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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

‘Wall of ice’ from Susitna River damages railroad tracks
A 7-foot "wall of ice" from a Susitna River ice jam slammed into Alaska Railroad tracks north of Talkeetna on Saturday, pushing the rails 25 feet off course, the railroad said Monday.The Alaska Railroad is racing to make repairs in time for the start of its tourist season on Wednesday.
Talkeetna, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

No damage, just wet roads after flooding
Residents of Jean Marie River can rest easy now, as rising water levels from the Mackenzie River have now receded.
Jean Marie River, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Finland enjoys warmest Mother's Day on record
A temperature of 27.7 degrees Celsius was recorded in the southern city of Kouvola.
Kouvola, Kymenlaakso, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Armageddon as wildfires ignite forest around Komsomolsk-on-Amur
City a ‘smoky hell’ as hill on opposite side of Amur River is in flames while driver films inferno on train track.
Комсомольск-на-Амуре, Хабаровский край, Russia
Siberian Times

Bowhead whales, dwellers of icy seas, enjoy steady growth off Alaska in the age of climate change
Sea ice has shrunk, but scientists are seeing signs that Alaska's bowhead whales are flourishing.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

First Mosquito
Early mosquito sighting in NWT.
Northwest Territories, Canada

Finnish Coast Guard rescues humpback whale trapped in fish net off west coast
The Finnish Coast Guard came to the rescue of a whale caught in a fish trap on Saturday in the narrow region of the Gulf of Bothnia known as Kvarken.
Sävar, Västerbotten, Sweden
Yle Uutiset

Lapland braces for worst spring flooding in 20 years
The highest flood levels in Finland's measurement history are predicted to hit Rovaniemi. The cities of Tornio and Kittilä also expect extensive water damage.
Rovaniemi, Lappi, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Fishing Boat Lifted by Whale
At the time of the encounter, Einar had been line fishing for a while. He and his boatmate had just been talking about how many whales were around.
Sangerdi, Southern Peninsula, Iceland
Iceland Review

This winter saw second highest snowfall in recorded history
The snowfall in Nome over the winter didn’t break the all-time record but it came close. According to the National Weather Service, 115.5 inches of snow fell, making the winter of 2017/18 number two for snowfall since modern weather reporting began.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Taken to tusk: Walrus discovery surprises remote Alaskan village - Independent.ie
Two hundred walruses surprised residents on an Alaskan peninsula after arriving en masse on a beach.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Independent.ie

Eastern Washington flooding reaches emergency levels
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency Saturday for counties in the eastern part of the state
Omak, Washington, United States
CBS/AP

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

Spring breakup causes fish to fly on Hay River
As the ice breaks up on waterways across the North, the spring river breakup has come to a close in Hay River but not before it created a feast of fish for local birds.
Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

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

Unidentified Skate Found on Beach
It is unusual for skates to wash up on the beach.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Farmed Atlantic Salmon Virus Linked to Disease in Chinook
Research finds farmed salmon virus may cause jaundice/anemia.
Okisollo Channel, British Columbia, Canada
The Tyee

"Total devastation": Dozens of fish killed in North, West Vancouver streams
West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

Ross's Gull (Rhodostetia rosea) Spotted at Togiak Beach
An unusual gull species (possibly Ross's gull) sighted within days of a confirmed Ross's gull sighting in Togiak.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Record number of killer whales sighted on Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay, California, United States
Mercury News

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

Dry pastures could force farmers to kill off livestock early
Many cows might need to be slaughtered early due to a shortage grass for them to eat.
Halmstad, Hallands län, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Moderate to severe drought grips southern Manitoba
A dry winter exacerbated by a drier spring has left a wide swath of southern Manitoba in a state of moderate to severe drought, with much of the rest of the province classified as "abnormally dry."
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
CBC

North Slope whalers bring in a spring bounty
The ice conditions are similar to last year (with) lots of young ice and close leads," said Captain Frederick Brower. "We all went out and broke trail to the edge, but a high west wind came along and added about three-quarters to 1 mile of ice and (we) had to break trail through that and began whaling from the new edge ... . The conditions were not favorable but we made due with what we had and continued on with our whaling season."
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Jackfish spotted swimming in farmer's field
Lyndon Haskey said the water came alive with jackfish when he was checking a flooded pasture.
Wadena, Saskatchewan, Canada
Global News

Increased Turbulent Experience and High Winds While Flying during Winter Season
Passenger experiences usually turbulent conditions on winter flights.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Community takes steps to adapt to climate change
Located on the Alaska Peninsula, 424 miles southwest of Anchorage, Port Heiden is a cluster of homes at the mouth of the Meshik River on the shores of Bristol Bay. It's a community on the frontline of climate change in Alaska, where temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global average.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Bristol Bay Times

Unusual Species (Ross's Gull?) Sighted
Ross's gull (*Rhodostetia rosea*) spotted in Hooper Bay, south of normal species range.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Walrus haul out near Port Heiden
Residents saw a few hundred walrus hauled out at the beginning of April. By the end of April, they reported seeing about a thousand. On a recent flight over the shoreline, an ADF&G biologist saw only 100.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Communities innovate to address Sargassum seaweed on coasts of Saint Lucia
Sargassum is free-floating brown macro-algae that lives in the temperate and tropical oceans of the world. In the open ocean, the floating seaweed provides important ecosystem services by acting as habitats for a diverse group of marine animals. It provides food, shade, and shelter to many types of specialized fish, crustaceans, and turtles.
East Coast of Saint Lucia
Global Environment Facility

With 50+ Ringed Seal Sightings, Unalaskans Start Tracking The Unexpected Species
Unalaskans are used to spotting marine mammals around the island. But lately, they're not just seeing whales or otters. They're seeing ringed seals — an Arctic species that typically lives far north of the ice-free Aleutian Islands.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States
KUCB

Landslides Disrupt Community Infrastructure
Landslides threatened community water supply, transportation, and residential homes.
Ivanof Bay, Alaska, United States
Moses Tcheripanoff, Richard Buzard, George Anderson

Wolves are eating sea otters near Gustavus. What does that mean for the deer?
Biologists are investigating a surprising connection between two animals that aren’t exactly well loved in parts of Southeast. Gustavus locals suspect wolves are picking off deer at a popular hunting spot on an island near the mainland.
Gustavus, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
By Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

Humpback Whale Baby Boom Near Antarctica
Pregnancy rates in the southern oceans are high, according to a study that showed that Humpbacks are rebounding.
Western Antarctic Penninsula
Scientific America

Seabirds again washing ashore dead in Western Alaska
Birds have been reported dead or behaving strangely in communities throughout the Bering Strait region, from Shishmaref to Unalakleet and on St. Lawrence Island.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Lightning kills dog and sends tree smashing into home
A lightning strike traumatises family and killed a family dog in Te Puke.
Te Puke, Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand
NZ Herald

Flooding lashes North Island as snow dumps fall on South Island skifields
A State of Emergency was declared in Ngongotaha and the Rotorua Lakes Council was forced to activate its Emergency Operations Centre as wet weather forced evacuations and doused most of the country in large volumes of rain..
Takaka, Tasman, New Zealand
NZ Herald

Rare Glass Sponge Reef Smothered By Fish Farm Waste
Underwater camera captured ‘a wasteland, covered in brown sediment.’
Cecil Island Fish Farm, British Columbia, Canada
The Tyee

Alaskan Killer Whales in British Columbia
Underwater recordings confirm that a new killer whale population is poking its head into British Columbia.
Off West Coast of Haida Gwaii
Hakai Magazine

Toxic white-haired caterpillars that can cause you to vomit and have asthma attacks are taking over London
People are being warned not to touch the creatures, which are most often found in oak trees -- and to keep pets away from them, too.
London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Vancouver Sun

Flooding in B.C. Interior prompts road closures, states of emergencies, evacuations
Flooding in the B.C. Interior from rapidly melting snowpacks has washed out roads and properties, prompted local states of emergencies, and caused more people to leave their homes in Oliver.
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Residents drive north on winter snow roads
The roughly 300 miles of hard-packed snow roads were constructed under the Community Winter Access Trails (CWAT) project, headed by the North Slope Borough.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

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

Herring fishing off to windy start
The state's largest sac roe herring fishery got off to a windy beginning. Gusts over 30 mph posed a challenge for fishermen.
KDLG

Severely iced-over cellular tower causing service disruptions in Western Alaska
A GCI cell tower in Western Alaska encapsulated in unusually thick ice and snow has caused service disruptions in villages.
Scammon Bay, Alaska, United States

16 temperature records broken around B.C.
Agassiz broke a record that goes back more than 100 years
Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

A Hawaiian island got about 50 inches of rain in 24 hours. Scientists warn it's a sign of the future
As the people of Kauai continue to recover from a devastating storm, some scientists are warning that this was something new: the first major storm in Hawaii linked to climate change.
Hanalei, Hawaii, United States
latimes.com

On thin ice, North Pole camp folds after only 12 days
The ice became too thin and the cracks too many. This year’s Barneo North Pole base existed only 12 days.
Barents Observer

B.C. wildfires triggered mega thunderstorm with volcano-like effects
In the midst of B.C.'s record-breaking wildfire season, the heat from four fires triggered huge thunderstorms that sent smoke flying into the stratosphere, eventually spreading through the entire Northern Hemisphere.
Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Crews rescue 2 camping groups stranded by Tuesday’s storm
One party’s camping gear was blown away in the wind. The other’s shelter was destroyed, and they couldn’t start a fire. The Rescue Coordination Center launched from Anchorage but had to turn back due to "extreme conditions".
Nikolai, Alaska, United States

Propose Banning Sale of Puffin Meat
Puffins are an endangered species, whose numbers have declined largely due to climate change and overfishing.
Reykjavík, Iceland
Iceland Review

Rising rivers prompt flood warnings in central Sweden
The national weather service SMHI has issued warnings for 8 different counties where this winter's unusually heavy snow is now melting and flowing downstream. ...
Söderhamn, Gävleborgs län, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Strong winds batter Anchorage
One reading on the Hillside clocked winds reaching 91 miles per hour. The day saw reports of property damage, road closures and downed power lines.LEO Note: According to Rick Thoman of NWS, these are unusually high winds for April.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Windstorm slams Southcentral Alaska with gusts over 80 mph
One reading on the Hillside clocked winds reaching 91 miles per hour. The day saw reports of property damage, road closures and downed power lines.LEO Note: According to Rick Thoman of NWS, these are unusually high winds for April.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Laurel Andrews, Michelle Theriault Boots, Zaz Hollander

Hungry birds as climate change drives food 'mismatch'
Warmer springs create a 'mismatch' where hungry chicks hatch too late to feast on abundant caterpillars, new research shows.
United Kingdom
ScienceDaily

Climate change could leave Californians with 'weather whiplash'
Climate change will make for more frequent wild swings in California weather, with both more extremely dry and extremely wet years and 'weather whiplash' in between.
California, United States
CNN

Flooding slows, many roads still closed
In Northern Ostrobothnia the floods are rising faster, and local emergency services have elicited the help of the military as a precaution, in case some of the ice dams in the riverland should need to be detonated.
Seinäjoki, Etelä-Pohjanmaa, Finland

A swarming, exotic tick species is now living year round in N.J.
A tick species that was discovered for the first time in the U.S. on a Hunterdon County farm last year has survived the winter.
Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States
NJ.com

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.

