The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
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Spring Hunting - In Cree communities of Northern Ontario and Quebec, May is the time of "Goose Break," a traditional holiday when families get out on the land, camp and celebrate the return of Canada geese (see CBC article). Hunting is of course a central activity and the tradition is carrying on this year as usual, but with a few special precautions. On December 19, 2021 highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed at an exhibition farm on the Avalon Peninsula in Nova Scotia, roughly 1400 km to the southeast. Since December the virus has resulted in the death or destruction of millions of wild and domestic birds. Despite this there has been only one confirmed case of illness in people, a man in Colorado in late April, who was involved in the culling of an infected flock of poultry. He had mild illness and has since recovered.

This week the first avian flu in birds was confirmed in Alaska. As reported by the Anchorage Daily News, it was identified in a backyard flock of poultry at a home in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. In only five months the virus has spread across the continent, raising questions about bird health and the safety of hunters. In Northeastern Canada where this wave of avian flu was first reported, they have a plan and are ready for hunting season. Given the extremely low risk for people and with guidance from the Cree Health Board, it is hoped that Goose Break will be as great an event as ever. The celebration and honoring of the geese this year will include keeping an eye on the health and behavior of the wildlife. Said George Diamond with Cree Public Health, "I encourage people to go out and do their spring hunt and enjoy their time out on the land. We are giving you all these precautions … to minimize the spread of avian flu because we don't want it to spread." See also articles about the start to fire season about bountiful whaling on the North Slope. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Goose hunting in times of avian influenza Chisasibi, Quebec, Canada CBC / April 27, 2022 "Our hunters have a vast knowledge on a healthy bird. They know what a healthy bird looks like. If a goose has the symptoms of avian flu … people shouldn't eat it," said George Diamond of Cree Public Health. Read article on CBC
	First case of avian flu in Alaska identified in Mat-Su backyard flock Palmer, Alaska, United States Anchorage Daily News / April 30, 2022 While the risk to human health is low, Gerlach has said that avian influenza could pose a threat to not only the state’s domestic birds but also wild birds, including geese, shore birds, vultures and eagles. There’s no treatment for birds that are infected, and the mortality rate for poultry and raptors like hawks, eagles or owls is especially high. Possible signs of infection includes the “sudden death of multiple birds in the flock, nasal discharge, sneezing, and coughing, or respiratory distress." Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	Whooper swan far from home spotted in the Yukon Marsh Lake, Yukon, Canada Jim Elliot / Yukon News / April 23, 2022 The lone adult bird was spotted among the migrating trumpeter swans at Marsh Lake. Read article on Yukon News
	High snowpack, water levels put several N.W.T. communities once again at risk of spring flooding Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada CBC / April 25, 2022 Excessive snowpack and high water levels have communities across the N.W.T. at risk of flooding once again this spring. This includes Hay River, Kátł'odeeche First Nation, Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Aklavik, Fort Good Hope, Tulita and Jean Marie River First Nation. Read article on CBC
	Fires burn in Siberia, but Russian firefighting assets are in Ukraine Omsk Oblast, Russia Kasha Patel / Washington Post / April 14, 2022 Fires are already erupting in Siberia this spring, sending billowing smoke into the western United States. One of the regions with the largest number of extinguished forest fires was in Omsk Oblast. Videos from the Siberian Times showed wildfires raging across the Omsk and Tyumen oblasts in Western Siberia, while satellite data showed several fires across the landscape beginning in the first half of April. Read article on Washington Post
	Spring bounty: Utqiagvik landed 10 whales in less than two weeks Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States Alena Naiden / The Arctic Sounder / 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. Read article on The Arctic Sounder

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published weekly by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
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