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

There Are So Many Open Holes, Search And Rescue Ran Out Of Blue Tape To Mark Them
The warm winter has made traveling on the river ice more hazardous than Bethel Search and Rescue ever remembers.
Oscarville, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Trail Observations from Kuskokwim 300
Due to consistent above average winter temperatures, there are many known and developing open holes on the river. I was on the trail working at the Bogus Creek Checkpoint. Most of the trail had no snow cover, and the majority of the race was run on glare ice over the tundra.
Kuskokwim River, Alaska, United States

High winter winds and warm temperatures
We've had so much wind this winter, on the 15th of January, the winds were warm!!!!!!
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Robin Spotted In Chuathbaluk
Mid-January robin sighting in Chuathbaluk.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Erratic weather bursts fuel line on Young Road
Homeowner Bart Henderson headed back to Haines from Mexico after a fuel-feed line from a heating oil tank to a furnace burst and potentially leaked. “We’ve got a pretty good idea that the cause of the leak was from the hard freeze and then the warm weather,” Pikul said. “There was some frost heaving of the ground and it compromised the feed line.”
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Northern Lampfish (*Stenobrachius leucopsarus*) Found on the Beach at Letnikov Cove
Northern Lampfish washed up along the beach at Letnikov Cove
Haines, Alaska, United States

Ocean Ice Is All Gone
Rough seas and moving sea ice.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Snowy winter is return to “normal” weather conditions
It seems like digging out from snow and some more snow is all Nomeites do this winter.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Storm Related Erosion
Without ice to provide protection from storm waves, Port Heiden has lost the old town road.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Many Ringed Seals (*Pusa hispida*) Hauling Out
Above normal than average seal strandings in the Aleutians.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States

Tribes plow longest Kuskokwim ice road ever
The Kuskokwim River now has its longest ice road ever, despite having the warmest winter on record.
Crooked Creek, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media / KYUK Bethel

Arctic Ground Squirrel (*Spermophilus parryii*) Adapting to Warming Temperatures
Warmer winter temperatures are bringing Arctic Ground Squirrels out of hibernation
Twin Hills, Alaska, United States

Parasite (*Taenia krabbei*) in Caribou Meat
Muscle tapeworm cysts in caribou meat.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Walrus (*Odobenus rosmarus*) Haul-out On Port Heiden Beach
Walrus in Bristol Bay and Port Heiden are not uncommon in summer. The fact they are present in April is unusual and residents believe factors such as the lack of sea ice, lack of food and warming ocean temperatures may be the reason.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Walrus (*Odobenus rosmarus*) Herd at Hook Lagoon
The walrus count at this location was approximately 500-1000, and looks like they are here to stay well at least for this season of time before they return to the north.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Nature follows its own break-up calendar
Looking seaward over the last week from almost all points along the coasts of Norton Sound, folks have been dazzled by bright blue horizons colored by open water.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Wind And More Wind
We have over two weeks of cold windy weather. It started in mid April around the time of the big wind storm. And in relation of the wind storm on April 24th, Rick Thoman wrote: "Winds this strong in the Anchorage are rare at this time of year. An unusually strong storm for the season in the southeastern Bering Sea produced southeast strong winds blowing across the Chugach Mountains. However, being April, the temperature profile of the atmosphere close to the ground was more conducive than in winter for allowing the very strong winds aloft to reach down to the ground.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Ross's Gull (*Rhodostetia rosea*) Spotted South of Normal Range
Ross's Gulls are normally seen in the high Arctic, this is the first reported sighting in Togiak. A similar sighting was reported to LEO Network from Hooper Bay.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Unusual Spiders by the Dozen
Spiders possibly wolf spiders of family (*Lycosidae*) numbering some 75 to 100 were seen on top of snow along Boulder Creek road and lagoon.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Wolf Spider (*Lycosidae*) in Teller
Possible wolf spider seen in Teller
Teller, Alaska, United States

Abnormally Cold Spring
At Cold Bay, snow was reported on five days during the month, the most for any May since 2013.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Phaeohyphomycoses Fungal Infection on Smelt (*Hypomesus olidus*)
Smelt caught in Bethel with fungal infection previously found in the Norton Sound region.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

2000-acre tundra fire burns near Point Hope
A tundra fire that has grown to 2,000 acres as of Monday afternoon is burning near Point Hope, officials say.
Point Hope, Alaska, United States
KTVA

Its June, but one Alaska community just got half a foot of snow
Summer slowly arrived in Alaska this month, but if you live in Glennallen, you may be having very different emotions regarding June weather.
Glennallen, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Noctiluca Bloom
Second Noctiluca bloom we have had in the last 4 weeks
Kasaan, Alaska, United States

Respiratory Pathogen "Movi" Documented in Additional Species in Alaska is Also Implicated in Alaska Caribou Death
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae ("Movi") is a respiratory bacterium that can cause disease in susceptible hosts. Previously thought to be host-restricted to sheep and goat species, scientists have identified Movi for the first time in healthy moose and caribou in Alaska; a bison in Montana; mule deer in New Mexico, and diseased white-tailed deer from the upper Midwest.
Alaska, United States
ADF&G Press Release

Fire Near Unalakleet
Wildfire smoke visible in Unalakleet.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

The 'blob' impacts salmon numbers, stopping fishing on Copper River
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued an emergency order Wednesday closing the personal-use and sport fishing for Copper River sockeye around Chitina until further notice. It goes into effect on Monday, June 18th.
Chitina, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Small red salmon *(Oncorhynchus nerka)* return and fish size
Sockeye are smaller in size and fewer in number this year than in recent years.
Ouzinkie, Alaska, United States

Sooty Shearwater (*Ardenna grisea*) Found Slightly North of Range
Sooty Shearwater (*Ardenna grisea*) found in the bay near Platinum, slightly north of usual species range.
Platinum, Alaska, United States