Dead Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Dead bald eagle washes up on Larsen Bay beach
Larsen Bay, Alaska, United States

Spruce bark beetles are back with a vengeance. Here’s how to defend your trees.
There is a spruce beetle outbreak in Southcentral Alaska. Since the beetles don't emerge for a few weeks, we might as well start thinking about the problem.
Southcentral, Alaska, United States

Lobster Stocks Decline, Fishing Ban Considered
Lobster stocks around Iceland’s coast are so low a fishing ban is not out of the question.
Grundarfjordur, West, Iceland
Iceland Review

Ski centres eye uncertain future as winters warm
Finland's ski centres are coping with shorter, milder winters by making and storing snow – costly short-term solutions that may worsen the problem in the longer term.
Kittilä, Lappi, Finland

Satellite image show mystery holes in Beaufort Sea ice
The image above shows curious holes in Arctic sea ice, located about 50 miles northwest of Canada’s Mackenzie River Delta. Guesses from readers included everything from ice broken by marine animals to breathe, to ice that had been thawed by methane hydrates. It’s a challenge to know the source of the features based on a photograph or satellite image alone, but several scientists offered their hypotheses in our April 21 Image of the Day.
NASA Earth Observatory

Vanishing caribou in U.S. a warning for Canada
Biologists flew over southern British Columbia last week to count the number of caribou in the last remaining herd that migrates from B.C. to the U.S. — and what they saw stunned them.
Stagleap Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada

Bull sharks colonize N.C.'s Pamlico Sound, prompting ominous predictions for humans
Bull sharks, an apex predator, are moving into the Pamlico Sound as a nursing habitat, and experts are crediting ocean warming as the cause.
Palmico Sound, North Carolina, United States
Charlotte Observer

'Catastrophic' overland flooding shuts down southern Alberta highway, threatens Taber homes
We have experienced since Oct. 2 a very unseasonable Alberta winter. High snowfalls, a few Chinooks and certainly we knew some time ago we were in for an interesting spring ... but this is unprecedented...
Taber, Alberta, Canada

Curious by Nature: What’s bubbling in front of Jon Reiswig’s home?
For a few decades now, retired surgeon Jon Reiswig has lived with a perplexing oddity: the water in front of his North Douglas home constantly bubbles.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Climate change opening up the door for invasive species in the North
Invasive species are a more important issue as increasingly warm winters and wetter summers help grasslands and forests in the North grow like never before, changing the very fabric of the North’s ecosystem.
Paulatuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Study finds wolverines in surprisingly high densities in southwestern B.C.
Wolverines are thought of as shadowy solitary carnivores, few and far between as they wander B.C.'s
Upper Lillooet River drainage, British Columbia, Canada

Sargassum on the south coast
Newport, Curacao
Curaçao Chronicle

Ottawa spends $5.7 million on deer eradication in Haida Gwaii featuring New Zealand sharpshooters
The federal government is spending $5.7 million over three years to eradicate introduced deer on six islands on Haida Gwaii.
Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Street dust impacting air quality across Finland
Not only is pollen is beginning to spread, but road gravel dust and studded tyres grinding the tarmac can also cause particulates that cause breathing difficulties. There are a few ways to deal with the dust, however.
Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland

Nunavut hunter believed drowned after falling through ice during polar bear hunt
According to an RCMP news release, the hunter was part of a group of five men hunting for polar bears. The group was 65 kilometres southeast of Clyde River when the man fell through the ice at about 9:30 p.m.
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada

In new cautionary approach, Maine shellfish areas will be closed at first sign of toxins
Previously, regulators monitored the presence of certain toxins and shut down fishing when they exceeded safe limits.
Boothbay, Maine, United States
Press Herald

‘Bachelor herds’ of walrus gather near Port Heiden, where they haven’t been seen in decades
The herds are increasingly moving around in Bristol Bay, perhaps seeking new feeding grounds, a biologist said.

Shifting species composition of sealions at Hornby Island
Flora Islet, British Columbia, Canada

Bivalves recently cracked by sea otters (Enhydra lutris) indicating re-occupation
We discovered numerous large marine bivalve shells (and two chiton shells) that had been cracked recently by sea otters. Ocean View Beach is around the southern extent of Vancouver Island and back again north in the Strait of Georgia. The present observation is evidence of sea otters traveling into the Strait of Georgia.
Island View Beach, British Columbia, Canada
Tom Okey, Theo Okolowicz, Phoebe Okey-Dobie

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.
Jaclyn Christensen, Erica Lujan, Moses Tcheripanoff

No slush cup this year at Eaglecrest
Eaglecrest is forgoing its annual Slush Cup competition due to low snow levels. The event was canceled in 2015 and 2016 for the same reason, but made a return last year.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

2018 Weather, climate disasters already costing record amounts
So far in 2018, there have been three climate and weather disasters that have cost $1 billion or more.
United States
Newsweek

Ask a Climatologist: Snow melt around the state is right on schedule
An early melt-out date can make for an especially bad wildfire season, but this year, it’s right on schedule for much of the state. Listen now
Alaska Public Media
Annie Feidt, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

This pink salmon swam farther up the Mackenzie River than ever recorded
Two pink salmon have been found near Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., 260 kilometres farther up the Mackenzie River than ever reported.
Tsiigehtchic, Northwest Territories, Canada

It took 1 degree of warming to change Arctic lake's ecosystem
Climate change could be altering northern ecosystems more quickly and profoundly than anyone surmised, suggests a study that focused on a large Arctic lake.
Lake Hazen
CBC North

Hunter angry, says resource officers impeded caribou harvest
A hunter from Fort Resolution, N.W.T., is angered by what he claims is the harassment of caribou hunters by officers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC North

A respected outdoorsman, this 26-year-old was traveling to get firewood when he disappeared
When Jazmin James hadn’t returned to Tununak by Easter Sunday as planned, the family reported him missing. His snowmachine was found on sea ice, partly submerged in water.
Tununak, Alaska, United States

High and dry: Destruction Bay dock rendered useless by declining water levels - Yukon News
Glacial changes have caused Kluane Lake water levels to drop so low the dock is unusable.
Destruction Bay, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

'Extreme' Changes Underway in Some of Antarctica’s Biggest Glaciers
Antarctic Glaciers
Inside Climate News

Parasite (Taenia krabbei) in Caribou Meat
Muscle tapeworm cysts in caribou meat.

Drone footage shows impact of climate change off east coast of Newfoundland
Footage shot across the North Atlantic captured a stunning view of accumulating sea ice over Brighton, Newfoundland, but, according to researchers, also serves as stark reminder of the impact of climate change.
Global News

Abnormally large basking shark groups spotted off Canada’s east coast
Coastal northwest Atlantic Ocean
Global News

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

Outlook shows no break in the heat
With the average temperature hovering north of negative this winter, Utqiaġvik and much of the Arctic once again broke records with a season that didn't match up to historic expectations.
The Arctic Sounder

Thin Sea Ice, Permafrost Thaw, and Earth's Rotational Axis
Thinner sea ice and melting permafrost. Is it related to changes in the Earth's axis?
Wainwright, Alaska, United States
Mike Brubaker, Erica Lujan, Moses Tcheripanoff

As Sitkans wait for roe, news of sickness from herring eggs in Canada
Typically, cholera is associated with tropical destinations. But recently, the bacteria that can cause the disease was found in subsistence herring eggs in British Columbia. As Southeast Alaska tribes get ready to gather herring eggs, it’s left some people wondering about the future.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

Most Expensive Weather Disaster of 2018: a $3.9 Billion Drought in Argentina and Uruguay by Dr. Jeff Masters | Category 6
A severe lack of rainfall during over southern South America during the summer of 2017 - 2018 has led to the worst drought in decades over portions of Argentina and Uruguay.
Argentina and Uruguay
Weather Underground

Water Pooling Around Houses and Flooding Ice Cellars
Permafrost thaw is affecting houses, roads, and ice cellars.
Wainwright, Alaska, United States

Sargassum is blamed for dead fish on Ambergris Caye
The thick accumulation of these sea plants on the coastline is apparently causing detrimental effects on certain fish species as residents have reported dead fish along the shores.
San Pedro Town, Belize, Belize
The San Pedro Sun

Bethel highway repair begins as warm winter destroys state roads across Alaska
Starting Thursday, the Department of Transportation will begin repairing Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway. The warm winter has wreaked similar havoc on highways across Alaska.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Study reveals startling new evidence of effects of climate change in the Arctic
New research led by U of T Mississauga geographer Igor Lehnherr provides startling evidence that remote areas in Canada's Arctic region—once thought to be beyond the reach of human impact—are responding rapidly to warming global temperatures.
Lake Hazen
Phys.org

Black bears are waking up in Anchorage. Here’s how to get your yard and home ready.
“If black bears are starting to stir, brown bears could be, too,” a state Fish and Game official said.

Half of Alberta's Boreal Forest Could Disappear due to Fires, Climate Change
If you factor in wildlife changes, it could be even more.
Fort Mcmurray, Alberta, Canada
HuffPost Canada

Vancouver Island cholera outbreak 'a unique situation,' health officials say
The cases in B.C. have been traced back to consumption of herring spawn, a treasured traditional food source for First Nations throughout Vancouver Island.
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

In Alaska, a town threatened by climate change gets federal funding to relocate
Newtok, Alaska, United States
ThinkProgress

Cholera found in herring eggs from Oceanside area
NANAIMO — Island Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control are warning anyone who's eaten herring eggs recently to stay hydrated and safely dispose of any remaining eggs.
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
NanaimonewsNOW

Mass vaccination against anthrax continues on Yamal tundra
More than 658,000 reindeer are up for vaccination in order to prevent another outbreak of the deadly bacteria infection.
Салехард, Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Third ringed seal found in Unalaska sent for rehabilitation
After admitting a sick ringed seal from Unalaska, veterinarians at the Alaska SeaLife Center are cautiously optimistic about his chances for recovery.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Erosion is creeping toward Alaska’s coastal radar sites
The Air Force is trying to better understand the erosion bearing down on its valuable radar sites.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
A rare sighting of an elusive wetland species.
Austin, Texas, United States

Vessel saves stranded boy – Coast Guard gives ice tips
Sea ice around Helsinki becomes more precarious as spring draws near.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

N.L. polar bears damage snowmobiles, hot tub as they head north early
People in southern Labrador and along Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula are being cautioned to be on the lookout for the bears, who have already begun to move north.
Saint Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
The Telegram

Burning Coal for Survival in the World’s Coldest Capital
Many residents of Ulan Bator, Mongolia, use coal-burning stoves during the winter months when staying warm is a matter of survival. But the pollution is hazardous to their health.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
New York Times

Rockfall on Reynisfjara Back Sand Beach
Warming temperatures have caused large stones to break off the cliff at Reynisfjara beach, South Iceland.
Mýrdalshreppur, Suðurland, Iceland

Avalanche Danger: Homes, Factory Evacuated
Considerable danger of avalanches in East Iceland has led to evacuations in the town of Seyðisfjörður.
Seyðisfjörður, Austurland, Iceland

