakes
Increasing number of seismic events.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Windy winter good for wind generation
Fire Island is producing more than expected for this time of year according to Ethan Schutt, senior vice president of land and development for Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) the Alaska Native corporation that operates the wind farm. So far about 17,000 megawatt hours have been produced, enough to power roughly 6,500 Southcentral homes each month.
Alaska Dispatch

Trapped on Sea Ice
A snowmachiner was trapped on the quickly moving floe and he was rescued later by a helicopter.

Weather Shifting Sea Ice Flow
Unusual weather patterns are pushing the sea ice away from the coast.

Freezing Waterlines
12-21-12 Freezing waterlines - Evansville, Alaska, USA
Evansville, Alaska, United States

Jumbo Flying Squid Pile Up On Calif. Beach
Rio Del Mar, California, United States
ABC News

Hundreds of Humboldt squid wash up on Aptos area beaches
Rio Del Mar, California, United States
Santa Cruz Sentinel

Water Shortage
12-6-12 Water shortage - Nanwalek, Alaska, USA

Still No Snow or Yukon River Ice
11-27-12 Still no snow or Yukon ice - Fort Yukon, Alaska, USA
Fort Yukon Alaska, United States

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

Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) in November?
Birch shieldbug found in Wasilla home in November.

Air Pockets in River Ice
11-21-12 Air pockets in river ice - St. Marys, Alaska, USA

Snow Well Below Normal
Half of what we usually have this time of year.

Anchorage Snow Totals Well Below Average
November is usually the second snowiest month in Anchorage, but this year, snow totals are well below average. So far, only about three inches of snow has fallen in the city. November usually sees an average of seven inches by now, with a total of a little more than 13 inches for the month. National Weather Service Meteorologist Dave Snider says total snowfall for the season is also well below normal.

No Snow on the Seward Peninsula
Despite the time of year, there is still no snow on the Seward Peninsula.
Elim, Alaska, United States

Late Snow Fall
Late snow seasonal snow fall
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Late Salmon Run
11-1-12 Late salmon run - Fort Yukon, Alaska, USA
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

Road dust
Road dust is unhealthy.
Kalskag, Alaska, United States
Sharay Alexie, Billy Jean Stewart, Cathy Wasuli

Natural Gas Vent
On a rising tide, a line of bubbles from the mud under the water of Ugashik Bay can be observed rising forcefully to the surface.
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States
Mike Brubaker, Jennifer Skrada, Nikki Shanigan, Katey Walter Anthony

Worms (Splendidofilaria pectoralis) in Grouse and Ptarmigan
Species of nematode *Splendidofilaria pectoralis* has been described in blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus pallidus) in British Columbia, but never as far north and west as Unalakleet.
Victoria Kotongan, Caroline Van Hemert, Todd O'Hara

B.C.'s Cowichan River in danger of drying up
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada

Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) in the Arctic
Brown bears spotted by a resident for the first time on the island of Shishmaref.

River Erosion on the Yukon Flats
Yukon Flats community dealing with river erosion and landscape changes that are threatening the loss of traditional harvesting areas.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

More Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)
10-1-12 More brown bears - Koyukuk, Alaska, USA

Thawing and Eroding Trail
Permafrost thaw is causing trail in Golovin to erode.

Damage to ATV Bridge
Permafrost thawing causing bridge damage.
Selawik, Alaska, United States

Extreme Rain & Flooding
9-21-12 Extreme rain and flooding - Wasilla, Alaska, USA

2nd Major Wind Storm Hits Anchorage
A second major wind storm in less than two weeks swept through Alaska's largest city on Sunday, but unlike the earlier storm, its greatest intensity was mostly on higher elevations where gusts as high as 120 mph were reported, weather forecasters said.
The Weather Channel

Unusual Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Sighting
Rare polar bear sighting in Sisualik summer camp, about 10-11 miles north of Kotzebue, AK.
Sisualik Fish Camp, Alaska, United States

Water Red in Harbor (Algae)
Red-colored seawater in boat harbor.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

Spruce Bark Beetle
We are worried about the effects of large infestation and about wildlife.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

Unseasonable windstorm ravages Anchorage
At least 50,000 homes and businesses lost power late Tuesday, and outages continued through Wednesday.

Windfall Tree Devastation
The winds came east out of the Chugach Mountains and caused damage to forest, unlike anything we have seen in over 50 years. It is going to be expensive and time consuming to clear the windfall.

Windfall creates flood hazard
9-5-12 Windfall causes flood hazard - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Unusual Skate Found on Arctic Beach
9-13-12 Unusual skate on Arctic beach - Barrow, Alaska, USA

Heat lightning
9-1-12 Heat lightning - Kiska Island, Alaska, USA
Kiska Island, Alaska, USA

Rusty Tussock Moth Caterpillar
Potential problem for local trees, berry bushes and other plants.

Dead Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
At Moses Point, Northeast of Elim, we found a dead beluga whale.

Lynx in high Arctic
8-24-12 Lynx in high Arctic - Barrow, Alaska, USA

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Our concern has to do with the impact and number of dead whales that might have on our subsistence lifestyle. It is unusual to find so many dead whales.
Old Harbor, Alaska, United States

Brace yourselves, winter is coming
This summer has been one of the rainiest Ulaanbaatar has ever experienced, leaving behind puddles of water that result in cracked and deteriorated roads.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Birch trees and bird vetch prompt slew of questions in Interior Alaska
There has been an outbreak in Fairbanks of the amber-marked birch leaf miner (Profenusa thomsoni), an insect that came to North America in the early 1900s and arrived in Fairbanks by about 2002.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Steven Seefeldt / Cooperative Extension Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Dead Baby Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas)
Several sightings of dead baby belugas were reported on the shores of the community and in the area over the past few days.

High Water on the Kobuk River
A normal daily river level here is about 46', so we are nearly eight (8') feet above normal.

Extreme High Water on Noatak River
Extremely high water on the Noatak
Noatak, Alaska, United States

Extreme Rain and Flooding
It has been raining nonstop the entire month of August

Bird experts aflutter over drop in rufous hummingbird numbers
The number of rufous hummingbirds visiting southern Vancouver Island over the summer is dropping and the cause may be climate change, says a local bird expert.
Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Latest IHN outbreak forces cull at Millar Channel fish farm
Update: Aug. 16. Mainstream Canada has announced that the Millar Channel fish farm is now empty. The fish, infected with the IHN virus,were taken to a rendering facility. Mainstream Canada is developing a plan for cleaning and disinfecting the farm site, as per the requirements of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. “This is an unfortunate incident, but we are pleased with how smoothly the depopulation procedure went considering the situation,” said Fernando Villarroel, Mainstream Canada’s managing director.
Millar Channel, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Best sockeye return in 100 years
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea is crowing about the opportunities with the 2010 return of sockeye to the Fraser river, calling it a  banner year for Fraser River sockeye salmon. This year's return is currently set at just over 25 million fish, one of the highest returns in the last hundred years. Several fishery openings for Fraser River sockeye have already occurred in 2010 and more are planned, she said.
Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Dead Grey Whale
8-7-12 Dead grey whale - Nome, Alaska, USA

Tundra Slipping Below Sea Level
Melting permafrost causing tundra to slip below sea level in northern Alaska.
North Slope, Alaska, United States

N.W.T. bison anthrax outbreak largest ever in territory
So far approximately 340 bison have died from an anthrax outbreak in the Fort Providence area of the N.W.T.
Fort Providence, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Dead Whale
Two dead marine mammals--a fur seal and a whale.
St. George, Alaska, United States

Sucker Fish (Catostomus catostomus)
First time seeing a sucker fish in the Lower Yukon River.

Eroding Bluff Threatens Road
Eroding bluff threatens community transportation access.
Chevak, Alaska, USA

Sunken Vessel Spill
Sunken vessel leads to petroleum spill.

Great Gardening
7-19-12 Great gardening - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Unusual eel-like fish
7-12-12 Eel-like fish - Kivalina, Alaska, USA

Parasite causing problems for B.C. salmon farmers
Some B.C.-farmed salmon is reaching store shelves with a parasite that can liquefy the fish’s flesh into an unappetizing goop.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CTVNews

Barnacle decline
7-3-12 Barnacle decline - McDonald Spit, Alaska, USA
McDonald Spit, Alaska, USA

Longnose Skate (Raja rihina)
An unusual skeleton of a fish was found on the tide line in Kasitsna Bay.
Kasitsna Bay, Alaska, United States

Non-stinging Wasp (Cynipoidea) Larva
Non-sting wasp (cynipoidea) larva
Slana, Alaska, United States

Three dead whales
6-22-12 Three dead whales - Old Harbor, Alaska, USA
Old Harbor, Alaska, USA

Petroleum Smell in Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
6-20-12 Petroleum smell in chum salmon - Chevak, Alaska, USA
Chevak, Alaska, United States

Pacific sleeper shark
6-20-12 Pacific sleeper shark - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

Heat wave across Interior
6-17-12 Heat wave across Interior - Galena, Alaska, USA
Galena, Alaska, United States

Changing Plant Conditions
More leaf miners this year, less blue berry blossoms, but more cranberry.

Ice Departure Delayed
Sea ice conditions making it difficult for community to harvest seasonal fish.

