A pilot rescued with two young family members after they survived a night on the wing of an airplane partially submerged in a Kenai Peninsula lake is a student pilot who was not authorized to fly with passengers, according to a U.S. official and federal aviation records.

Area biologists recommend securing attractants as warmer weather leads to earlier bear activity on the Kenai Peninsula, prompting calls for caution among residents.

The Anchor River in Alaska has flooded again due to an ice dam, marking the worst flooding in recent history and prompting road closures and infrastructure concerns. This is the second such incident in a month, highlighting an unusual increase in flooding events this year.

A winter storm disrupted services in Homer, Alaska, knocking out power to South Peninsula Hospital for 90 minutes after backup generators failed.

Flooding from an ice jam on the Anchor River led to water flowing over Anchor Point Road, but no damage was reported.

Homer Mayor Rachel Lord declared a local emergency after water and debris washed over the Homer Spit last weekend, damaging parts of the road and forcing closures.

Homer Spit Road sustained damage from high tides and winds, prompting short-term repairs and highlighting the need for long-term erosion control measures.

A new plant species is establishing itself in the area and impacting native beach greens.

No obvious cause of death for this adult and juvenile otter.

Two harbor seal pups, one from Naknek and another from Wrangell, were recently rescued and are receiving care at the Alaska SeaLife Center due to malnourishment and other health issues.

"This season we have observed many salmonberry bushes that appear to be defoliated. It seems something is eating the leaves. We have also noticed the berries look sickly."

"We usually pick salmon berries in early July."

Discoloration of water in bay. Is this an algal bloom?

A 24-hour, 245 mile survey of fireweed plants from Anchorage to Seldovia revealed an almost complete absence of flowering.

Black oystercatchers have returned to Nanwalek, Alaska, and three eggs have been spotted on the beach.

It turns out that Grubby the opossum — who hitched a ride to Alaska in a shipping container in March — had babies.

Two dead otters (one recent) on Kasitsna Bay side. We also found another one yesterday on the Kachemak side.

Walked two miles of spit and did not see any others.

A resident of Seldovia reported an infestation of worms infesting an area of salmonberry brush and nettle.

An approximate 69% of adult razor clams at Ninilchik beaches and 84% at Clam Gulch beaches have died. The department said the cause of the high natural mortality rate of the clams remains unknown, but may be due to a combination of heavy surf, habitat changes, environmental stressor and predation.