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

Easter Island Is Eroding
Rising ocean levels are causing waves to break on the statues and platforms built a thousand years ago. The island risks losing its cultural heritage. Again.
Easter Island, Chile
New York Times

Many Ringed Seals (Pusa hispida) Hauling Out
Above normal than average seal strandings in the Aleutians.
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, United States
Chris Price, Moses Tcheripanoff, Melissa Good

Rapid Arctic warming is increasing the frequency of blizzards in U.S. Northeast
While the northeastern is recovering from the third major winter storm this month, the Arctic is experiencing one of the warmest winters on record.
New York, New York, United States
Radio Canada / Eye on the Arctic

As Alaskan Waters Warm, Market Squid Move North
Opalescents, also known as market squid, are showing up in waters previously considered too cold for them, and fishermen are paying attention.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States
Undark

Alaska restricts king salmon fishing in Susitna, Little Su and upper Inlet
Fishing businesses in Mat-Su warned that the rules could hurt the state's tourism economy.
Knik-Fairview, Alaska, United States

Essential research: One dead seabird at a time
Citizen science programs integral to supporting coastal research
West Coast, United States
Chinook Observer

Water flowing out of Lake Ontario hit record high last month
Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River water levels are expected to stay above average into the spring, following record levels last year that led to extreme flooding in Central Canada.
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
National Observer

Die-off of fur seal pups attributed to mites, pneumonia and changing sea temperatures
Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers uncovered several key factors contributing to a die-off of South American fur seal pups, including mites, pneumonia and sea surface temperature. The findings, published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, help scientists better understand the link between environmental factors and health.
Quellón, Los Lagos, Chile
Phys.Org

Governor calls for federal disaster declaration for Pacific cod fishery
A disaster declaration could make the fishery eligible for federal relief funds, although who specifically would receive money would be figured out later.
Gulf of Alaska, Northeast Pacific Ocean
KTOO

More than 50,000 starlings euthanized in the Okanagan last year
An Okanagan program was designed 15 years ago to control the invasive species of starlings
Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada
Port Alberni Valley News

70 per cent decline in capelin not due to fishing
Scientists with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans say late spawning for capelin had a significant impact on numbers.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
CBC News

Flock of European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) Sighted on ANTHC Campus
A flock of European Starlings sighted at a mid-town Anchorage building.
Moses Tcheripanoff, Tammy Davis, Verena Gill, Tim Thomas

Hummingbird sighted on SW-Side of Kachemak Bay
Very early for a hummingbird, especially in a non-urban area without feeders.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States
Moses Tcheripanoff, Courtney Amundson, Jan Yaeger

Sperm whale in the Salish Sea
One of the most intense sounds emitted by animals on Earth is the echolocation click of the sperm whale.  When Yukusam the 13-14 m lone male sperm whale swam through the Salish Sea last month, he was recorded on a suite of hydrophones including the Orcasound Lab live hydrophone in Haro Strait and simultaneously the…
Johnston Strait
OrcaSound

More than 230,000 remain without power in Mass.; could take days to restore - The Boston Globe
The storm dropped more than a foot of snow overnight in some places, making for a messy Thursday morning commute. And the nor’easter isn’t gone yet.
Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
BostonGlobe.com
Felicia Gans, John R. Ellement, Andy Rosen and Travis Andersen

First the rabbits disappeared. Now Seward’s coyotes are killing dogs.
Coyotes have killed at least three dogs in Seward, and police are trying to trap the predators before they get more.
Seward, Alaska, United States

Only 12 Vaquita Porpoises Remain
Environmental science and conservation news
Northern Gulf of California, Mexico
Conservation news

First case in Finland: Elk dies due to chronic wasting disease
The death of an elk in eastern Finland has been blamed on chronic wasting disease, which has never been seen in the country before.
Kuhmo, Kainuu, Finland

"Perfect Storm" Has North Coast Marine Ecosystem Reeling, Abalone in Crisis
In just a few short years, the Northern California waters stretching from Sonoma to Southern Humboldt have undergone a dramatic transformation, with stretches stripped bare of their once varied marine life in a phenomenon known as "urchin barren."
North Coast Journal

It’s 32 degrees on the Iditarod Trail, and middle-of-the-pack mushers and their dogs are getting wet
For a March evening in the Interior Alaska village of Nikolai, Tuesday was warm.
Nikolai, Alaska, United States

Sask. researchers say they can now better predict storms caused by rising temperatures
Researchers say they've come up with a way to better predict severe storms and protect infrastructure from damage caused by increasing temperatures in Western Canada.
Western Canada

Heat shockwaves in the highest North
The archipelagos in the northern Barents Sea and Kara Sea were up to 11 centigrades warmer than average last winter.
Pevek, Chaunsky District, Chukotka Autonomous District, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Baltic countries not doing enough to stop algae suffocating the sea - Radio Sweden
Sweden and its neighbouring countries are not meeting targets to save the Baltic Sea, and one of the people involved in coordinating the work tells us why it is so hard to stop problems lilke fertilizer run-off.
Baltic Sea
Sveriges Radio

Scientists don't know why ice seals are appearing in ice-free Unalaska
There are plenty of seals in Unalaska, but ringed seals -- who make their homes on the ice -- are rare.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
KTOO

N.W.T. resident spots 'awe-inspiring' landslide that clogged river, creating a new lake
A massive landslide that was first discovered last fall blocked a waterway west of the Mackenzie River. Scientists say it's something that could happen more often in the territory as the climate warms up.
Johnson River, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

February was coldest since ‘94
Weather Service expects chilly weather to continue through March.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Aleutian volcano erupts, sending ash cloud miles into the sky
Monitors picked up a small explosion and ash cloud from Mount Cleveland volcano on Friday morning.
Chuginadak Islands, Alaska, United States

At least six dead as nor’easter slams East Coast with violent wind, rain, snow and floods
From Massachusetts to Virginia, the East Coast was pounded by a storm that threatened to break records. Nearly two million people lost power.
Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Washington Post
By Karen Weintraub, Bill Hewitt, Amy B Wang, Eli Rosenberg & Keith McMillan

Open water wreaks havoc at Little Diomede
Last Tuesday, February 20, residents of Little Diomede have seen the impossible. Instead of looking out at a frozen seascape of ice, they witnessed open water and high surf crashing onto the shores and coming up beyond the high water line.
Little Diomede, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

The real ‘Beast from the East’ - early Spring scenes from Siberia
Winds in Norilsk are gusting at up to 20 metres per second, with temperatures at around -23C. Some plants in the city have given their staff days off.
Южно-Сахалинск, Сахалинская область, Russia
The Siberian Times

'Extremely slippery' hillsides likely cause of death for 3 Yukon bison
An unusual weather pattern throughout the winter caused a thick layer of ice on hillsides.
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada

Cold brings record numbers to Stockholm homeless shelter
With temperatures nudging -14C on Tuesday night, a record 170 homeless people came to shelter at a church in Stockholm.
Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Uruguay declares agricultural emergency due to drought
Uruguay's government on Wednesday declared an agricultural emergency in the drought-stricken northern part of the country and activated the Agricultural Emergency Fund (FAE), which provides no-interes. Uruguay declares agricultural emergency due to drought | World | English edition | Agencia EFE
Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
EFE

Police urge motorists in snowy south to stay at home
Heavy snow and high winds continued to cause travel chaos for south-eastern parts of Sweden, Wednesday.
Eslöv, Skåne, Sweden

Bad weather blocks cleanup of oil spill in fragile waters near Kodiak
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak flew over the area of an oil spill in Shuyak Strait on Wednesday afternoon, but weather continued to hamper response efforts, the Coast Guard said.
Shuyak Strait, Alaska, United States

Storms pummel Bering Sea islands after ‘crazy’ ice melt-off
Recent storms and warm seas melted a vast stretch of ice in the Bering Sea, leaving some islands surrounded by water when they should be locked in ice.
Diomede, Alaska, United States

Alaska state veterinarian warns of emerging disease
The No. 1 problem is ticks, according to Gerlach. Different tick species have been turing up in recent years in Alaska, apparently because they now are able to live and thrive in the current warmer climate around the circumpolar north.
Alaska, United States
Veterinary Practice News

North Pole surges above freezing in the dead of winter, stunning scientists
A freak warming around the North Pole is sending a blast of Arctic cold over Europe in a sign of wacky weather that may happen more often with man-made global warming, scientists said Monday.
Geodetic North

Climate Change Could Ruin California's Farming Industry
As its vital snowpack shrinks and droughts intensify, Californias giant $50 billion agricultural industry is at a crossroads: how to keep feeding the nation while adapting to the reality of …
California's Central Valley, United States
Courthouse News Service

No more ‘Kings of the Columbia’: Chinook salmon much smaller these days
Like its old-growth trees, the Northwest’s big, old chinook salmon are largely gone, a new study finds, with implications for Puget Sound’s critically endangered southern resident killer whales.
Columbia River, United States
The Seattle Times

Tick-infested moose a 1st for Cree territory in Northern Quebec
A parasite wreaking havoc on moose populations in southern Quebec has been found for the first time in Cree territory, prompting local officials to ask hunters to be on the lookout. Winter ticks thrive in the shorter, warmer winters, which have become more prevalent in recent years.
Nemaska, Quebec, Canada

Snow Falls in Rome, and the Eternal City Takes a Holiday
With schools and parks in the city closed for the day, and hundreds of shops shuttered, many Romans took the unexpected blanket of white in cheerful stride.
Rome, Latium, Italy
The New York Times

Svalbard’s ‘Doomsday’ seed vault marks 10th anniversary with upgrades to protect it from climate change - Arctic Today
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault celebrates its first decade in operation by accepting its millionth sample—and a grant for work to keep those samples safe despite melting permafrost.
Svalbard, Norwegian Archipelago, Arctic Ocean
Arctic Today

North Atlantic right whales may face extinction after no new births recorded
Declining fertility and rising mortality, exacerbated by fishing industry, prompts experts to warn whales could be extinct by 2040
Gulf of Maine
the Guardian

Rome covered in rare snowfall
Roma, Roma, Italy
ABC News

Sea lions wash up dead in northern Chile and Peru
Marine researchers have found more than 100 dead sea lions -- most of them newborns -- washed ashore along a relatively small peninsula in northern Chile over the past three months.
CNN

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

In Western Alaska, there's water where there should be ice
Last week, social media across Western Alaska lit up as residents posted photos and videos of open water where, normally, there's ice.
Diomede, Alaska, United States

Most King Penguins Could Vanish by the End of the Century
As global temperatures rise, the lives of countless plants and animals are changing in response. That includes king penguins, which a new study predicts will see profound, climate-driven changes in their numbers and the location of their breeding grounds over the next century.
Possession Island, Crozet Archipelago
Earther

Siberian 'Beast from the East' keeps Swedish kids inside
A Siberian cold front has brought Sweden unusually cold temperatures for late February.
Malmo, Skåne, Sweden
Eye on the Arctic

Cold weather means prime pelts for Yukon trappers
Trapping has its good years and bad years. After a few dismal ones the Yukon Trappers Association says the territory is finally seeing some prime pelts this year. It's all thanks to recent cold weather.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Another cold week in Finland
The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued a warning of very cold temperatures from Monday afternoon to Wednesday morning, February 26 to 28.
Jämsä, Central Finland, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