Weird Orange Bug
6-12-12 Weird orange bug - Pilot Point, Alaska, USA
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States

Unusual Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus)
5-29-12 Unusual bearded seal - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA

In Nicoya Gulf, the deadly red tide lingers
Since early February, the gulf, and beaches and islands surrounding it, have been in the throes of one of the worst blooms of red tide in recent years.
Paquera, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate

Buckland River Floods Dumpsite
5-23-12 Buckland River floods dumpsite - Buckland, Alaska, USA.
Buckland, Alaska, USA

Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida) with Sores
Ringed seal with sores found in Shishmaref.

Invasive snakehead fish found in B.C. park lagoon
Voracious predator could be big threat to native aquatic populations
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Globe and Mail

Wolves and Bear around the Dump
Wolves and bears rummaging around the dump.

River Bank Erosion
Erosion on the banks of the Koyukuk River is increasing in the community of Evansville and Bettles.

Windfall trees an obstacle
Wind fall trees an obstacle
Gakona, Alaska, United States

Kuskokwim River flooding
Kuskokwim River flooding causes concern in community
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, USA

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Brown marmorated stink bug
Corlene Rose, Honey Lou Wilson, Mike Rasy

Deer with Hair Loss
Sitka black-tailed deer (*Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis*) seen with large amount of hair loss.
Hollis, Alaska, Unites States

Seal with Hair Loss
Seal with hair loss observed in Bering Strait region

4-25-12 Unseasonably warm - Evansville, Alaska, USA

Anchorage, Alaska sets new snow record
To say Alaska has been snowy this winter is an understatement. Anchorage broke a 57 year old snowfall record Saturday when a storm produced 4.3 inches of snow on Saturday, April 7, 2012.
EarthSky

Fur loss, oozing sores observed in Arctic Alaska polar bears
Polar bear researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey are only halfway into their annual survey in Alaska and they've already come across nine bears – six in Barrow and 3 in Kaktovik – with signs of alopecia and skin lesions. The muzzle, face, eyes, ears and neck appear most affected, according to a bulletin published Friday by the agency.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

Fur loss, oozing sores observed in Arctic Alaska polar bears
The Far North's iconic polar bear appears to have joined the list of Arctic species afflicted with a mystery illness that causes hair loss, lesions and oozing sores. Six in Barrow and three in Kaktovik.

Falling ice traps driver, closes highway
A woman was trapped in a pickup on the Seward Highway on Friday after falling ice crushed the vehicle just south of Anchorage.

3,000 dolphins found dead on the coast of Peru
According to a report from Peru 21, local fishermen in Lambayeque, north Peru, were first to notice the inexplicable rise in dead dolphin appearing on shore -- averaging roughly 30 per day.
Peru
TreeHugger

Polar bears with skin illness

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

Unusually large ice formation next to highway
The ice formation along the Seward Highway grabbed my interest because it stood out and was rather unusual.
LEO Network

Ice formation on cliffs
3-17-12 Ice formation on cliffs - Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Barnacles Declining
3-9-12 Barnacles declining - Nanwalek, Alaska, USA
Nanwalek, Alaska, USA

Ringed seal
Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan

Pressure ice ridges
2-22-12 Pressure ice ridges "Vuneqs" - Kwigillingok, Alaska, USA
Kwigillingok, Alaska, USA

Square-legged Camel Cricket (Tropidischia xanthostoma)
We found an unusual looking spider or insect.

Bearded seal
Tayport, Scotland, United Kingdom

Spotted seal
Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan

Spotted seal
Funabashi, Chiba, Japan

Ribbon seal
Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan

Late Freeze-up
Late freeze-up of sea ice along the shoreline

Anchorage Residents Push for Water Protections in Title 21
I was home with my kids. They were on Christmas break. And I went to turn on the faucet in the morning to get things ready for breakfast and air came out of the faucet Glottfelty said. The water started flowing normally again after a few days. But after asking around the neighborhood, Glottfelty found out that many of her neighbors, connected to the same aquifer as a nearby church well had similar problems that day – in all, six wells were drained, she says, and one went permanently dry.

Harp seals

Community Water Distribution System Freeze Up
We performed a survey of community water lines to see how permafrost thaw and sinking foundations may be impacting homes, water and waste water systems. During the June visit we saw where foundation sinking was putting stress on pipe runs and junctions. Now in the winter we see evidence of freeze up in some of the homes where the junction boxes have been compromised, gaps in the insulation seal, and resulting freeze up and overflow of water.
Selawik, Alaska, United States
Tanya Ballot, John Warren, Mike Brubaker, Prithviraj Chavan

North Pacific 'super storm' makes its way toward Western Alaska coastline
The National Weather Service predicted one of the largest storms on record blasting up the Bering Sea coast. Could this be the first Arctic hurricane?

Ringed seal
Wrangel Island, Chukotka, Russia

Sick ringed seal

Sick Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina)

Chiefs Concerned About Infectious Sockeye Virus
The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council is very concerned about the conclusive finding of the European Strain of Infectious Salmon Anemia virus (ISA) in sockeye in Rivers Inlet. The Secwepemc, like "most BC First Nations, have relied on salmon as the life blood of our people. Between 50 and 90 per cent of our people's diet consisted of salmon at the time of contact.
Rivers Inlet, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Ringed Seal Mortality

Ringed seal stranding and mortality
Point Hope, Alaska, United States

Walruses suffer from similar disease afflicting Alaska ringed seals
Pacific walruses are beaching on Northwest Alaska shores, peppered with bleeding skin legions that have been observed on dying ringed seals in Arctic Alaska, according to federal biologists.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Stranded ringed seals
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Mysterious disease killed scores of seals in Alaska
A mysterious disease, possibly a virus, has afflicted ring seals along Alaska's coast, killing scores of them since July, local and federal agencies said on Thursday.
Barrow, Alaska, United States
REUTERS

Mysterious disease takes toll on ringed seals in Alaska Arctic
Biologists are trying to determine what's ailing ringed seals that live off Alaska's Arctic coast. Scores of seals stranded on beaches this summer appeared to have skin lesions, and dozens have died.

Sick Ringed Seal
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Stranded Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)

Sick Ringed Seal

Sick Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)

Ringed seal stranding

The Mystery Rust of Kivalina, Alaska
Last month a mysterious orange film ("goo" in the media vernacular) washed up on the shores of a northwest Alaskan village called Kivalina. An orange powder seems an odd product for the drying of crustacean eggs, but could make perfect sense for fungi -- specifically, the rust fungi.
Scientific American Blog Network

Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida) Mortality
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Seal stranding and mortality

Ice seal mortality
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada

Ice seal mortality

Ice seal mortality
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Walrus with skin illness
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Ringed seal mortality
Uelen, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Stranded seal

Ringed seal mortality

Ringed seal mortality
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Ice Seal Mortality
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Ringed Seal Mortality
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Orange gunk found near remote Alaska village identified
Scientists have identified an orange-colored gunk that appeared along the shore of a remote Alaska village as millions of microscopic eggs filled with fatty droplets.
msnbc.com

Ringed Seal Mortality
Wainwright, Alaska, United States

Caterpillars gang up on berry bushes, native trees
The outlook for blueberries in Southcentral Alaska this year is bleak, scientists say. The reason: Two species of moth have damaged berry patches, as well as native deciduous trees, from the southern Kenai Peninsula to Mat-Su.

Stranded ringed seals
Gambell, Alaska, United States

What caused an Arctic river to run red?
Ruben Henry won't ever forget the day the Chandalar River ran red along the banks of Arctic Village. It was the talk of the tight-knit, Brooks Range town, and no one had could remember it ever happening before.
Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

Uruguay trying to determine the death cause of 600 Magellan penguins
Authorities in Uruguay say they have found about 600 dead penguins washed up on the Atlantic coast since Saturday. Experts are trying to determine what has killed the sea birds.
Piriápolis, Maldonado, Uruguay
MercoPress

Ringed seals
Lorino, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus)
Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom

Bugs on Geese
Beetles seen moving around on geese
Wainwright, Alaska, United States
Jessie Moan, Linda Agnasagga, Heather Dingman

Seal Pup Found near Port Heiden
Unknown seal pup found near Port Heiden.

Pesky insects should not pose a problem to homeowners until late summer
Newark, Delaware, United States
UDaily

Alaska musk oxen found frozen in ice
Thirty-two musk oxen carcasses were found March 15 by scientists who had been studying them. The animals were dead and entombed in ice. The belief is that the musk oxen either drowned during a February thaw or became trapped in water and died after it froze.

Powerful Quake and Tsunami Devastate Northern Japan
Japan was filled with scenes of desperation a day after an 8.9-magnitude quake, as survivors called for help and rescuers looked for people buried in rubble.
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
The New York Times

Dead seals mystery not solved by scientists' tests
Scientists say they've been unable to solve the mystery of dead seals that washed ashore in Labrador between December and January.