Cougar Sighted on Upper Kenai River
A rare sighting near the confluence of the Russian River.
Cooper Landing, Alaska, United States

Just before Independence Day holiday, Anchorage beats heat record
Anchorage hit 80 degrees Tuesday night, beating a record set in 1979, according to the National Weather Service.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Black meat from a Sockeye Salmon (*Oncorhynchus nerka*)
Unusual dark coloration in Sockeye salmon (*Oncorhynchus nerka*) meat
Falls Creek, Alaska, United States

Phytoplankton Bloom near Prince of Wales Island
Ocean water has a green tint near Craig and Klawock, Alaska.
Craig, Alaska, United States

Dead Sea Mammal and Sea Birds on the Beach
Residents of Chevak and Hooper Bay found two species of sea bird either dead or approachable near the mouth of the Kiuqliiviq and Aprun rivers near fish camps. Residents of Hooper Bay also found a dead sea mammal on the beach.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Walleye Pollock (*Theragra chalcogramma*) in salmon nets
Billie Shraffenberger is a longtime resident of Port Heiden. This is the first time she has caught a fish like the one she found in her subsistence salmon net this summer.

Slow Red Salmon (*Oncorhynchus nerka*) Run
Slow sockeye salmon (*Oncorhynchus nerka*) runs in the Aleutians potentially linked to warming ocean temperatures.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Spring rains helped but parts of the Panhandle remain in drought
Southeast Alaska has dropped into drought conditions off and on for the past two or more years. Spring rains and snow melt helped refill lakes and reservoirs but a dry, hot July pushed the southern Panhandle into a deeper deficit.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Alaska seabird die-off continues for another summer
Carcasses examined so far have shown no indication of disease, and tests are pending for harmful algal toxins. Seabirds have been found emaciated and starved, and changed ocean conditions may have affected prey.
Gambell, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

NOAA survey shows shocking lack of thermal barrier between northern and southern Bering Sea
The “thermal curtain” is another expression for “cold pool” that acts as a barrier to keep some species—pollock and Pacific cod, for example — from migrating across the eastern Bering Sea shelf and northward toward the Bering Strait. For the first time in 37 years of surveying the Bering Sea, we could not find the cold water barrier.
Diomede, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

A summer without insect stings
Fewer wasp and mosquito interactions in Anchorage in 2018 than typical.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Sea Lion (*Eumetopias jubatus*) Sighting in Utqiaġvik
Unusual Stellar sea lion (*Eumetopias jubatus*) sighting in Utqiaġvik.
Utqiagvik, Alaska, United States

‘Atmospheric river’ from the tropics pours rain on Southcentral Alaska
Days of rain have triggered flooding in Cordova and slowed drivers on the Taylor Highway and McCarthy Road.
Cordova, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Spruce Rust (*Chrysomyxa ledicola*) Appearing on Spruce Trees (*Picea mariana*)
The spruce along the highway between mile 157 and 162 show signs of stress, the tips of the branches are orangish and the deep green of the trees are fading.
Slana, Alaska, United States

Severe Bank Erosion from Permafrost Thaw
Thawing and eroding is destroying river bank, impacting access, threatening infrastructure, and causing safety concerns.
Selawik, Alaska, United States

Unusual September weather pattern brings sunshine to Southcentral Alaska
“We typically don’t see this type of pattern in September,” an Anchorage meteorologist said. Anchorage's record high temperature was broken on both Friday and Saturday.

Indian Summer: Unusually Warm September
Unusually warm September temperatures.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Prickly Rose (*Rosa acicularis*) in Bloom WAY Out of Season
Prickly rose plant is blooming when others have gone to hips.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Adult Bald Eagle *(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)* Snatches a Seagull
Bald eagle feeds on seagull
Larsen Bay, Alaska, United States

Drought in a Rain Forest
The Tongass Forest in southeast Alaska, a temperate rain forest, is experiencing record-low precipitation and severe drought conditions, impacting community hydroelectricity production.
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

Unusual Squid Found on Shoreline
Squid are becoming more common on the shoreline over the past few years.
Aleksandrovsk, Alaska, United States

Possible green Halloween on the horizon in Fairbanks
With Halloween just over a week out, Fairbanks is looking at the potential of a third straight year with minimal snow cover, and a possible first ever green Halloween.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Gray Catbird (*Dumetella carolinensis*)
Gray Catbird found northwest of its normal range.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Bacterial Infection in 16 Broad Whitefish (*Coregonus nasus*)
The skin lesion in the photo is likely caused by a stress-related bacterial infection – possibly trauma initiated. Probably common opportunistic bacteria in the environment such as motile Pseudomonas/Aeromonas Gram-negative organisms.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Southcentral Alaska sees most destructive spruce beetle outbreak in over two decades
Spruce beetles damaged nearly 600,000 acres of forest in 2018, and the damage continues to grow.
Alaska Public Media

Changing winter conditions
This was the warmest autumn on record for western Alaska. Local observer comments on how lack of sea ice is effecting fish and bird behavior.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Open Water Disrupting Winter River Travel
Ice conditions on the Yukon have changed since the 1980's. Now, open water is more common in spots along the river, which impacts winter travel.
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Late Freeze up in Lower Kuskokwim
Late freeze on the Lower Kuskokwim produced ice conditions unsafe for travel in November.
Oscarville, Alaska, United States

Northern Extension of Crow Habitat/Range
Northwest crow (*Corvus caurinus*) pair nesting in Anchorage, possibly north of range.
Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage, Southcentral Alaska

Black bear filmed awake and active in Eagle River
Despite it almost being January, an Eagle River homeowner has captured footage of a black bear awake and active around her house.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

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