State veterinarian urges farmers to watch for new diseases in Alaska wildlife, livestock
State Veterinarian Bob Gerlach told a crowd that turned out Saturday for the 46th Annual Delta Farm Forum that diseases that afflict livestock and wildlife are increasingly showing up in Alaska. Listen now
Alaska, United States
KUAC TV 9

Beech booming as climate changes, and that's bad for forests
A group of scientists says beech trees are dominating the woodlands of the northeastern United States as the climate changes, and that could be bad news for the forests.
northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada
Myrtle Beach Online

Sudden stratospheric warming linked to open water in polar ice pack
In the depths of the long night that cloaks the Arctic in frigid darkness for three months each winter, a surprising patch of open water appeared, just to the north of Greenland.
Wandel Sea
Phys.org

Fifty-Three Thousand Salmon Die at West Fjords Fish Farm
Fifty-three thousand salmon died while being transferred out of a damaged marine pen at a fish farming facility in the West Fjords.
Westfjords, Iceland

Shrimp Found While Collecting Badarkies
I have never found live shrimp before in King Cove while subsisting for Chiton's not sure if it is unusual or significant.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Subsistence hunters are adapting to a warming Alaska with new, high-tech tools
The weather was warm and the ice was late in coming, so Dennis Davis set up a piece of equipment unknown to his Inupiaq forebears: his drone.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States
TheWorld

Left to Louisiana’s Tides, a Village Fights for Time
For the community of Jean Lafitte, the question is less whether it will succumb to the sea than when — and how much the public should invest in artificially extending its life.
Jean Lafitte, Louisiana, United States
New York Times

Skimpy snowpack drags down winter economy in West & changing climate could make it worse
Winter sports tourism pumps about $11 billion in direct spending into the U.S. economy each year but is at risk of being decimated by climate change, according to the advocacy group Protect Our Win…
Ski Resorts, Colorado, United States
The Denver Post

Lynx attacks leashed dog
A woman living in an apartment complex in Thunder Bay took her dog Molly out to do her business and as she was reaching for the apartment door to go back inside she felt the leash go taut.
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Boundary Waters Blog

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

Arctic temperatures soar 45 degrees above normal, flooded by extremely mild air on all sides
This latest temperature spike is another striking indicator of the Arctic's rapidly changing climate.
Cape Morris Jesup, Greenland
Washington Post

Revolutionary NASA technique captures melting Antarctic ice like never before
The seven-year-long work on the system shows that West Antarctic ice sheets are melting at a rapid rate.
Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf
International Business Times UK

Ocean Ice Is All Gone
Rough seas and moving sea ice.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States
Sharon Nayokpuk, Hajo Eicken, Richard L Thoman Jr

Flood Sweeps Away Ring Road
Flooding has destroyed a section of Ring Road One in East Iceland.
Hofn, East, Iceland

Canada’s Outdoor Rinks Are Melting. So Is a Way of Life.
Canada loves its ice, and outdoor hockey is part of the nation's cultural identity. So what happens when winters get too warm for backyard rinks?
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Denver Drops 72 Degrees In 40 Hours, Lands In All-Time Top Temp Swings
Sitting at a mile above sea level and in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is known for having an extreme climate. But the most recent temperature swing ranked as one of the biggest ever observed.
Denver, Colorado, United States
CBS Denver

Grand River watershed flooding causes several road closures
Officials say the combination of warm temperatures and rainfall is beginning to trigger significant runoff into the Grand River watershed.
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Animals have stopped turning white for winter in alarming climate change trend
When there's no snow, there's no need for their winter whites.
The Yukon Territory
Newsweek

Mushroom ascidian (Distaplia occidentalis) Found on Beach
It's about the size of a dinner plate and has a rubbery texture, was told it’s a sea cucumber but I’m not sure.
Tom Okey, Tammy Davis, Erica Lujan, Scott Anderson

Climate change spells turbulent times ahead for air travel
From rising temperatures preventing take-off to rising seas flooding runways, aviation needs to adapt to changes already grounding flights around the world
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
the Guardian

An unfrozen North
The world’s permafrost holds vast stores of carbon. What happens when it thaws?
Toolik Lake Field Station
High Country News

A Lesser Queenfish (Scomberoides lysan) near Sydney
Potential Range Extension. Identification verified by Tom Davis, NSW Department of Primary Industries. Depth: 2 m.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Redmap

Rare, ‘weird-looking’ 70-pound frozen fish washes ashore in Haines
As the tide ebbed down the beach outside his house Friday, Harry Rietze discovered a mysterious sea creature that one scientific paper described as a puzzling fish with soft bones.
Haines, Alaska, United States

Polar bear hunts a fox hiding in a barrel
Usually polar bears feed on seals and young walruses, or scavenge the carcasses of whales. If these are in short supply they kill reindeer, muskox, geese and apparently, fox.
Sabetta
Siberian Times

AK: Rising populations, threat of disease prompt renewed interest in bat research
Bats are a pretty low priority for most Alaskan biologists, but that could be changing due to a recent uptick in the creature’s population. Add to that a disease that’s been killing millions of bats in the lower 48, and Alaska might be taking note with the rest of the nation very soon. Listen now

Sperm whale spotted in B.C. strait for 1st time in decades
A sperm whale has been confirmed on Vancouver Island's eastern coast for the first time since 1984.
Johnstone Strait

What the swift collapse of some Labrador caribou can tell us about endangered species
It could have been a golden opportunity for research and harvesting, but government inaction led to total collapse of caribou on an island off Labrador.
George's Island, Labrador, Canada

Changing climate forces mushers to break new trails
The route of the Yukon Quest traverses Lake Laberge for the first time in decades, and that's not the only dog sled race affected by the changing climate.
Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada

Arctic birds, seals and reindeer killed by marine plastics; pollution expected to rise
Researchers say the concentration of plastic waste in the European Arctic is now comparable or even higher than in more urban and populated areas.
Svalbard, Svalbard, Norway
Radio Australia

Unseasonably early daffodils prompt wish for cold weather on B.C. farm
Longview Farms just north of Victoria says mild weather a problem for seasonal farming
North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

If you live in Florida, climate change is already affecting your health
Climate change is already impacting Floridians health, doctors say, and it's going to get worse in the future. That's why Florida doctors and nurses formed Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, an educational and activist group dedicated to teaching people and politicians about the dangers of climate change on human health.
Florida, United States
Miami Herald

Large Earthquake Detected In Öræfajökull
The area around Öræfajökull glacier continues to show increased activity as the largest earthquake detected in the area, M3,6 on the Richter scale, occurred there this morning.
Öræfajökull Volcano, Iceland

Sounds of Skating on Thin Ice
This small lake outside Stockholm, Sweden, emits otherworldly sounds as Mårten Ajne skates over its precariously thin, black ice.
Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
National Geographic

Thawing Arctic permafrost could release massive amounts of mercury - Arctic Today
New research shows that permafrost soils hold massive quantities of mercury — nearly twice as much as is held in all other soils in the world, plus the mercury in the oceans and the atmosphere —
Arctic Today

Unwanted visitor - Sargassum seaweed
Barbados’ most unwanted visitor has returned to its shores. The dreaded Sargassum seaweed is back. Since 2015 an influx of the unwelcome brown micro-algae has proven to be a major headache for the tourism industry. The seaweed, which invaded a number of beaches in Barbados, caused an awful stench, as the vegetable matter rotted after …
River Bay, Saint Lucy Parish, Barbados
Barbados Today

Skin freezing temperatures in Rankin Inlet close schools
The extreme cold is about 15 degrees colder than what is normal for this time of the year in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. 'I don't remember the last time we actually closed due to weather. This is a bit of an extreme'
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

Athletes could be affected as freezing Winter Olympics awaits
With only two days left until the Winter Olympics start in South Korea, there's one topic that keeps popping up among the people who have made it there. The Cold Weather
Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea

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

Coldest January In Decades
The average temperature in Iceland this January was colder than it has been in the last decade.
Iceland

Researcher blames lack of ice on Baltic Sea for southern Finland's messy winter
The Finnish researcher says the source of southern Finland's unusually slippery roads and messy snow this winter is very likely due to warm air from the sea.
Hanko, Uusimaa, Finland

Saimaa seal population on the rise in Finland
Recent heavy snowfall and large drifts have created ideal conditions for the dens where the endangered Saimaa ringed seal raise their young, and a record number of pups may be born this year. The freshwater Saimaa ringed seal is one of the most endangered seal species in the world.
Lake Saimaa, South Karelia, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

How the Antarctic Sun Creates Breathtaking Optical Effects
A fine haze of ice particles transformed this landscape into an otherworldly scene
South Pole
Smithsonian - SMARTNEWS

Utility Poles Leaning
Leaning utility poles in south Anchorage

Ice roads and tundra travel: Rural Arctic access complicated by warmer winters
While industry has had to adapt to changes, many locals are still struggling to find a new normal amidst the shifting seasons.

Rural access complicated by warmer winters
Late December and early January starts to the off-road season have become normal as warmer temperatures continue to mark the winter months across most of the Arctic. While industry has had to adapt to changes, many locals are still struggling to find a new normal amidst the shifting seasons.
Utqiagvik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Arctic sees temporary return to colder temperatures
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

Snowstorm beats European record
Half a meter of snow fell in the Vasternorrland region of Sweden, Thursday, the largest snowfall measured in Europe yesterday.
Näsåker, Västernorrland, Sweden

Amid Shrinking Sea Ice, Hunters Race To Adapt
As snow machines zoomed past, Dennis Davis set up his new drone. According to Davis, blue ice is more solid than white. Those are areas hunters can travel across more safely as they search for marine mammal prey.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

2017-2018 Minke Whale Unusual Mortality Event along the Atlantic Coast | NOAA Fisheries
Since January 2017, elevated minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) mortalities have occurred along the Atlantic coast from Maine through South Carolina.
NOAA Fisheries

Over 400 Sheep Found in Mountains
Over 400 sheep have been gathered from up in the mountains in East Iceland this winter after being left behind during sheep gathering.
Reydarfjordur, East, Iceland

Dangerously Low on Water, Cape Town Now Faces ‘Day Zero’
One of Africa’s richest cities is threatening to turn off the taps to its four million residents, cutting off homes and most businesses.
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
The New York Times
Norimitsu Onishi and Somini Sengupta (The Daily Maverick)

Shifting ground causes problems for Whitehorse office building
A large retail and office building in downtown Whitehorse has shifted so much in just a few years that its elevator is now out of service.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Shellfish poisoning of dogs confirmed
Tests reveal concentrations of toxins in the shellfish the dogs ate was up to 27 times the safe limit.
Norwich, England, United Kingdom
BBC News

MetService: It's going to get hotter, New Zealand warned
The dial will be turned up even more on the summer heat at the start of next week.
Waiau, Canterbury Region, New Zealand
NZ Herald

Coroner's warning after Christchurch MS patient dies in soaring heat
Coroner warning after heat-related death.
Christchurch, Canterbury Region, New Zealand

Two bears were badly burned in wildfires, and fish skin helped heal them
Veterinarians in California use tilapia skin to treat burns on bears injured during wildfires.
Summerland, California, United States
Washington Post