Seals are shedding
Arviat, Nunavut

Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) & Spotted Seals (Phoca largha)
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Ringed seals
Anadyr, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Dead Seals
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut

Strange seal behavior
Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut

Shell shock - thousands of Ninilchik clams wash up on beach in unusual die-off
A winter storm lashed the sandy beaches at the mouth of the Ninilchik River with ferocious waves, powerful enough to uproot thousands of razor clams.
Ninilchik, Alaska, United States
Redoubt Reporter

Strange seal behavior
Churchill Manitoba

Sick seals

Sick Seals
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

Sick Seals
Coral Harbor, Nunavut, Canada

Troubling Decline in Caribou Herds of the Arctic
Across the Far North, populations of caribou — an indispensable source of food and clothing for indigenous people — are in steep decline. Scientists point to rising temperatures and a resource-development boom as the prime culprits.
Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Canada

Spider Webs Covering Acres of Grasslands
Spider webs covering vegetation along the Noatak River Delta resemble a mass "ballooning" event reported in Unalaska.
Noatak River Delta

Wildfires burn in the Cariboo
Alexandria, British Columbia, Canada

Matanuska River erosion threatens more homes
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Swollen with recent rains, the Matanuska River has launched another erosive assault on properties along its banks. But unlike previous years, when the river attacked properties downstream,
Matanuska River, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Permafrost Thaw Threatens Ice Cellars
Arctic food storage system at risk.
Point Hope, Alaska, United States
Jacob Bell, Ryan Brubaker, Mike Brubaker

Erosion to Dump and Water Plant
Noatak, Alaska, United States

Squid invasion hitting Oregon coast and scientists are concerned, but could there be a silver lining?
Newport, Oregon, United States
OregonLive.com

Cyanobacteria bloom under lake ice
Cyanobacteria blooms usually occur in summer.
Smithers, British Columbia, Canada

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) off Southern Vancouver Island, Canada
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada

Giant squid caught in West Seattle
Seacrest Boathouse Pier, West Seattle, Washington, United States
King 5 News

Jumbo squid invade San Diego shores, spook divers
La Jolla, California, United States
The Christian Science Monitor

Brown Pelicans In BC Waters
Two Brown Pelicans were spotted off the Discovery Islands near Victoria on May 12. This species of pelican is familiar to anyone who has travelled to the beaches of Mexico, Caribbean or southern USA.
Discovery Island, Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Invasion of the Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
In the past four years or so, a new species of bird has arrived in British Columbia. The Eurasian collared dove is an attractive bird sporting pale grey plumage with a thin black ‘collar’ of feathers around its hind neck.
British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Pike wiped out in Cheney Lake; stand by for return of trout
Anchorage anglers got good news this week when Fish and Game reported that pesticide applied to Cheney Lake last October in an effort to wipe out invasive northern pike appears to have worked.

First Elephant Seal Born at Race Rocks
Ryan has observed a lot of aggression on the part of the young male which had previously been named Misery by Mike Slater. The baby was born beside the helicopter pad, and has spent the first day t…
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve- Marine mammals, seabirds

Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) swallowing sand and pebbles
I observed some of the sea lions scooping up small rocks and sand (mostly shell carbonates) and swallowing them.
Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada

ALASKA: A havoc-wreaking beetle loose in the forest
STERLING, Alaska — Spent today tramping around the boggy depths of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which is about a three-hour drive south of Anchorage. Berg The group went there to see h…
Sterling, Alaska, United States
SciGuy

Unusual species of kelp (Aureophycus) identified
Twenty-five students in the Pribilof Island Marine Science Camp have discovered the second-known population of a new species.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) in Interior Alaska
Mountain lion sighting on the Chandalar River
Venetie, Alaska, United States

Alaska salmon may bear scars of global warming
With a sickening thud, another hefty and handsome salmon lands in the waste barrel, headed for the dogs .
Tanana, Alaska, United States
latimes.com

Dead penguins and oil covered found on Uruguayan beaches
Dozens of dead penguins and others alive but with traces of oil appeared over the weekend along the east of Uruguay according to a marine life conservation non government organization.
El Delta del Río de la Plata
MercoPress

Potentially toxic algae blooms hit Interior B.C. lakes
Some residents in B.C.'s Central Interior are being told to avoid drinking or bathing in their tap water following an outbreak of potentially toxic algae blooms.
Tashick Lake, Vanderhoof, BC

Tornado spotted in south Iceland
A tornado, which is a very rare sight in Iceland, was spotted on Skeidarársandur plane of sand in south Iceland of Friday. The tornado touched the ground for about five minutes and whirled up sand and dust.
Kirkjubaejarklaustur, South, Iceland
Iceland Review

Crayfish - Invaders from the Bayou
Of all of the aquatic animals that could be collected in a gillnet on the Kenai River, crawfish are some of the least likely. Why? Because they do not naturally occur in the Kenai River or any other river in Alaska. Unfortunately, crawfish have been collected from the lower Kenai River twice in the last four years, and both times they were leftovers from someone’s dinner.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Alaska Fish and Wildlife News

Worst blizzard in years blasts Saskatchewan
Blizzard conditions paralyzed Saskatoon and many other communities Wednesday as a fierce storm scoured the central part of the province, closing roads, airports and schools.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
CBC

Startling starling numbers appear in bird count
Local birders who participated in the recent 2005 Anchorage Christmas Bird Count noted a sharp increase in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), a sometimes aggressive species that's relatively new to Alaska.

Mule deer, mountain lion sightings in Alaska
Interior residents are reporting varieties of wildlife that are new to the region, including mule deer, mountain lions and whitetail deer.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
JuneauEmpire.com

The Seattle Times: Sports: Notebook: Humboldt squid make rare appearance here
Washington's outer coast
Seattle Times

Jumbo squid is captured in unfamiliar waters
Sitka, Alaska
msnbc.com

Too Many Sea Otters?
Some want to be able to kill them again off BC's coast. Part one of a Tyee special report.
Chesterman Beach, British Columbia, Canada
The Tyee

Se observó una ballena gris albina
Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Baja California Sur
Reserva de la Biósfera El Vizcaíno Guerrero Negro

Oh, rats! Rodent sighting means Anchorage has infestations, too
Anchorage can no longer claim to be the largest port city in the Northern Hemisphere without known rat infestations. State biologist Rick Sinnott caught and kille dtwo Norway rats found living at a pond near a South Anchorage school. Professional exterminatiors hired by the city placed more traps at the scene Monday afternoon.
Associated Press

Worst grasshopper infestation ever on tap for Prairies
Prairie farmers are facing a grasshopper infestation the likes of which might never have been seen in Western Canada. The last kick from a drought that devastated crops last year.
Saskatchewan, Canada

Spotted seal

California Sea Lions Venture North: Arctic Science Journeys Radio
That's right, California sea lions. As populations of native Steller sea lions decline, Maniscalco says a growing number of California sea lions are showing up on Steller sea lion rookeries and haul-outs across the state. According to his research, some 33 sightings have been recorded. And some of those California sea lions have made their way as far west as the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea.
Pribilof Islands, Bering Sea, United States
Arctic Science Journeys Radio
Doug Schneider, Alaska Sea Grant Program, UAF

New England Drought
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports the northeastern U.S. is experiencing one of the worst droughts in decades. New, deeper wells are in demand even though they cost thousands of dollars to drill. About 40 percent of New Hampshire residents get their water from private wells. Snow might replenish some of the wells, but water doesn't permeate frozen ground.
Concord, New Hampshire, United States
NPR.org

Warmer Climate Linked To Earlier Frog Calling
Ithaca, New York, United States
Science Daily

American moose (Alces a. americanus) North of Historical Range

Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)

Tent Caterpillar Infestation
At one point our entire red brick house was covered in the black caterpillars trying to reach the adjacent forest. The silk web-like nests began to appear on our trees in May and within weeks, the forests foliage was decimated.
Woodford, Ontario

Ringed seal

Fisherfolk raise concern over Manila Bay’s ‘discoloration’
Social media went abuzz the past few days after some parts of Manila Bay turned turquoise.
Manila, Philippines

Salmon arrival delayed in Chukotka
The fishing village of Meynypilgyno this week requested an additional quota for sockeye, because the initial allocation is already ending. On the Anadyr estuary to yesterday was not caught a single ton.
Мейныпильгыно, Анадырский район, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia

Rain falls at Greenland ice summit for first time on record
Rain fell at the highest point on the Greenland ice sheet last week for the first time on record, another worrying sign of warming for the ice sheet already melting at an increasing rate, scientists said on Friday.
Summit Camp
Reuters

Scientists race to preserve crucial climate records in glacier ice before they melt away
Scientists are racing to collect ice cores — along with long-frozen records they hold of climate cycles — as global warming melts glaciers and ice sheets. Some say they are running out of time. And, in some cases, it's already too late.
Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Valais, Switzerland

Virus unique to Finland sees biggest outbreak in decades
Nearly 500 cases of the mosquito-borne viral infection have been diagnosed so far this autumn. The disease tends to be cyclical, meaning cases remain very low for about seven years and then there are suddenly hundreds of cases in one year.
Ilomantsi, North Karelia, Finland
Yle Uutiset

UK's 'longest-lasting' snow patch melts away
Dubbed the Sphinx, the snow on a remote Scottish mountain has in the past survived for decades at a time.
Aviemore, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

Busiest ferry routes inside Arctic Circle go electric
Norway’s successful transition to zero-emission transport sector continues. By the end of 2022, the last remaining ferry connection along European route E6, Bognes-Skarberget, will operate on batteries.
Bønes, Vestland, Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

