A black bear was fatally shot by federal officials after attempting to break into an occupied tent near Portage campgrounds in Alaska, following a recent similar incident that injured a woman.

In Dillingham, Alaska, 19 cases of avian flu have been identified in common murres, with the virus still present in wild birds and genetic testing being conducted to determine if it is a new strain or a strain circulating in North America.

A total of 94 brown bears, five black bears and five wolves were killed in the program that began May 10 and ended June 4, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said this week. That’s more than four times the number biologists predicted would be taken. State biologists also say disease and changing food supplies might be a bigger factor overall.

Southwest Alaska has had an unusual increase in lighting storms this month. That lightning has ignited at least half a dozen wildfires in the Bristol Bay area.

Only two passenger flights from Anchorage made it to Dillingham within the last week — one on Saturday and one on Monday. Another flight is expected Tuesday afternoon.

Westfall thanked his training with the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association to help him maximize his odds for survival.

The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages

A muskox (Ovibos moschatus) seen farther inland than usual during mating season.

The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages

Biologists believe the 18- to 20-foot whale may be sick or injured. It’s unclear if it will be able to swim out during high tide.

"Within a week we saw thousands of shearwaters along the beaches, and witnessed hundreds dead. They would sit on the tideline unable to walk, foraging on dead fish that had washed ashore and trying to feed on the fish in the nets of the set net sites as well."

Dillingham farmer Mark Hermann said he's heard from gardeners around the state who are dealing with an influx of slugs. The slimy critters can add a lot of extra work to farming.

Dillingham gardeners say that an uptick in slimy pests in recent years is making growing greens more difficult.

Abundant slugs in Dillingham acting as a stressor to garden plants.

Pacific Walrus haulout at Cape Greig.

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.

Resident Ravens Disappeared in Early April

11-29-14 Mollusks in moose gut - Egegik, Alaska, USA

Crooked Island, 25 Miles south of Togiak. Remnants of blackberries.

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.