Video: The oceans are changing. Can crabs adapt?
At a lab in Kodiak, researchers are working to understand whether crabs can adapt to ocean acidification.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Eric Keto and Rachel Waldholz, Alaska's Energy Desk

Chefornak bands together to combat climate change
This is not the first time this village has faced the threat of erosion and flooding, but relocating won’t be as easy as it was last time.
Chefornak, Alaska, United States

Snowy and windy in the north, wet and dangerously slippery elsewhere
Rain and rising temperatures have brought warnings of extremely slippery conditions in other areas.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

Endangered Orcas Are Starving. Should We Start Feeding Them?
Washington state officials have proposed a new tack to save the Pacific Northwest's critically endangered orca population. Their idea is to boost salmon
Puget Sound, Washington, United States
NW News Network

Bird of the Year: Endangered pochard population in steep decline
BirdLife Finland reports that Finnish populations of the common pochardhave plummeted by 80 percent in 20 years.
Pori, Satakunta, Finland

Is There A Ticking Time Bomb Under The Arctic?
Just what exactly is permafrost? And what is happening now that it's warming up? To find out, we enter the Arctic Circle's secret world of ice and frozen history.
Northern Alaska, United States
NPR

Video: The oceans are changing. Can crabs adapt?
Ocean acidification threatens some of Alaska’s most lucrative crab fisheries. But there’s one ray of hope: it’s possible that crabs might be able to adapt to the changing oceans. The big question scientists are researching at Bob Foy’s lab in Kodiak is – will they have enough time?
Shelikof Strait, Alaska, United States
Eric Keto, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

Roads prove deadly for reindeer in 2018
Twice as many reindeer have been killed on the roads in northern Sweden this month compared to the same period last year.
Tallåsen, Västerbotten, Sweden

Fierce storm drops a foot of snow on Anchorage in 24 hours
The storm that walloped Southcentral Alaska also left about 32 inches of snow in Moose Pass and 30 in Seward.

SW Finland faces worst winter flooding in 13 years
Packed ice crystals have pushed up water levels on the Kokemäki River, soaking some buildings in Huittinen and Pori.
Huittinen, Satakunta, Finland

4 mushers scratch due to icy conditions in Kuskokwim 300 sled dog race
Four teams had scratched as of 7 p.m. Saturday because of the icy conditions, said Kuskokwim 300 race director Madelene Reichard. "It's the same thing for all of them," Reichard said. "The dogs aren't used to running on the ice, and people were wanting to keep their dogs healthy."
Bethel, Alaska, United States

In the Alaska Arctic, more rain may mean fewer musk oxen
Winter rain makes it more difficult for the animals to feed, particularly pregnant females, researchers found.
Wrangel Island

Europe storm: Germany in huge clean-up as trains run again
Three people died earlier in the Netherlands in accidents caused by hurricane-strength winds.
Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
BBC News

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

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

Deadly storm hits Netherlands and Germany
A fierce storm sweeping across northern Europe kills eight people and halts Dutch and German trains.
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
BBC News

Alaska Board of Fisheries navigates ‘uncharted territory’ for Southeast’s king salmon
The Alaska Board of Fisheries faces some tough decisions this week. One of those is how to conserve dwindling king salmon stocks in a way that won’t financially cripple Southeast salmon fishermen.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Invasive species are still rare in the Arctic — but that could soon change
Environmental and economic changes could make it easier for non-native plants and animals to gain a foothold in the North.
Katla Volcano, South, Iceland
Arctic Now

Arctic in January - No Sea Ice
Residents use drones to show unusual sea ice conditions along the Chukchi coast.

What caused the Blob? Scientists conclude, we did
In 2014, a warm water system — known as the Blob — wreaked havoc in the waters of the Gulf of Alaska. The relationship between extreme weather events and climate change is complicated. But scientists are getting closer to figuring out how the two are linked.
Northeast Pacific Ocean
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

How climate change could make the threat a tiny pathogen poses to northern Canada a lot worse
T. gondii infection in people was found to be associated with drinking water from home water tanks where T. gondii parasites remained, clinging to the walls—so cleaning of these water tanks would be one way to reduce infection.
Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada
Arctic Now

Open water turns Kuskokwim 300 into a 2-lap race for the first time
For the first time, the race will run two laps to its halfway point and back. Mushers agree it’s the safest way to run the race, but it could present challenges.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

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

As ice layers get thinner, ship sets another Arctic speed record
Favorable ice conditions meant that the ship »Baltic Winter» spent only about five and a half days on its voyage across the Northern Sea Route.
Novaya Zemlya, Архангельская область, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Rare bird visit to Cranbrook sparks BC-wide interest
A female northern cardinal has made Cranbrook her home, and is drawing birders from all over BC
Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Cranbrook Daily Townsman

Earthquake Reported SW of Gambell, AK
Earthquake in low-probability area in Alaska

Warm Weather And Lady Bugs
The weather was the warmest I’ve ever seen for this time of year and never seen insects like ladybugs out this time of year.

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

Female Sparrow (Emberizidae) Seen In Pedro Bay
Mid-January sparrow sighting in Pedro Bay
Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States

Robin (Turdus migratorius) Spotted
The early arrival of robins in southeast Alaska.

Detah ice road ties record for latest opening
The ice road between Detah and Yellowknife is opening Friday, a date that ties a decades-old record.
Yellowknife Ice Road, NWT

Western Alps buried in meters of fresh snow
The western Alps of northwestern Italy, southeastern France and extreme southern Switzerland received enormous amounts of fresh snow over the past few days.
Rosières-en-Santerre, Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie, France
Severe Weather Europe

Climate change hinders residential constructions in Sweden
Skåne county has denied planning permission for the building of two new beachfront homes, saying they are at risk from rising sea levels caused by climate change.
The planning permission concerns two houses to be built between 100 and 200 metres away from the sea.
According to the county adminis
Åhus, Skåne län, Sweden

Alaska releases first detailed report on negative health impacts of climate change
The sweeping list of potential health implications includes the introduction of new diseases, an increase in accidents and a worsening allergy season.
Alaska, United States

State report details potential health impacts of climate change
How will climate change affect health in Alaska? Dangerous travel conditions could cause more accidents, warmer temperatures could spread new diseases and the topsy-turvy weather could worsen mental health. Those are some conclusions from a new state report released Monday. Listen now
Newtok, Alaska, United States
Rachel Waldholz, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) in January!!?
Peregrine falcon observed in interior Alaska in early January.
Nenana, Alaska, United States

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

Rain on snow event in the French Alps
Photograph illustrates the impact of a rain-on-snow event during the winter of 2018.
Courchevel, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Those turtles and iguanas aren’t dead. They’re just really cold.
Cold temperatures have started the Fall of the Iguanas and the immobilization of sea turtles, whose bodies have a hard time adjusting to the change in water temperature.
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
miamiherald

Oceans suffocating as huge dead zones quadruple since 1950
Areas starved of oxygen in open ocean and by coasts have soared in recent decades, risking dire consequences for marine life and humanity
Temuco, La Araucanía, Chile
The Guardian

Roads, cars submerged: Storm rages with snow, floods - The Boston Globe
The powerful winter weather storm was slamming into Massachusetts by mid-morning Thursday, bringing blizzard-like conditions in some areas, torrential rain in others, power outages and hurricane-strength winds on Cape Cod and the Islands.
Quincy, Massachusetts, United States
The Boston Globe

Porcupine caribou herd numbers highest in monitoring history
"Currently we don't have any studies specifically looking at what factors are affecting those demographics," said Jason Caikoski, a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Listen now
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, United States
Ravenna Koenig, Alaska's Energy Desk - Fairbanks

After two-week delay, sled dog racing season kicks off on the Kuskokwim
Sled dog racing season officially began on the Kuskokwim this weekend. Listen now

Alaska just had its warmest December on record
The statewide average temperature in December was 19.4 degrees, 15.7 degrees above the 20th century average.

Father's Body Recovered, Five Rescued After Family Falls Through Kuskokwim On New Year's Eve
A father’s body has been recovered from the Kuskokwim River after he and his family fell through a marked, open hole the night of New Year’s Eve. Bethel

Police help capture baby seal found wandering on busy road
"How he got so far inland from the ocean to Route 6A without getting hurt is amazing," police posted. "Must be a NAVY SEAL!"
Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, United States
CBS NEWS

Open Water Adds to Winter Chill - Part 2
While taking photos this afternoon of the snow ice on various objects near the Native Village of Unalakleet, which was on the approximate order of 4 minutes and with very little wind (playground, grass, powerlines), my hands were cold due to the "wetness" in the air and the ambient air temperature.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Amid warm winter, scientists say Alaska sea ice conditions are ‘shockingly bad’
That hurts coastal communities that hunt on the ice. But colder weather may be coming, at least to some portions of Alaska.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

As kings suffer across Southeast, Chilkat Chinook candidate for “stock of concern”
For more than five years, Southeast’s iconic king salmon have been returning in fewer and fewer numbers. Managers with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are recommending Chilkat, Unuk and King Salmon River Chinooks become official “stocks of concern.” Listen now
Chilkat River, Alaska, United States

It’s Maine Shrimp Season, Without the Shrimp
As the state’s shrimp fishery is closed for a fifth year, scientists blame climate change, shrimpers fret and locals mourn a beloved treat.
Port Clyde, Maine, United States

Amid warm winter, scientists say Alaska sea ice conditions are ‘shockingly bad’
That hurts coastal communities that hunt on the ice. But colder weather may be coming, at least to some portions of Alaska. Ice should be hugging the coast near the village of Gambell, perched on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, said Mayor Susan Apassingok, on Tuesday. But ice isn't there.
Pacific Ocean-Bering Sea, East Coast, Alaska, United States

High winds knock out power, damage buildings in Kuskokwim Bay
Winds of up to 85 mph ripped up the Southwest Alaska coast on Friday, upending smokehouses, tearing electric lines and flinging a house across the road.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Lineup of Storms and Unseasonable Weather
Multiple storms and warm weather in St. Mary's.
Saint Mary's, Alaska, United States

Arctic snowy owls wintering in U.S. fitted with tiny tracking devices
For researchers, this winter's mass migration of snowy owls from their breeding grounds above the Arctic Circle to the Great Lakes region is serious business.
Duxbury Beach, Massachusetts, United States

Alaska gets federal disaster help after North Slope storm
A September storm caused damage in Utqiagvik, and Gov. Bill Walker declared a disaster there last month.