Climate change: Lapland reindeer gone astray in search for food
Herders are struggling to find thousands of reindeer that have run away in search of food. "We are driving for hours and hours to locate our reindeers and to herd them back, but it has been very difficult in these wintry conditions. So, we are also using helicopters and this is very unusual - and very expensive too."
Muonio, Lapland, Finland
BBC News

Volcano eruption near Tonga was so powerful, Alaskans could hear it from 6,000 miles away
Waves of up to about 3 feet reached parts of Alaska by Saturday morning. But hours before those waves arrived, sounds from the blast reached the homes of many Alaskans - all the way from Juneau to the Aleutians.
Bristol Bay Times

This 'incredibly alien' fungus isn't as scary as you might think
CBC reporter Kaitie Fraser spotted this strange jelly-like substance in her aunt's backyard, growing on a cedar tree. In fact, her aunt said, when she first saw it, it looked like orange flowers at a distance. But when she started to approach it, it looked more like clumps of gummy bears.
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Tourist boats marooned, farm land parched as drought lowers Europe's rivers
Water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs across western Europe are running low, or even dry, amid the severest drought in decades which is putting stress on drinking water supplies, hampering river freight and tourism and threatening crop yields.
Villers-le-Lac, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Reuters

Palmer digs out from major windstorm that prompted emergency declaration
Gusts over 80 mph pummeled the city, compacting snow and causing power outages for thousands. Nearly 20,000 Matanuska Electric Association members lost power Friday morning. On Point MacKenzie west of Wasilla, crews faced snow drifts so large that they needed snowmachines and snowshoes to reach areas where repairs were needed.

Canada's AG warns Nunavut about dangers of not having a climate change action plan
Nunavut is not prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change and doesn't have a plan to deal with them, according to the latest report by Canada's auditor general.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Pneumonia outbreak hits bighorn sheep
At least a handful of sheep have died over the past month or so from pneumonia caused by a strain of bacteria that had not previously been found in bighorns anywhere in Oregon
Baker City, Oregon, United States
Baker City Herald

Hiker encounters 2 mountain lions on popular trail
Sightings of wild animals increase as humans shelter in place
San Francisco, California, United States

194 killed in Kenya floods
Nairobi, May 6
Floods and landslides in Kenya have killed nearly 200 people, displaced 1,00,000 and strained critical infrastructure, with unprecedentedly high water levels at two dams forcing the ev
Kenya
Tribuneindia News Service

Polar bear that walked unprecedented 1,000 km south from Arctic habitat is caught in Yakutia
A young polar bear, likely female, was lured into a specially-made cage by a stack of fish splashed with fish oil after it held a village of Dzhebariki-Khaya under a brief siege. The emaciated predator was stealing dog food and attacking villagers hours before it was snared.
Dzhebariki-Khaya, Sakha, Russia
Siberian Times

Quebec City rationing drinking water use after dry, hot August
Labeaume said there is less than a month’s worth of reserves left, which he called “concerning,” and it’s expected the current heat warning will stay in place for another few days, exacerbating the situation.
Québec, Quebec, Canada

Hottest summer in a hundred years for parts of Finland
June and July have been unusually warm in Finland.
Finland
Yle Uutiset

Tundra is ablaze in Magadan region in out-of-season wildfire, complicated by wind and zero snow
The wildfire started in a temperature of minus 20C, and is proving hard to extinguish because firemen cannot get water from frozen lakes and rivers. Normally the ground would be under thick snow by this time of year; this November several areas of eastern Russia, like its coldest territory Yakutia, say they are short of snow.
Arman', Magadan, Russia
Siberian Times

B.C. Interior communities hunker down for next atmospheric river
Interior communities are shoring up dikes and roadways in preparation for another atmospheric river system expected Tuesday and into Wednesday. Officials say they are making progress helping displaced residents access services and are taking steps to save homes from further flood damage.
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
vancouversun

Shenzhen faces historical drought with daily water shortage of 1 million cubic meters
The Dongjiang River, which provides more than 90 percent of the water consumed in Shenzhen, is facing the severest drought since 1963, the year with the lowest precipitation recorded in the city. The water level in the three main water reservoirs is now more than 55 percent lower than in previous years according to Zhang Jian'an, Shenzhen water resources authority official, media reported.
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Global Times

Hot poles: Antarctica, Arctic 40 and 30 degrees Celsius above normal
Earth's poles are undergoing simultaneous freakish extreme heat with parts of Antarctica more than 70 degrees (40 degrees Celsius) warmer than average and areas of the Arctic more than 50 degrees (30 degrees Celsius) warmer than average.
Phys.org

Great Barrier Reef authority confirms unprecedented sixth mass coral bleaching event
Aerial surveys show almost no reefs across a 1,200km stretch escaping the heat, prompting scientists to call for urgent action on climate crisis.
Apple News

East Cook Inlet clamming to remain closed again this summer as population still lags
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game found an unexpectedly low number of clams during final surveying, but the agency still plans to monitor them in support of perhaps opening the fishery in years to come.
Clam Gulch, Alaska, United States

Anthrax outbreak confirmed in Wood Buffalo National Park
Bison will usually contract the disease from contaminated soil while wallowing in dust baths. Spores develop in hotter temperatures and fluctuating water levels. Cooler temperatures will kill the spores and slow the outbreak.

Fiona's aftermath in Port aux Basques: 'It looks like a bomb went off'
'We did what we could to prepare, and still, we were underprepared'. Harvey’s assessment is much uglier in the daylight. Much of the town looks like it took a point-blank blast from an army tank. The photos do little to capture the sheer shock of local residents, especially those who lost their homes. Some are a bit more stoic than others, focused on rebuilding. Others are understandably much more raw and emotional, dissolving into tears while passerby rush to comfort them.
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Saltwire.com

A landslide left an Anchorage 10-year-old unconscious and trapped in her room. Her parents pulled her from the debris.
“This has been a very trying time,” mother Tanisha Charles said. “You don’t prepare for this. You think of fires, you think of earthquakes, but you never think of a mudslide in the middle of town.”

It's pothole season in Iqaluit. But does it have to be?
"Roads are actually getting worse in the springtime than they were even [a few] years ago. In a perfect world, we'd be able to re-engineer all of our roads and get them paved. It's going to be a long-term process to get there." say Deputy Mayor Kyle Sheppard.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Ice thickness below normal for early January while temperatures and snowfall are above normal
While ice thickness normally measures between 11 and 22 inches on local lakes and ponds, ice thickness recently ranged between 9 and 19 inches, according to the National Weather Service’s ice thickness measurements.

No one hurt after second Anchorage roof collapses in a week
The incidents happened after another bout of heavy snow, and as municipal building officials mailed out warnings to owners that their buildings could be at risk.

Chignik avalanche leaves community without power for 4 days
The avalanche came after two days of heavy snow followed by two days of heavy rain. The community had to wait several days before linemen could get to Chignik to repair the damage to its power system.
Chignik, Alaska, United States

Scientists baffled over hundreds of fish 'spinning and whirling' dead onto South Florida shores
Scientists are puzzled over what is causing hundreds of fish to wash up dead in South Florida, including an endangered species native to the region.
Everglades
ABC News

Australia: Rescuers rush to get stranded whales into the sea
Around 160 long-finned pilot whales washed up on the western Australian coast.Pia Courtis, from PWS said in a statement that a number of rescue agencies were trying to help but "unfortunately the outcome for our pilot whales once they strand on the beach is generally not good."
Dunsborough, Western Australia, Australia

Trucks stuck on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for past 3 days due to landslides
Many trucks have been stuck near past three days, following the closure of the Jammu- Srinagar National Highway due to landslides, owning to heavy rain.
Nagrota, Himachal Pradesh, India

Tennessee flooding updates: 'This has changed Waverly forever' residents say; Biden approves disaster declaration
Extreme flooding in Tennessee on Saturday killed at least 21 people and left dozens missing. The city of Waverly and Humphreys County were hit hardest.
Waverly, Tennessee, United States
Nashville Tennessean
MEGHAN MANGRUM, ADAM FRIEDMAN AND RACHEL WEGNER

Hurricane Grace slams Mexico's Gulf coast, killing 8 in flooding and mudslides
Hurricane Grace pummelled Mexico with torrential rain on Saturday, causing severe flooding and mudslides that killed at least eight people after becoming one of the most powerful storms in years to hit the Gulf coast.
Tecolutla, Veracruz, Mexico
Reuters

A one of a kind northern permafrost cliff
In northern Alaska, an amphitheater of frozen ground thaws where a northern river cuts into it, exposing walls of ice. The feature, known by scientists as “yedoma,” is the largest of its kind yet found in Alaska. A great wall of ice holds a lot of treasures from the past, which science is eager to explore.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Snow on strike in the world’s coldest region, as temperatures in Siberia go 4 to 12C above the norm
Locals in southern Yakutia share surprise over bare ground, as Russia’s leading meteorologist says some areas of Siberia are 12C too mild.
Olyokminsk, Sakha, Russia
Siberian Times

Historical fuel spill likely source of Iqaluit drinking water contamination, city official says
An Iqaluit city official told CBC News that a historical underground fuel spill found near the water treatment plant could explain why the city had to declare an emergency due to fuel-contaminated drinking water.

Are ills of the Arctic hitting California? Hundreds of migratory seabirds wash ashore
Over the last two years, more than 500 northern fulmars were found sick or dead along the Sonoma and Mendocino coasts. What is ailing these seabirds?
Bodega Bay, California, United States
Los Angeles Times

High winds cause Alaska Airlines jet to slide on icy Dillingham runway
On Sunday, a gust of wind unexpectedly hit an Alaska Airlines jet on the Dillingham runway as it was preparing to taxi from the terminal, causing it to slide on the icy tarmac.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Times

COVID-19 detected for first time in Ontario wildlife
Samples taken from five free-ranging white-tailed deer in southwestern Ontario have tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first time the virus has been detected in the province’s wildlife.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
CTV

Climate change forces removal of historic mountain hut
A historic site in Yoho National Park will be dismantled and removed this spring because of effects caused by climate change, Parks Canada announced Thursday.
Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin National Historic Site

ConocoPhillips Alaska employees evacuated due to prolonged natural gas leak on the North Slope
The leak was detected early Friday at the drill site CD1, 8 miles north of the village of Nuiqsut. “There are no reports of injury or environmental impact to the tundra or wildlife,” the company’s statement said. “Air quality continues to be monitored and no natural gas has been detected outside of the CD1 pad.” The gas leak happened below gravel, and its cause and scale are under investigation, Conoco said. The company said it is using natural gas detection monitors at the CD1 pad, and conducting infrared surveys from the air.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Fatal songbird illness reported in North Carolina. Don't touch dead birds, state says
The mysterious eye illness that has been killing songbirds in mid Atlantic states have moved into North Carolina, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission reports.
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Charlotte Observer

Eagle in Bay View dies, was showing symptoms of Bird Flu
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
YouTube

Black-crowned night herons spotted on St Kilda
Droughts in continental Europe are a possible cause for sightings of a Mediterranean bird in Britain and Ireland, say ornithologists.
St. Kilda, Scotland, UK
BBC News

Shelburne County wildfire: The fire effort, evacuations, closed highway sections as fire burns out of control
By late afternoon the fast-moving blaze had already burned more than 1,350 hectares and had caused the shutdown of sections of Highway 103 due to thick, heavy smoke. By Sunday night, 2,296 hectares had burned. A mandatory evacuation of some area residents also occurred Sunday as firefighters and fire crews face a grim forecast for the week ahead: No rain. This is just one of several wildfires burning in Nova Scotia on Sunday amid dry, hot and windy conditions.
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada

Gulf Coast waters are hotter than ever
A relentless heat dome that has parked over the Gulf Coast region for much of summer reached a climax late last week and this weekend, bringing some of the highest temperatures ever recorded from coastal Texas to southern Alabama. The water has also heated up far beneath the surface. In fact, temperatures of nearly 88 degrees are common to depths of 165 feet below the surface, according to data posted to Twitter by Kim Wood, a professor of meteorology at Mississippi State University. University of Miami hurricane scientist Andy Hazelton called the ocean heat “other-worldly.”
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

McCarthy Road partially reopened near Chitina after collapse
The McCarthy Road was closed between Mile 0 and 1 in Chitina on Monday, June 3, 2024, after a portion of the road sank. The transportation department is still assessing the cause of the road settlement, Perreault said, but it is not river washout or a landslide.
Chitina, Alaska, United States

Officials warn Iqaluit residents after possible polar bear sighting at territorial park
Officials are investigating a report that a polar bear was sighted at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park in Iqaluit.

Kenow wildfire burns north through park and beyond, but Waterton townsite spared
Lashing at the western boundaries of Waterton Lakes National Park since Friday, the Kenow wildfire’s devastating journey across the continental divide tore a fiery path through the beloved southwestern Alberta park — mercifully sparing much of the townsite but broke north along the entrance highway.
Waterton Park, Alberta, Canada
calgaryherald

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.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Kolyma highway in Yakutia, also known as the Road of Bones, is on fire and temporarily shut
Elsewhere in Russia’s coldest region desperate authorities spike clouds to induce rain and tame wildfires.
Debin, Magadan, Russia

Kuskokwim Chums Still At Record Low, Reds Coming In Strong, Weather Makes Drying Fish Difficult
Kuskokwim River chum salmon numbers remain off-the-charts low. However, sockeyes are still coming in strong. Meanwhile, the summer rain has not been
KYUK

Drivers in Scotland warned due to more downpours and floods
A yellow warning remains in place after torrential rain closed railway lines and flooded streets on Saturday.
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Three coyotes swarmed mother and child in one of three recent Stanley Park attacks
One coyote, which "demonstrated signs of food habituation," was killed following Tuesday night's attacks
vancouversun

Scotland had fourth hottest summer on record
The Met Office said it was unusual for the UK's highest August temperature to be recorded in Scotland.
Scotland, United Kingdom

‘Receding before our eyes:’ Vancouver Island glaciers likely to be all gone by mid-century
Retired logger Fred Fern has been taking photos of the Comox Glacier every year since 2013, and the receding ice mass is easy to see in the images. Using Google Earth, Fern has calculated the Comox Glacier lost 15 vertical feet after this summer’s heat — and as much as 120 vertical feet since his first photo in 2013.
vancouversun

Climate change turns Alaska, and the rest of the nation, into a land of extremes
I'm going to start by challenging myself to have more proactive conversations with my teens about climate change, and set some house rules about energy use and what we can do as individuals to reduce our consumption of things like plastics. I don't think it will stop glaciers from melting, but perhaps it will help us all prepare to take larger actions that will.
The Arctic Sounder

High winds knock out power, bring subzero wind chills to Bristol Bay
The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages
Koliganek, Alaska, United States
The Bristol Bay Times

Alberta confirms 5 cases of avian flu spreading to mammals
"We had an unusually large number of calls about skunks that were acting strange or being found dead and it was all within the area where we had confirmed that the avian influenza virus was present in the snow geese," Dr. Margo Pybus, a provincial wildlife disease specialist with Fish and Wildlife Alberta Environment and Parks, said. "We believe that the skunks are feeding on the dead geese and they are getting enough virus that it’s actually affecting the skunks."
Innisfail, Alberta, Canada
Global News

New Zealand sea sponge populations 'dying by the millions' due to climate change
Shocking images have emerged from New Zealand showing millions of once-velvety brown sea sponges bleached bone white, the worst mass bleaching event of its type ever recorded, marine scientists say.
New Zealand
CNN

'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.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

An opossum’s arrival in Homer spurs capture efforts, memes and a campaign to #FreeGrubby
Alaska does not have opossums, but as of last month Homer had at least one. The mammal, considered an invasive species in Alaska, turned up in a shipping container from Washington state. It later escaped ingniting a flurry of opinions on the fate of this unusual visitor.
Homer, Alaska, United States

Fire crews working to contain out-of-control wildfire in Wood Buffalo National Park
An out-of-control wildfire that destroyed 20 homes in a northern Alberta Indigenous community has burned its way into Wood Buffalo National Park.

Temperatures in the south touching 30 degrees later this week
The temperatures are rising further in Sweden this week, with large parts of central Sweden touching 30 degrees from Wednesday onwards. Many municipalities and regions are now banning people from using solid fuel such as charcoal or wood at public grilling areas outside built up areas.
Sweden

'Huge losses' of Scottish seabirds due to avian flu
Scottish seabirds, including guillemots, kittiwakes, and terns, have experienced significant losses due to avian flu, with 2,300 sick and dead birds reported in a two-week period, and it is expected to take years for populations to recover.
Forvie National Nature Reserve, Newburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

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.

Storm 'Hans' batters Scandinavia
Severe weather has knocked out power lines, flooded villages and brought public transport to a standstill in the worst-affected areas. On Monday, the storm derailed a Swedish passenger train, injuring three people.
Bagn, Oppland, Norway
dw.com

Blizzard shuts down Iqaluit's streets, schools
Environment Canada issues severe weather warning, winds up to 90km per hour. Residents are advised to stay off the roads and take shelter because of reduced visibility and unsafe road conditions.

Meteors, UFOs or something else? Dawson City, Yukon, residents puzzled by recent sightings in night sky
Over the past few weeks, Dawson City, Yukon, residents have had their eyes on the sky. Some residents have reported seeing what they have described as a ball of fire flying through the sky before it disappears.
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

Kenya flooding death toll climbs to 70 since March
More than 120,000 people have been displaced, Kenyan government says, with 22 others injured and eight reported missing.
Nairobi, Kenya
Al Jazeera

Concern for native dolphins after mysterious surge in strandings
"Dolphin strandings have more than tripled in recent years with more than 70 animals washed up dead or dying on Irish beaches since the start of the year."
Ireland
independent

Heat wave over Gujarat, temp peaks at 43.8
"Besides Surendranagar — that recorded a temperature of over 43 degree celsius on Monday — Rajkot recorded 43.3 degree celsius, followed by Kandla Airport (43.2), Amreli (43), Deesa (42.8), Kandla Port (42.7), Ahmedabad (42.5), Porbandar (42.4), Bhuj (42.4), Vadodara (42.2), Gandhinagar (41.6), Surat (41.8), Bhavnagar (41.1) and Veraval (40.9)."
Gujarat, India

1st Asian giant hornet found in Snohomish County
Entomologists believe the invasive insect is an “old hornet from a previous season that wasn’t discovered until now” because it was “very dried out."
Marysville, Washington, United States

Landslide closes park road at Denali, buses stranded for about five hours
Of the 140 unstable slopes along the 92-mile park road, Pretty Rocks has the most potential to disrupt traffic.
Cantwell, Alaska, United States

Bethel Rainfall In July Near Record Highs
Some people in Bethel have called this the dreariest, wettest summer of their lives, and they're right. Last month was the wettest July in Bethel in over
KYUK

'We have nowhere': B.C. First Nations, rural residents say storm permanently changed the land
"For our grandchildren and their children, now the devastation has left them nothing": Shackan First Nation Chief Arnold Lampreau.
Merritt, British Columbia, Canada

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.