Weather extremes now surpassing the realm of natural possibilities | Watching Our Water Ways
Environmental reporter Christopher Dunagan discusses the challenges of protecting Puget Sound and all things water-related. Weather extremes now surpassing the realm of natural possibilities
Puget Sound, Washington, United States
Kitsap Sun

After responding to 3 vehicles that broke through ice so far this year, N.W.T. gov't asks public to be careful
The number of vehicles reported to have gone through the ice around Yellowknife continues to rise. According to the N.W.T. Department of Environment, its spill response team has responded to three vehicles through the ice so far this year.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Saiga Antelopes Are Struck Again by a Plague in Central Asia
It was December when the first reports started coming in: All across the frozen Mongolian steppe, saiga were dying from a virus. The antelope species, with its tawny coat, ringed horns and incongruous oversize snout, has roamed the world's chilly northern grasslands since the Pleistocene.
Ховд, Hovd, Mongolia
The Washington Post

Suspected stolen vehicle falls through thin ice on Chena Lake
A borough employee who went to measure ice at Chena Lake got first-hand evidence that the lake ice ready for vehicles. “Lo and behold, there was a truck upside down on the bottom in about 25 feet of water,” Haas said. “No one was in it.”
Chena Lakes, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

For Alaskan Coastal Village, Erosion Hits Home
Melting permafrost and major storms are eating away at the coastal Alaskan village of Newtok. Residents are desperate to move, but the U.S. has no climate change policy that could help them.
Newtok, Alaska, United States
NPR

Slow River Freeze Up and Difficult Travel Conditions
Unusually warm temperatures for an extended period this winter has affected the ability to travel because the river isn't freezing over.
Galena, Alaska, United States

As permafrost thaws, Western Alaska village cemeteries sink into swampland
In villages like Kongiganak, communities have stopped burying their dead because, as the permafrost melts, the oldest part of their cemetery is sinking.
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Kodiak officials prepare for ‘disaster’: An 80 percent decline in Gulf cod catches in 2018
The bad news was announced by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which sets the catches for more than 25 species in waters from 3 to 200 miles from shore in the Gulf and the Bering Sea. The cod decline is blamed on younger fish not surviving warm ocean temperatures that began in 2014.
North Pacific & Bering Sea, Alaska, United States

Wolves and logging both cut into Prince of Wales deer
This deer season has been the worst in recent memory for a lot of hunters on Prince of Wales Island.
Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, United States

Seward Highway reopened after landslide
Temperatures in the area were unseasonably high last week, reaching into the mid-40s, according to the National Weather Service. Then temperatures dropped below freezing Sunday and into Monday morning. "There's a lot of water flowing underground in this area," McCarthy said. The freeze-thaw "caused some instability and that made it slide."

Port Heiden loses road access to safe harbor and old village
Port Heiden’s road to its harbor and old village site is crumbling into the sea and the lake on the other side of it will likely breach soon. “The road is basically gone. [Erosion]’s cut right half into the road,” said Scott Anderson, the Native Village of Port Heiden’s Tribal Environmental Director.

Warm, Windy, Snowy, Wet, Cool Days!
"Our roads are slippery when there would be snow to where the children were out with their sled. Planes never cancelled as much as this year to where the flights were backed up to 3 or 4 days. Lately, we've been seeing grasses regrowing after it warms up out there."
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Southern beaches need protection from rising waters - Radio Sweden
Sweden’s shrinking southern shorelines need to be saved with sand, according to researchers from Lund University.
Sölvesborg, Blekinge, Sweden

At least 4 people, and 1 snowmobile, have broken through the ice in Yellowknife Bay
Darcy Bourassa was just walking around his house on Tuesday when 'I must have stepped right in the perfect spot and went through.' "What I think was happening here is there's a lot of snow built up it's really insulated in the snow and it hasn't been cold this fall or this winter so there's not a lot of ice penetration underneath that snow."
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

National ski championships still a go at Kincaid Park
Though snow is scant in Anchorage, organizers are confident they will be able to host the Jan. 3-8 race series.

High temperatures in Utqiaġvik confuse NOAA algorithm
This November in Utqiaġvik was the hottest on record, averaging 17.2°F. It was so warm that NOAA's quality control algorithms flagged the data. “When we look out on the ocean right now we see a few icebergs,” Thomas said. “Normally we would see white to the horizon in the past, and in this case we’re seeing dark water to the horizon.”
Ravenna Koenig, Alaska's Energy Desk - Fairbanks

Officials are still scrambling to fix a rail link to Canada’s deepwater Arctic port
Seven months after flooding damage to a rail link cut off land access from southern Canada to Churchill. Manitoba — Canada's only deepwater Arctic port — government and business officials are still trying to find a permanent solution.
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Arctic Today

King Cove closer to goal of 100 percent renewable energy
A small eastern Aleutian community is now getting nearly all of its energy from renewable sources. With a second hydro facility that began producing power late this spring, the city of King Cove has dramatically reduced its dependence on diesel.
King Cove, Alaska, United States
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Researchers find high levels of microplastics on Norway’s Arctic coast
Eastern Finnmark, on the coast of the Barents Sea has always proved to be the cleanest of all areas of testing in the North Atlantic. But not so any more.
Hasvik, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

More snow, rain and slush heading to southern, central Finland
A new precipitation system is approaching Finland from the south-west, bringing wet, heavy snow or sleet to southern and some central areas of the country, possibly causing headaches for commuters on Friday morning.
Kajaani, Kainuu, Finland

How Global Warming Fueled Five Extreme Weather Events
Scientists analyzed 27 extreme weather events from 2016 and found that global warming was a “significant driver” for most of them. We look at five cases.
The New York Times

Wet winter increases threat of flooding
Mild, wet weather has raised water levels in rivers and lakes around the country.
Kymijoki River, Finland

Blog: Can environmental diplomacy save Arctic languages?
Following a 2008 symposium on indigenous arctic languages in Tromsø, Norway, the Indigenous Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council launched the Arctic Languages Vitality initiative under the auspices of the Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group.
Naryan-Mar, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia

Arctic saw 2nd warmest year, smallest winter sea ice coverage on record in 2017 | NOAA
A NOAA-sponsored report shows that the warming trend transforming the Arctic persisted in 2017, resulting in the second warmest air temperatures, above average ocean temperatures, loss of sea ice, and a range of human, ocean and ecosystem effects.
Arctic Region, World
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Chinook gusts up to 80 mph knock out power around Interior
Golden Valley Electric Association crews are still working to repair damage to power lines caused by warm chinook winds that blasted the Interior over the weekend, especially around Delta Junction.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Mount Cleveland volcano spits ash miles into the sky over the Aleutians
The ash cloud from the remote volcano was detected in satellite data and was big enough for the National Weather Service to issue a warning for aircraft up to 20,000 feet above sea level.
Chuginadak Island, Alaska, United States

It's a week of weird, warm weather in Whitehorse
After some bracing winter weather in November, the city has seen an unusually mild start to this month, with temperatures soaring well above the freezing point, and even some rain.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

High winds, record-breaking warmth
Anchorage sidewalks were slick with ice and the roads were full of puddles because of unseasonably high temperatures.By mid morning the temperature had reached 46 degrees.

Video of emaciated polar bear may not be what it seems
A viral video of a starving polar bear rummaging through garbage in search of food isn't necessarily the result of climate change, says local man who monitors the animals.
CBC Radio

High levels of algae-produced biotoxin found in dead walrus
Three of the walruses had low to moderate levels of saxitoxin, while the fourth one had high levels.
Diomede, Alaska, United States

Houston Ship Channel And Galveston Bay Digging Out After Harvey | WAMU
The sediment and muddy freshwater that spilled into these Texas bodies of water are causing problems for the shipping and oyster industries.
Houston, Texas, United States
WAMU

A struggling Bering Sea village loses one of its few remaining young men
For the 60 or so villagers who live on the island of St. George, where Serge Lekanof was one of only a half-dozen 20-something men, the discovery of his body brings vivid grief.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

Scientists find dramatic increase in pollock in Northern Bering Sea
Three researchers from the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center completed a trawl survey of the Northern Bering Sea in 2017 and found a dramatic increase in pollock.
Northern Bering Sea, Alaska, United States

It's snowing in south Texas! Yes, you read that right
Big and fluffy snowflakes fell across parts of south Texas on Thursday, including San Antonio and Austin.
San Antonio, Texas, United States
CNN

Southern California Fires Surpass 115,000 Acres As Santa Ana Winds Drive Flames
Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, four intense fires near Los Angeles grew to engulf more than 115,000 acres Thursday, and officials say residents should be prepared for even more strong winds through Friday.
Ventura County, California, United States
KCBX Central Coast Public Radio

‘It Burns and It Keeps Burning’: Scenes From Southern California’s Wildfires
Wildfires have burned more than 100,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Fighting them were professionals and homeowners with garden hoses.
Los Angeles, California, United States

Record Breaking Hot Water Usage in November
There has never been more use of hot water in the capital area in November than this year. The temperature that month was measured as quite cold according to the Icelandic Met Office, explaining the need for more hot water.
Hveragerdi, South, Iceland

Richardson Highway closed following avalanche and extreme snow
Crews are working to clear snow off of the Richardson Highway near Valdez, after excessive snow has not relented, and an avalanche has poured over the isolated highway stretch.
Valdez, Alaska, United States
KTUU News

Open Holes On Ice Road Says Bethel Search And Rescue
The ice highway that residents are used to driving this time of year has yet to fully freeze. Bethel Search and Rescue calls the number of open holes on
KYUK

Ahousaht Harbor: Swimming Hole Monitoring
Ahousaht, British Columbia, Canada

Chordgrass (Spartina sp.) eradication at Goose Spit
Goose Spit Regional Park, Comox, British Columbia, Canada
Hilary Blackman, Colin Robinson, Tom Okey, Cory Frank, Laura Loucks

Unidentified Jay
Unidentified Jay sighted in southcentral Alaska, early December.

Wildfires In Southern California Force Thousands Of People To Flee
Multiple fires are burning in Southern California, claiming hundreds of structures and thousands of acres and closing many freeways and local roadways, according to state fire officials.
Santa Paula, California, United States
NPR
Richard Gonzales, Scott Neuman, Amy Held

Fast Weather Change: Snowfall
Rapid weather change, with snowfall.

Wolf sightings have increased this year
Wolf sightings in the wetlands area have hikers worried for their safety.

Two moose calves die after likely eating poisonous ornamental plants
Two moose calves found dead outside separate Anchorage homes on Friday are believed to have died from eating poisonous ornamental plants.
KTUU

Victoria breaks rainfall record for November
Residents say mild weather makes toughing out the rain worthwhile
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette
Lauren Boothby, Hugo Wong, and Ashley Wadwani

Beaufort Sea polar bears are spending more time on land — and becoming more exposed to land-based diseases, scientists find
The animals didn't necessarily become sick, researchers said, but were encountering the new pathogens much more frequently.
Arctic Now

More electrical storms to hit NZ as Roxburgh district still recovers from weekend storm
School out for Roxburgh pupils as third day of thunderstorms looms.
Roxburgh, Otago, New Zealand

63 bears destroyed in Yukon this year because of human conflict
The Yukon government crunched the numbers and confirmed that 2017 was a relatively bad year for human-bear conflicts in Yukon. It's estimated that more bears were killed this year than in any of the previous five years.

In Newtok, residents worry the encroaching river will destroy a way of life
When the river takes the first houses, the village could start to scatter. And Newtok’s blend of the modern and traditional could erode away with the land.
Rachel Waldholz, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

Ice jam causes flooding in Peters Creek area
A National Weather Service employee spotted an ice jam that's causing some minor flooding northwest of the Starner Street bridge, along Peters Creek.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States
KTUU

Woman comes face-to-face with polar bear after grocery shopping
A woman's impromptu grocery store trip turned into a winter horror story Tuesday afternoon in Resolute, Nunavut.
Resolute, Nunavut, Canada

In Peru’s Deserts, Melting Glaciers Are a Godsend (Until They’re Gone)
Accelerating glacial melt in the Andes caused by climate change has set off a gold rush downstream, letting the desert bloom. But as the ice vanishes, the vast farms below may do the same.
Virú, La Libertad, Peru

Paper Mill Dam: Swimming Hole Monitoring
Paper Mill Dam, Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

Sea life beneath Antarctic ice shelf is changing, and warming may be why
In dives to the seafloor, scientists have noticed big differences in only a few years.
McMurdo Station, Antarctica

Coral Found Following November Storm
Red coral observed near Port Heiden along the Bering Sea coast.