Rabid foxes found in Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet
The Government of Nunavut says two foxes in the territory have recently tested positive for rabies — one in Coral Harbour and one in Chesterfield Inlet.
Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada

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

North Slope communities are seeing more polar bears this year
From Point Hope to Kaktovik, North Slope communities saw anywhere from 10 to 15 bears in each village this winter. For the most part, bears are not going into the villages, but in some cases, they come close enough for people to take photos and sometimes, people come too close.
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Avalanche leaves up to 80 feet of snow on upper Hiland Road in Eagle River but no homes hit
About 145 customers in the area were without power on Friday due to damaged equipment, according to Matanuska Electric Association. It’ll likely be at least several days before the road may be cleared.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Fairbanks sees more than 7 feet of snow this season
Seasonal snowfall came in well above normal through the first week of March for the Fairbanks area. According to an update from the Fairbanks National Weather Service station, the season saw 91.9 inches. The majority of it comes from December storms that dropped 49.7 inches of snow on the ground.

Brown bear first spotted on Wrangel Island
The distance of 140 kilometers between the mainland coast and Wrangel Island was crossed by a young brown bear. The animal was noticed by employees of the reserve of the same name. According to scientists, this is the first appearance of a predator in the territory where polar bears are common.

Anchorage’s shift from drought to an onslaught of rain brings ‘weather whiplash extraordinaire’
And the rain is likely here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.

Canadian Arctic city declares state of emergency over water shortage
The northern Canadian city of Iqaluit declared a state of emergency on Friday after scarce rain this year left water levels in the local Apex River at a four-decade low.

Thousands of walruses have settled on a rookery near Tiutei Yaha
On the walrus rookery located at the mouth of the Yamal river Tiutey-Yakha in 2022, up to 4,000 individuals were concentrated at a time. According to scientists, the number of adults and young Atlantic walruses has increased.
Goarctic.ru

‘Freaky-looking’ fanged fishes found on Oregon coastline
Within the last few weeks, several lancetfish have appeared on the coast from Nehalem, in northern Oregon, to Bandon, which is about 100 miles from the California border, Oregon State Parks said on Facebook.
Nehalem, Oregon, United States

Nine cats killed by bird flu in Poland as global outbreak continues
Nine infected cats were found in Poznań, the tri-city metropolitan area, and Lublin, locations separated by hundreds of kilometers. All tested positvie for HPAI.
Poznań, Powiat Łukowski, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com

Unique behavior with polar bear sow and cub was registered by scientists
The female and cub left the family den a month earlier than usual, which is extremely atypical for these animals. Experts consider this case to be unique - they have not yet encountered such behavior of polar predators.
Wrangall Island Nature Reserve
Prochukotku.ru

Ground water levels peak after wet winter
Underground water reservoirs in the south of Sweden are full to brimming point, according to the latest report from the Geological Survey of Sweden. Lots of rain and snow over the winter are the reason, a welcome change after drought conditions last summer.
Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
Sveriges Radio

Another break in fiber network causes temporary internet and cell service outage in Arctic Alaska
Quintillion reconfigured the network and temporarily restored service as of Tuesday afternoon, the company’s president said. The break happened in an area with ongoing oil and gas maintenance and development.
Arctic Sounder

Norman Wells and Tulita, N.W.T., won't get barge deliveries this year
The N.W.T.'s Marine Transportation Services has announced it is cancelling barges to Norman Wells and Tulita due to low water levels.
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada

Prickly sharks (Echinorhinus cookei) observed in the shallow head of Monterey Submarine canyon

Apparent native freshwater mussel mortality event

Hurricane Laura hitting Louisiana as strong as 1856 storm that split Last Island in half: 'Only 1 cow remained'
The NHC said that the eye of Laura will continue moving over southwestern Louisana and warned of a 'catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding'
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
MEAWW

Dispersed across B.C., the Lytton First Nation aims to come back strong
Like many people in Lytton, council member John Haugen's not sure when he'll be able to settle back home. One thing he is certain about is that his people, those of the Lytton First Nation who have lived in the area for about 10,000 years, will continue living on their ancestral lands.
Lytton, British Columbia, Canada

Inuvik experienced one of its warmest, driest summers on record
It wasn’t part of your imagination if you thought it was warmer this summer in the Northwest Territories. Inuvik experienced its seventh warmest summer on record according to data from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Ongoing blizzards prompt state of emergency in Clyde River, Nunavut
A buildup of snow is hampering the hamlet's ability to deliver municipal services, like snow clearing and trucked water.

Seabirds dying of malnutrition in the sea north of Iceland, changing ocean conditions to blame
Unusually high numbers of dead seabirds have been found washed ashore on the beaches of North Iceland in the past months. A biologist who spoke to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV said malnutrition and lack of feed for the birds were the most likely explanations.
Skagaströnd, Northwest, Iceland
Icelandmag

Dead Antarctic Petrel at Svarthamaren
In 1984, there were more than 400,000 Antarctic petrel in the bird cliff. By 2020, the population was shrinking to less than 100,000. This year, there were none.
Svarthamaren
NRK

Holy crab! Rare, weirdly colored crustaceans found in Norton Sound
The red king crab that wasn't red appeared in Nome on Fourth of July.

Trichinella alert for Sanikiluaq
The Department of Health is advising residents of Sanikiluaq that a walrus harvested on September 19, 2022, has tested positive for trichinella.
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, Canada

Growing sense of dread among Swedish farmers as dry weather continues
I am sad to see the crops on my fields being just brown and yellow instead of green. All the hard work we did this spring, it's almost for nothing..." dairy farmer Filip Nilsson told Radio Sweden.
Sweden

Climate change: Sudden heat increase in seas around UK and Ireland
Scientists say water temperatures are as much as 3 to 4C above the average for this time of year in some areas.
Durham, England, United Kingdom

Fire bans in force across large parts of Sweden
Sweden has implemented fire bans across most of the country due to high, very high, or extremely high risk of wildfires caused by hot weather and dry conditions.
Sweden
Sveriges Radio

While the search for Utqiagvik whale researcher continues, his friends and family reflect on his role in the community
John Craighead "Craig" George was swept under a logjam last Wednesday on the Chulitna River near Cantwell, Alaska State Troopers said. The dive team responded to the area Friday morning but found that the water was too high to deploy.The rafting party was decending when they encountered an unusual amount of logjams.
Cantwell, Alaska, United States
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Hours of work to clean a single swan after Marco Polo oil spill
50 cubic metres of oil is estimated to have been released into the Baltic Sea, after a passenger ferry ran aground just off the coast of Blekinge in south-eastern ...
Karlskrona, Blekinge, Sweden

North Slope facilities close as the region is battered by wind gusts
North Slope facilities in Alaska closed due to severe blizzard conditions with winds up to 75 mph and low visibility.
North Slope, Alaska, United States

B.C.'s spring snowpack is the lowest on record
As of April 1, the provincial snowpack was 63 per cent of normal, with warming seasonal temperatures slowing snow accumulation. At this time last year, the snowpack measured 88 per cent of normal.
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

Quebec is in a 'high tick year' and the white-tailed deer boom isn't helping
The mild winter and fluctuating spring temperature appears to have led to a tick boom in Quebec, a province where cases of Lyme disease have been steadily climbing for years.
Quebec, Canada

Finland sees hottest June on record
The average temperature throughout the country in June was 16.5 degrees, beating the previous high of 16.2 degrees set in 1953.
Parikkala, South Karelia, Finland

Destructive tornadoes unheard of in Alaska, but funnel clouds occasionally form
FAIRBANKS — Alaska is a long way from Tornado Alley. Never have there been reports of tornadoes causing damage in the 49th State. But we do sporadically get a related

What Greenland’s record-breaking rain means for the planet
For three days this month, 7 billion tonnes of rain fell across Greenland — the largest amount since records began in 1950. It’s also the first time since then that rain, not snow, fell on Greenland’s highest peak.
Greenland Summit Camp
ArcticToday

Water warning as reservoir levels hit 18-year low
Scottish Water says storage levels at some sites are at 66% amid one of the driest summers in 160 years.
Scotland, United Kingdom

Volcano erupts on Atlantic island; lava destroys some homes
The president of the Canary Islands said that by 11 p.m. some 5,000 people had been evacuated from their homes.
Los Llanos de Aridane, Canary Islands, Spain

Black vultures are descending on Hershey. Residents want them gone.
Hundreds of black vultures have descended on Hershey. Residents want them gone. As they reach new habitats, the vultures’ destructive habits are creating problems in many Pennsylvania communities.
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Shrinking Western Arctic Caribou Herd prompts discussion about future hunting restrictions
One of the largest caribou herds in Alaska is shrinking, prompting hunters and conservationists to consider recommending hunting restrictions.
Northwest Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

Humpback salmon have invaded the River Teno
This summer, the number of humpback salmon in the River Teno, the border river between Norway and Finland, has increased enormously from last year. These salmon have been swimming near the shores, with masses of them dying in the river from exhaustion. Local people are extremely worried.
Teno River, Norway/Finland Border
The Independent Barents Observer

Bird flu continues to spread across the state
Bird Flu cases continue to rise in Alaska and are spreading across the state. Note: in Anchorage this has included two bald eagles and four Canada goose.

Hurricane Fiona: Canada hit by 'historic, extreme event'
Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without power, after Storm Fiona hit Canada's coastline. Parts of three provinces experienced torrential rain and winds of up to 160km/h (99mph), with trees and powerlines felled and houses washed into the sea.
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Unusually Thick Sea Ice to Make for Challenging Shipping on Northern Sea Route This Summer
Unusual amounts of multiyear ice in the Laptev and Siberian Sea could lead to difficult summer navigation along parts of Russia’s Northern Sea Route this summer, says the country’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
Siberian Sea, Russia
High North News

More wolves in southern Sweden
Preliminary figures from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences show that there are 69 wolf pack territories in Sweden today, and the number in the southern part of the country has increased.
Southern Sweden

Hot and dry July saw temperature records topple in the Yukon
"We saw temperatures in the Yukon that were two to three-and-a-half degrees warmer than normal" in July, said David Phillips of Environment Canada. "The one that everybody was shaking their head about in Canada was at Carmacks. The incredible temperature on July the 7th got up to 35.5 degrees," Phillips said.The heat has also increased water temperatures in many parts of the territory. According to Phillips, some lakes are four to five degrees warmer than normal.
Carmacks, Yukon, Canada

Spruce beetles’ expansion into Denali National Park poses questions about forest changes
The aggressive infestation that took hold in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough north of Anchorage in 2016 has now spread north, covering hillsides in the communities outside the park with rustred dead trees and reaching into park boundaries.
Cantwell, Alaska, United States

Crews across the Greater Memphis area work to repair water main breaks
The Town of Collierville said crews are working on a water main break on Greencliff Road, affecting about 30 to 40 customers in the area. As of 10 a.m., they did not have a time frame for when the break would be repaired. MLGW said as of Friday afternoon, it had repaired 49 water main breaks since Saturday, and were currently working on 10 more. They ask that commercial customers and property owners check buildings or vacant properties for leaks.
Collierville, Tennessee, United States
localmemphis.com

Rare bug spotted for first time in more than 30 years
The discovery in the Cairngorms is only the eighth time a cow wheat shieldbug has been recorded in Scotland.
Aberlour, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ice Out: How N.H.'s rite of spring has become a symbol of climate change
Ice is a key player not only in the culture of the northern Northeast, but also in its unique lake ecosystems – a determinant of everything from water temperature to aquatic food chains to water quality. And according to long-term climate data, ice-out has been moving earlier and earlier.
Center Harbor, New Hampshire, United States
Yahoo News

Highway 1 near N.W.T.-Alberta border down to 1 lane after road floods
A section of Highway 1 just north of the Northwest Territories-Alberta border is reduced to one lane after it was excavated to deal with excess water. A 3.5-metre wide trench was dug across the road to assist with drainage of the flooded area, according to an email from the Department of Infrastructure on Tuesday.
Falher, Alberta, Canada

Ancient white sturgeon caught in Canada
The fish measured 56 inches in circumference and weighed 800 lbs. Its age is not known, but it could be more than 100 years old, given its size. The monster sturgeon had never been tagged before, so this may have been the first time it was caught.
Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada
The Irish Times

Poor weather leads to cancelled flights and bare shelves in Kimmirut
Regular flights to Kimmirut resumed Wednesday after seven days of cancellations, which caused a backlog of passengers and groceries destined for the hamlet. Seven other Nunavut hamlets have also seen recent cancellations due to weather.
Kimmirut, Nunavut, Canada

Trans-Alaska pipeline under threat from thawing permafrost
The slope of permafrost where an 810-foot section of pipeline is secured has started to shift as it thaws, causing several of the braces holding up the pipeline to tilt and bend, according to an analysis by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
High North News

Up to a foot of snow could fall on Anchorage Hillside through Friday morning
Snowfall amounts in the Anchorage Bowl could range from 3 inches on the east side to nothing on the west side, the Weather Service said.

Anglers on alert for invasive Pacific pink salmon
'Unprecedented numbers' of pink salmon were seen in 2017 and the fish have been spotted again this year.
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

‘A lot of salmon died’: Ahousaht Guardians look to watershed restoration amid B.C.’s dangerously dry summer
B.C. drought exacerbating forestry damage to Bedwell River near Tofino as Ahousaht First Nation works to protect salmon, restore watershed.
Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
The Narwhal

Polar bear sightings prompt North Slope officials to encourage precautions among residents
Officials are encouraging the public to be safe, report polar bears in the area and never approach the animals, which can be “dangerous and unpredictable.”

With no dam to stop it, the Eklutna River is temporarily reborn. Many people hope to keep it alive for good.
Conservation and tribal groups in 2018 removed a downstream dam in the river northeast of Anchorage. But an upriver dam provides the cheapest energy in Southcentral Alaska. For people from the Native Village of Eklutna the river’s rebirth was an important moment. They want the 12-mile-long waterway permanently restored, along with the salmon their late elders once described as abundant.
Knik-Fairview, Alaska, United States

Beluga whalers in Northwest Alaska, North Slope boast a great 2021 season
With relatively calm summer weather, an Utqiagvik crew landed at least 11 beluga whales this season, Wainwright was lucky to caught 50, and Kotzebue Sound saw the second-highest harvest in more than a decade, according to local hunters.

As some in wind-blasted Mat-Su finally get power, others continue to contend with bursting pipes and frigid cold
Mat-Su schools will be closed again Wednesday, and 5,000 homes remained without electricity Tuesday night after a violent windstorm hammered the Valley.

Researchers try packing down snow to preserve permafrost in N.W.T.
A permafrost scientist in the N.W.T. is leading an experiment that compacts snow near the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway to see if that will slow down permafrost thaw and protect buildings and roads built atop it.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, 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.

A creeping mass of insect larvae near a Denali lodge raises the question: ‘Am I hallucinating?’
A worker in Kantishna glimpsed the rare phenomenon in which hundreds of Alaska gnat snakeworm larvae formed a crawling column.
Healy, Alaska, United States

Wildfire smoke from Southwest Alaska hinders air quality and visibility in Southcentral
Smoke from dozens of active wildfires in Southwest Alaska moved across a large portion of the state on Sunday, worsening the visibility and air quality in several regions, including around Anchorage and Southcentral. The haze in the Anchorage area was expected to ease somewhat early in the week.

France mulls rescue plan for whale in River Seine
They say the animal is currently near a lock at Vernon, about 70km (43 miles) north-west of Paris.Experts are puzzled as to why the animal has strayed so far south from its natural habitat.
Vernon, Normandy, France

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

Earthquake swarm signals unrest at volcano in Alaska’s western Aleutian Islands
It’s not clear whether the unrest will lead to an eruption at Tanaga Volcano, which is located on an uninhabited island about 65 miles from Adak.

Scientists Find Worrisome Lesions on Endangered Southern Resident Orcas
The peer-reviewed research published this week in the Public Library of Science suggests that 99% of the orcas studied had photographic evidence of skin lesions. Researchers evaluated photos from nearly 20,000 orca sightings from 2004 to 2016, finding that lesions — often gray patches and gray targets on the orcas' skin — generally became more prevalent over time.
Seattle, Washington, United States
The Daily Chronicle

Invasive slug species slimes into city
The European black slug was first introduced into Alaska in the 1980s in Cordova, Slowik said. It eventually made its way to Juneau and Ketchikan, likely hitching a ride on fishing gear, and is now prevalent across Southeast. A few years ago, people started seeing the slug in Whittier and Girdwood.