Unalakleet's Fall Storm Aftermath 11/09
Using a hand-held Garmin Montana 650t unit, I took photos of the tideline in three areas.

Foggy Fall of 2017 in Noorvik
Many foggy days in Noorvik during the fall of 2017.
Noorvik, Alaska, United States

Toxic glowing organism poses new threat to Baltic Sea
The Natural Resources Institute is developing new ways to combat Alexandrium ostenfeldii, a toxic organism now thriving due to climate change.
Naantali, Southwest Finland, Finland

Unalakleet's Fall Storm Aftermath
I documented my tracks using the Garmin unit adjusting the track setting to log about every 5 feet, which was saved as a GPS Exchange (GPX) Format. From there, I imported the information into Google Earth Desktop as a KML track.

Wednesday's warm weather record-breaking in Duncan
Weather fronts bring more rain
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Cowichan Valley Citizen

Hundreds of dead blackfish found in waters near Bethel
Some local officials suspect water pollution killed the fish, but state officials offered an alternative explanation.

Global Warming Might Cause Increased Volcanic Activity in Iceland
When glaciers covered larger parts of Iceland, there was less volcanic activity in the country, a new study has found.

Walker declares disaster for September storm
The North Slope Borough will have access to help with recovery efforts for the autumn storm that pummeled the coastline earlier this year, causing more than a million dollars worth of damage.

Beavers slapping tails on far-north waters
Beavers live in every province of Canada, every U.S. state and into northern Mexico. Range maps now need to be redrawn to include areas north of treeline in Alaska and Canada.

Second storm batters western coastline
The recent storm brought water levels up to the lagoon bank by town. Along the Chukchi Coast, storm surge and tides were expected to raise sea levels four to six feet above the normal high tide line, the weather service noted.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Environment ministers on Barents coast to discuss Arctic sea safety and climate change
Visiting Vardø near Norway’s maritime border to Russia, the ministers will learn about Arctic sea traffic safety management.
Vardø, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Hundreds of dead blackfish found in waters near Bethel
Smart started finding dead fish in his trap near Dull Lake about two or three weeks ago. Now there are hundreds and hundreds of them.Some local officials suspect water pollution killed the fish, but state officials offered an alternative explanation. According to the Fish and Game representative a local fisherman forgot to check a blackfish trap and may have dumped the dead fish in Dull Lake.

Report out on Kivalina evacuation route and school site
The school site is about six miles northeast of town. If constructed, it would serve as the terminus of the evacuation route and as a modern shelter capable of housing the entire community.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

'What's with the weather?': Wacky weather in Nunavut breaks records
Nunavut experienced some 'strange' weather in the past few days, causing shipping containers to fly through one community and muddy puddles in another.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

After the Storm
A recent storm in Norton Sound has increased coastal erosion affecting community transportation.

Warm & Rainy Fall Season
The past couple years have been warmer than normal contributing to where the river is still flowing ice and with some of the plants still green.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

As Oceans Warm, the World’s Kelp Forests Begin to Disappear
Tasmania, Australia
Yale Environment 360

Thawing permafrost causes $51M in damages every year to N.W.T. public infrastructure: study
An advocacy group has put a price tag on the heaving roads and leaning buildings ubiquitous to the Northwest Territories.
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Blizzard warning in effect for much of Western Alaska
The National Weather Service forecast wind gusts up to 50 mph in some places and whiteout conditions.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

As traditional Alaska Native marine diets decline, vitamin D deficiency rises
Vitamin D deficiencies have long been a concern in high latitudes because sunlight — which stimulates its production in the body — is scarce in winter months.

Toxic algae may have played part in sea bird die off
Walruses were found washed up on the beaches from Cape Espenberg to Shishmaref and further west. Samples taken from the intestines of four walrus all had moderate to high levels of saxitoxin.

Watch: Fireball in northern Finnish skies either meteor or space trash, expert says
Northern Finland was illuminated by a blazing fireball on Thursday night, which experts said was either a meteor or space trash.
Lohtaja, Central Ostrobothnia, Finland

Hundreds of dead geese in Canada's Arctic likely succumbed to harsh conditions
More than a thousand dead geese that washed up on the shore near Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, last August appear to have died of natural causes, including toxicity caused by drinking salt water.
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada

What's That We're Hearing? Sea Otters in the Salish Sea?
Guided Sea Kayak Tours & Eco-Resort Accommodation in Desolation Sound, British Columbia, Canada. Take the tour of a lifetime!
Cortez Island, British Columbia, Canada
BC Seakayak

Alaska Gov. Walker declares disaster after costly fall storm on North Slope
The declaration gives the far-north community of Utqiagvik access to state money to help repair damaged infrastructure like roads.
Alaska Dispatch News

Storm causes flooding, erosion across Northwest Alaska
"Yesterday we came over to do an assessment of the high-water flood storm," said Northwest Arctic Borough Deputy Director of Public Services Dickie Moto, who grew up in Deering. "They lost a lot of ground on the front and on the back side of town because of the high water and rough seas.
Deering, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Fish Return to Akhiok Bay
Akhiok residents report that fish have returned to Akhiok Bay since the outfall was repaired/extended further into the ocean
Akhiok, Alaska, United States

A Western Nunavut goose die-off was due to ‘natural causes,’ autopsies show
Natural causes led to the death of more than 1,000 geese on Long Point beach outside Cambridge Bay this past August, a pathologist’s report has found.
Western Nunavut, Canada

Autumn storm that battered Utqiaġvik coastline caused more than $10 million in damage
The storm began Sept. 28 and continued for several days. A handful of Utqiaġvik’s roads were damaged or destroyed, and the community's freshwater source was nearly compromised.
Alaska Dispatch News

Walloping of snow in Yellowknife on Tuesday a record-breaker
It’s a winter wonderland in Yellowknife Wednesday, as the city cleans up after 24.2 centimetres of snow fell on Tuesday— a record breaking amount.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Why a halo around the sun or moon?
A large ring or circle of light around the sun or moon is called a 22-degree halo by scientists.
EarthSky

Aftermath of the Storm
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Shellfish off coast of Sweden produce vast amounts of methane, researchers say
On a more helpful note, fish farts also are giving researchers and managers clues about fish distributions.
Tampa, Florida, United States

Storm Surge
A strong storm impacting NW Alaska with high winds and sea level rise (over 6 ft) caused localized flooding in Kotzebue.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Unusual Bird Sighting, Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
We've seen these birds in the Fairbanks area before but neither my wife or I could recall seeing one at this time of year.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nearly 4 times more bears were shot dead this year in Anchorage than in 2016
Half the bears were killed by people who said they were defending their lives or property. The other half were killed by police, park rangers or wildlife biologists.

With musk oxen attacks seemingly on rise, one Nome pet owner calls for more action
Over the last five months, multiple sled dogs in Nome were attacked by musk oxen in at least four separate incidents.

Mysterious Radioactive Cloud Over Europe Hints At Accident Farther East
Ruthenium-106, an artificial isotope, was detected in early October and is now gone. European safety officials say it poses no health risk to residents and that it might have come from Russia.
Southern Russia
NPR.org

Pacific Communities Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
SUVA, Fiji, Nov 8 2017 (IPS) - In the Pacific, climate change is an ever-present threat, undermining human rights, livelihoods, and security. Pacific Islanders are working with courage and resolve to build the resilience of their communities and to catalyse international actions towards ending global carbon pollution. While the Pacific has contributed almost nothing to the causes of climate change, the region is determined to lead the world towards a more just and sustainable future. And while often labelled as ‘small island states’, Pacific Island countries are more accurately characterised as ‘large oceans states’ as they are custodians of vast tracts of ocean, to which their economies, culture, identities and livelihoods are inextricably tied.
Suva, Central, Fiji
ReliefWeb

400 turtles found mysteriously dead off El Salvador coast
Hundreds of endangered dead sea turtles have been found floating off El Salvador's Pacific coast under mysterious circumstances, with authorities unable to determine what caused their demise.
La Libertad, La Libertad, El Salvador
The Weather Network

Alpha male shot as wolves set up territory west of Helsinki
Wildlife authorities say that a new wolf pack has established a territory in Raseborg, but that its future is in doubt after the apparent shooting of its alpha male. Hunters had been issued with a special permit to shoot a young male.
Kisko, Southwest Finland, Finland

Records from Ancient China Reveal Link Between Epidemics and Climate Change
A new study suggests that long periods of cold, dry weather helped drive epidemics in ancient and pre-modern China
China
Scientific American

Breathing Fire
As climate change fuels large wildfires, the pollution they're releasing is making Americans sick and undermining decades of progress in cleaning the air.
California to Pacific Northwest, United States
Climate Central

These brown bears should be hibernating, but they’re raiding trash in Eagle River instead
The bears won’t hibernate if food remains available, so the continued availability of trash in the area has created a dangerous situation, biologists say.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

As Wild Salmon Decline, Norway Pressures Its Giant Fish Farms
New rules to combat sea lice have angered Norway’s important aquaculture industry. But environmental groups want to go much further.
Byrknes, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Fiji brings first-hand experience with effects of climate change to UN summit
Fiji and other Pacific island nations are vulnerable to rising seas that have flooded villages and forced residents to abandon their homes.
Vunidogoloa Village, Northern, Fiji
Toronto Star

Prolonged Fog in Anchorage Area
Near record stretch of foggy days at Ted Stevens International Airport.

Where have all Newfoundland's Songbirds gone?
Climate change could be just another challenge for the gray-cheeked thrush and other distinct species.
The Telegram

Dense Fog in Anchorage
This is the second longest period of visibility remaining this low at the Anchorage Airport.

Heavy Fog Brings Diverted Flights To Kenai Airport From Anchorage
The Kenai Municipal Airport and the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport have both experienced heavy delays, cancellations, and re-routed flights over the past week.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Radio Kenai

Warm Winter Weather Patterns along Kuskokwim River
This is the second year in a row that people from Chuathbaluk are able to use boats (skiffs) on the Kuskokwim River in November.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Polar bears in Churchill face bleak future, researchers warn
Shorter periods of sea ice on Hudson Bay as a result of climate change translate into fewer polar bears in Churchill region.
Churchill Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Maine will seek disaster aid as roughly 70,000 remained without power 4 days after storm
The number of outages is down from a peak of 484,000 statewide after winds and rain ravaged the region Monday morning.
Cumberland Center, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Kincaid Beach Littered with Whale Parts
Tissue from the recent necropsy on a humpback whale remains on Kincaid beach
Upper Cook Inlet, Alaska, United States

Dozens Of Octopuses Are Walking Up Onto Shore For No Apparent Reason
There was no evidence of physical harm to the eight-legged creatures, but there was still plenty of concern as to why they were all abandoning their regular ocean home.
Wales, United Kingdom
The Rainforest Site Blog

Ask a Climatologist: Why do some lakes freeze faster than others?
One important factor is the depth of the lake. But there are other variables too.
Annie Feidt, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

Two years on, Port Heiden’s reindeer herd stable, not yet large enough to harvest
Life in Bristol Bay’s villages is expensive. For Port Heiden residents, a gallon of shelf stable milk costs more than 20 dollars. Fresh milk isn’t available because it would take too long to ship. But they’re working on improving their access to fresh foods by producing their own.
Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, United States

Blanket of fog envelops Anchorage
A heavy fog that rolled into Anchorage in time for Halloween is expected to persist into Thursday afternoon.