Shishaldin Volcano spews new ash cloud, prompting aviation warnings
“Significant ash emissions” were possible for several hours following the unrest on Shishaldin Volcano in the Aleutians, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Mt. Shishaldin

Havana mansions crumble as residents live in fear
Havana mansions in Cuba are crumbling due to neglect, bad weather, and economic crisis, leaving residents living in fear of collapse and struggling to receive help from authorities. Cuba’s housing crisis is one of the most pressing challenges facing the island, where a humid climate, the passage of hurricanes and other storms, poor maintenance and a low completion rate of new ones are usually among the top complaints of Cubans.
Havana, La Habana, Cuba

Warm weather affects everything from food to medevacs in Sachs Harbour, N.W.T.
Every year, Aklak Air switches to flying a Twin Otter to Sachs Harbour in the spring and fall because the gravel runway is too soft for other aircraft. The switch usually lasts for a few days, up to a week, but this fall's warm weather made it necessary for longer and its effects were felt beyond the runway.
Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Canada

Wildlife refuge pond in Hawaii mysteriously turns bubble-gum pink after drought
Halobacteria thrive in bodies of water with high levels of salt. The salinity inside the Kealia Pond outlet area is currently greater than 70 parts per thousand, twice the salinity of seawater. Maui's drought is likely contributing to the situation. Normally Waikapu Stream feeds into Kealia Pond and raises water levels there, but Wolfe said that hasn't happened in a long time.
Kīhei, Hawaii, United States
NBC Connecticut

Tornado damages houses, causes power outages in Fort St. John
"I've worked forecast in this area for 33 years. It's very rare. I don't remember any community in B.C. having that much damage from a tornado in my career or in the Peace," said meteorologist Doug Lundquist.
Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada

Landslide damages water lines in Sequoyah County
"The damage happened at about 2 a.m. Monday morning when heavy rain caused the landslide and damaged about 2,000 feet of lines."
Sequoyah, Oklahoma, United States

Nunavut monsoon in southern Baffin Island could break records, say experts
The weather is a result of a low-pressure system from the East Coast heading northward from Labrador, fueled by the moisture in the Atlantic Ocean.

Lack of food drives away southern resident killer whales
The southern resident killer whales who returned to their traditional summer feeding grounds in the Salish Sea on Tuesday and Wednesday after a long absence have apparently left again, and although most of the members of J-, K- and L-Pods appeared to be healthy, at least one may be close to starvation.
Salish Sea

Helicopter deployed to scare aggressive polar bears from reindeer settlements on Yamal peninsula
Seven polar bears, including a wounded mother bear with two cubs, were scared away by rescuers after they got dangerously close to reindeer herders at several locations on the Yamal peninsula. There are concern over rising numbers of the Arctic’s largest predators leaving their natural habitat and coming closer to humans.

Relentless heat wave and lack of rain scorching Saskatchewan crops
Crops across much of Saskatchewan are scorched, stunted and thin as they wither under the unrelenting heat wave blanketing Saskatchewan, according to the province's latest crop report.
Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

A record number of Atlantic walruses recorded in the Russian Arctic
According to preliminary data, more than seven thousand walruses were recorded, which is two times as many as last year. This was also when the largest walrus habitat in the history of Arctic exploration was found on the northernmost island of the Franz Josef Land archipelago, the Eva-Liv island.
Franz Josef Land

New Invasive Species Detected in Alaska
Last summer while scoping for marine invasive species we found the invasive colonial tunicate, Didemnum vexillum also know as marine vomit.
ADFG News

Nairobians Warned Over Looming Water Shortage
Murang’a County Director of Meteorology Paul Murage stated that the ongoing short rains are below average and expressed worries that the Ndakaini dam may not achieve full capacity by the end of the season. Following the low water volume residents in the city will experience water rationing in areas that are served by the dam as early as next year.
Nairobi, Kenya
Kenyans.co.ke

Winds knock out internet for days
High winds at the Muklung tower blew the antenna pointing at Levelock out of alignment. It was too windy for the technicians to fly back to finish repairs at the Muklung site on Thursday. On Friday, the cooperative said they were able to reach the site, but the winds were still too strong for them to climb the tower to fix the antenna.
Levelock, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Times

Heavy snow in Interior Alaska this winter has bison hanging out on plowed roads and digging up farmland
Bulldozer crews have cleared trails and fields for the bison in hopes of reducing the danger of collisions and damaged fields. There's a layer of ice up to two inches thick within the snowpack that has further complicated foraging.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Spring bounty: Utqiagvik landed 10 whales in less than two weeks
This early in spring, the season usually only starts, but the weather patterns have been changing, and so has been the harvest time, Donovan said.

Butterflies in the middle of winter and other insects in our homes
In Two Rivers,at a time when the outside air’s temperature has not been above freezing since October — three butterflies living in a heated garage.
Two Rivers, Alaska, United States

Cambodia tests more people for bird flu after death of 11-year-old girl
Cambodia has tested at least 12 people for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, the health ministry said, after an 11-year-old girl died this week from the virus in the first known transmission to humans in the country in nearly a decade.
Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Fort McPherson, N.W.T., declares emergency as flooding threatens access to drinking water
The hamlet said it's declaring a state of emergency because flooding from the Peel River cut off access to the community's airport, and because access to fresh water could be "inaccessible in the imminent future."
Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada

Ice jam floods Buckland
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Buckland, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Yukon declares state of emergency in Mayo due to wildfire threat
The Yukon government has declared a state of emergency in the Mayo area, as a wildfire continues to threaten the community that was evacuated on Sunday.
Mayo, Yukon, Canada

Avian flu virus found in wild duck in Fairbanks is a danger to domestic fowl
Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists collected the sample containing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 virus, or HPAI, from a mallard during a routine bird-banding activity. The HPAI virus is not considered a threat to humans, Alaska officials said.

More than 500 empty barrels were collected by volunteers from the ancient Eskimo settlement of Unazik
Residents of the Providensky urban district, together with border guards and military personnel, cleared the territory near Cape Chaplin from barrels. Volunteers collected more than 500 old empty barrels near the ancient Eskimo settlement Unazik, Chukotka news agency reports.
Provideniya, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Lone beluga whale spotted on Yukon River near Tanana
Spirit camp participants and residents along the Yukon River were shocked to see a lone beluga whale on the Yukon River in early August.
Rampart, Alaska, United States

Anchorage’s white raven achieves celebrity status, inspiring art, lore and adulation
Biologists say the white raven is a genuinely uncommon creature. It’s not albino, but leucistic, evidenced by its sky-blue eyes. Given its rarity, it’s likely the same white raven that was first spotted on the Kenai Peninsula this summer.An “Anchorage White Raven Spottings” Facebook group has amassed close to 13,000 followers.

As Fort Simpson, N.W.T., ferry crossing opens for the season, low water levels worry mayor
Sean Whelly the mayor of Fort Simpson is worried that low water levels could impact the ferry’s ability to operate, potentially leaving the community isolated in the summer months.The water levels are the lowest he's ever seen at this time of year.
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada

Bizarre sight over Sydney stuns onlookers: 'What is it?'
Wild theories emerged online about what the strange mass could be. Scientist believe the mass was in fact a scud cloud, a type of cloud that appears at low height above ground. It's usually detached and of irregular form.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Yahoo News

Corals in peril at a popular Hawaiian tourist destination due to global climate change
Researchers from the Coral Reef Ecology Lab at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology documented the third global bleaching event as it occurred from 2014 to 2016 at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (HBNP) on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i. Their findings, published in the international journal PeerJ, show that temperature is by far the most influential factor in coral bleaching at this well-managed location where corals, fish, and all other organisms are protected.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Hawaii, United States
EurekAlert!

Miami is shattering heat records during a wildly-warm start to 2020, even by Florida standards
"Miami’s temperature climbed to 95 on Friday, at a time of year when average highs are 83."
Miami, Florida, United States

Fish kill in Windsor area
Local fisherman Darren Porter saw this coming. "It's just common sense. I mean, you can’t take your fishbowl and put it on your stove.”
Lake Pusiquid, Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
SaltWire

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.
Marsh Lake, Yukon, Canada

Walruses held captive by Killer whales near Provideniya
A group of about 30 walruses have been observed by residents of providence village in Emma Bay for the past few days. As the specialists of the Beringia National Park specified, killer whales drove marine mammals there, Chukotka news agency reports.
Provideniya, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Prochukotku

Record heatwave retreating next week
Finland’s sizzling temperatures will drop down to around 20 degrees Celsius next week.
Kouvola, Kymenlaakso, Finland

North Saskatchewan River Turns Blue
The river, which starts at the Saskatchewan Glacier in the Columbia Icefields and flows through to central Saskatchewan, is usually murky brown by the time it reaches Edmonton in summer. In recent weeks, however, the water has taken on the hues of Alberta's glacial lakes, thanks to dry, hot weather combined with maintenance at a major dam.
North Saskatchewan River, Alberta, Canada

Yukon River Silvers On Track For Lowest Runs Ever
This season is shaping up to be the worst fall for salmon fishing on the Yukon River in recorded history. It follows the worst recorded summer salmon season ever.
Nunam Iqua, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Great white egret attracts attention in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut
Egrets are more usually spotted in the Everglades or on the Pacific coast so the presence of this egret immediately attracted local photographers, including Bernice Sandy, who took many photos of the unusual bird.
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

Red Lily Beetle (Lilioceris lilii) settles in Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Short on diesel fuel, North Slope sewage pipes break
The sewage pipes are protected from low temperatures with a heating system that runs on diesel. Throughout December and into January, several communities in the North Slope and Northwest Arctic have been scrambling for diesel, as well as gas and heating oil, essential to thaw pipes, heat homes and run snowmachines.
Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Winter storm lashes East Coast with deep snow, high winds
Parts of 10 states and some major population centers — including Philadelphia, New York and Boston — were pummeled by the storm.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Associate Press

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