Fog For Days
More open water on rivers and lakes that add to the near-ground moisture.
Anvik, Alaska, United States

Wild Ice - Backcountry Skating Alaska
If the winter gives you ice, then it's time to go ice skating! Backcountry skating is the practice of hunting for wild ice, whether on on a river, lake, glacial lagoon, or inside an ice cave. Filmed in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States
Vimeo

Cougars in Alaska, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska is considered to be outside the range of cougars (also called mountain lions and panthers), but with cougar populations increasing in many western states and Canada, that could change.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States
Alaska Fish & Wildlife News

Dead Anaconda (Eunectes)

Elk population a headache for Yukon farmers
A 1990 elk management plan recommended 100 animals as a reasonable number, based on resources available for the animals, Cathers said. But that number has since ballooned, causing more agricultural conflicts. Part of the problem goes back to 2008, when elk wintered in fenced off enclosures after winter ticks were discovered.
Yukon News

Weather in the Beaufort Delta Just Like Spring
Freda Alunik says it looks 'just like spring' at her camp near the Mackenzie River.
Mackenzie River, Northwest Territory, Canada

130 dead seals have washed up on the shores of Russia's Lake Baikal
130 dead seals washed up in Russia's Lake Baikal, and scientists have taken lake water samples and biopsies of the animals. Preliminary theories about the die-off did not suggest pollution is the reason.
Yelantsy, Irkutsk, Russia
Mail Online

Fish almost cut in half by discarded sports drink wrapper
Adam Turnbull found the fish growing around a ring of plastic.
Yahoo News

Climate change may boost wine production in southern Sweden
Founder Håkan Hansson convinced this is the world’s new wine region.
Malmö, Skåne, Sweden

Floods close bridge, but no injuries reported
The torrential rain, exceptional even by Juneau’s standards, comes courtesy of Typhoon Lan, whose remnants have left Asia.

Wind storm batters Maine
We put out the call for images of storm damage across the state Monday morning and our readers answered with some great shots.
Yarmouth, Maine, United States
Press Herald

Octopus invasion on Welsh beach blamed on effects of recent storms
An incredibly rare octopus invasion may have been caused by recent storms. Storm Ophelia, quickly followed by Storm Brian caused huge waves and storm surges as gusts of up to 80 mph hit the Welsh coast.
New Quay, Wales, United Kingdom
The Telegraph

Bacteria outbreak strikes sea lions on Oregon Coast leading to warning for people and their pets
A leptospirosis bacteria outbreak is making sea lions sick along the Oregon Coast, so state officials are warning people and their dogs to stay away from the animals. The outbreak began in September and likely will last into December, said Jim Rice, a researcher at Oregon State University.
Oregon Coast, United States
The Register-Guard

How debris from rockets launched far away is a risk to Inuit food security
The North Water Polynya, between Nunavut and Greenland, is one of the Arctic’s most biologically productive areas — and an important part of the food supply for nearby Inuit communities.
Pikialasorsuaq North Water, North Baffin Bay
Tiff-Annie Kenny, University of Ottawa, Tad Lemieux, Carleton University

A Not So Normal Summer
Drought, causing low waters in Goodnews River, no blackberries, and early cool weather.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

What dolphin diets reveal about climate change's effects off the California coast
Scientists studying dolphins dining off the California coastline have found that the marine food web is starting to look a little threadbare. The length of food chains in that web appears to have gotten shorter in response to environmental changes — such as those caused by El Niño events.
California Bight
latimes.com

Fall storms now regularly batter Alaska’s Arctic coastal villages — but don’t always qualify for disaster funds
Disaster funds are reserved for single events, and storms that collectively cause much damage aren't often individually large enough to count as disasters.

A 'monster' discovery: Tiny translucent crustacean a 1st in Canada's Arctic
What has eight hairy legs, one eye, no mouth and haunts the frigid waters below the frozen ocean? A speck of a creature you'd never know exists in Canada's Arctic, were it not for one researcher's accidental discovery off the shores of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Sightings of large cat, possibly a cougar, reported near Ketchikan
Mountain lion sightings have been reported in far Southeast Alaska for years, and one sighting has been confirmed.
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Dead Little Fish After High Water
A resident of the community was near the gravel pit when he came across a number of dead fish.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Late Bloomer-Wild Rose
An afterschool club have been monitoring rosehips and found this late-blooming flower.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Ireland Hit by Remnants of Strongest Eastern Atlantic Hurricane on Record
Post-tropical cyclone Ophelia put Ireland on a shutdown.
Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Slate Magazine

Late Blooming Flowers
We do not ever recall having flowers blooming this late in the year.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

At Least 3 Killed As Historic Storm Ophelia Hits Ireland, Turns U.K. Skies Red
The remnants of post-tropical cyclone Ophelia hit parts of Ireland with gusts of more than 90 miles per hour. The storm knocked out power to some 360,000 customers.
Dundalk, Leinster, Ireland
NPR.org

Silver Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with Cysts
Silver salmon, caught 10 miles up the Twin Hills River, had small white patches in flesh.
Twin Hills, Alaska, United States

Penguin disaster as just two chicks survive from colony of 40,000
‘Catastrophic breeding event’ leads to demands for a marine protected area to be set up in East Antarctica
Petril Island
the Guardian

In Port Heiden, Recent Storms Exacerbate Old Problem
Within the last year, they have measured twenty to one hundred feet of erosion along different sections of their coast line.

Why homes along Arctic coastline are at risk of falling into the ocean
"All it would take is one or two big storms and these houses you see behind me would be gravely at risk."
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC Radio
The Current's Liz Hoath and CBC's Briar Stewart.

'Huge' polar bear spotted in Iqaluit
'Attention!!! Huge polar bear up running after birds behind Tasilik street!!!' Christine Boucher-Wight posted on the Iqaluit Public Service Announcement Facebook page.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Huge, 'mysterious' hole appears in sea ice near Antarctica
There’s a giant hole in Antarctica and scientists aren’t sure why. The hole, which was detected about a month ago, is roughly 30,000 square miles or the size of the state of Maine. It's the largest hole spotted in the Weddell Sea since the 1970s, scientists say.
King Haakon VII Sea, Southern Ocean, East Antarctica
USA Today

Sinking into the sea: N.W.T. coast is eroding, and scientists can't keep up
Government scientists have found an island in the Beaufort Sea that is shedding as much as 40 metres of ground each summer.
Pelly Island, Northwest Territory, Canada

Citing safety concerns, airlines refuse to fly to permafrost-damaged Tununak Airport
About a year ago, Tununak opened a $19 million, state-of-the-art airport, but shifting permafrost is buckling the runway.
Tununak, Alaska, United States

Arctic on Fire | World Policy Institute
On June 19, 2015, a slow-moving low-pressure system with spectacular thunderstorms that produced little rain began making its way through Alaska. By the time the storms finally petered out about a week later, 61,000 bolts of lightning had been unleashed on a boreal forest in the state. No one had ever seen anything quite like it, not even in 2004, when 8,500 lightning strikes were recorded in a single day.
Interior Alaska, United States
World Policy Blog

Shifting permafrost threatens Alaska village's new airport
Tununak Airport near Bethel is facing a catastrophic problem, as airlines are refusing to land there due to the village's shifting permafrost.
Tununak, Alaska, United States

A bear walked into the Anchorage airport post office and wouldn’t leave. Police shot it.
The bear got into the facility through a door trucks use to access the building, a USPS spokeswoman said.

Increase in Red Voles and Gray Shrews
Increase in red voles and gray shrews, compared to the last three years.

Slow going in fight against deadly fires in California
The wind known as the Diablo is picking up again, the air is dry, there is no rain in sight and the killer wildfires that have scorched the wine country of Northern California remain almost completely uncontained. Officials warned Wednesday that some of the big fires could merge. Amid these grim bulletins, the huge utility company PG&E acknowledged that the extreme winds late Sunday and early Monday had knocked trees into power lines in conditions conducive to wildfires.
North Bay, California, United States
GoErie.com
Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Kristine Phillips, Joel Achenbach - The Washington Post

Uptick in slugs is plaguing Dillingham farmers and gardeners
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, Alaska, United States

Wildfires in Northern California Kill at Least One and Destroy 1,500 Buildings
Mass evacuations were ordered in what is being called one of the most destructive fire emergencies in the state’s history.
Glen Ellen, California, United States
Thomas Fuller, Jonah Engel Bromwich and Daniel Victor

Flood warnings in effect for Alaska’s Bering Sea coastline
Waters were expected to reach their highest levels Monday night and into Tuesday.
Bering Sea, Alaska

Bird lovers flock to glimpse rare tropical bird in New Brunswick
A colourful bird native to the mountains of Central and South America has been spotted in Hopewell Hill, N.B., prompting bird lovers to flock to the area to try to catch a glimpse.
Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, Canada
CTVNews

The crater that is growing in Siberia is a climate time bomb
Melting permafrost, which some attribute to climate changes, is creating huge craters in Siberia. The craters are appearing as layers of ice melt, and larg
Batagajka
The Vintage News

American coot sighting in eastern Arctic pretty unusual says bird expert
That’s after the bird apparently lost its way to its usual wintering-over grounds far away to the South.
Igloolik Island, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq Online

Great Egret (Ardea alba) So Far North
Egret near Inuvik observed by numerous folks in Inuvik.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Stinger jellyfish swarms wipe out farmed salmon in west of Ireland
Killary Harbour, Ireland
The Irish Times

Autumn storm batters northern coastline
Cleanup and recovery from the recent storm that battered the North Slope coastline may carry a price tag exceeding $10 million.

Researcher says tick-borne disease Borrelia has grown exponentially in Finland
New research finds that ticks are not only becoming more common in Finland but incidents of the tick-borne disease Borrelia - also known as Lyme disease - has grown exponentially in the past 20 years.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

"Glowing" Tomcod (Microgadus proximus) in the dark - plankton?
I notice fluorescent glowing in the dark: happens to be the tomcods I caught the other day.
Chevak, Alaska, United States

The biggest ever invasion of potentially fatal jellyfish-like creatures ever recorded in the UK thought to have been brought there by recent hurricanes
An invasion of potentially fatal jellyfish-like creatures on Britain's shores is the biggest ever recorded in the UK. The P...
United Kingdom

Slugs plague Dillingham gardeners
Dillingham gardeners say that an uptick in slimy pests in recent years is making growing greens more difficult.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States
KDLG Dillingham

As permafrost thaws, village cemeteries sink into swamp
Climate change is thawing the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta’s permafrost, and it’s doing more than cracking foundations, sinking roads and accelerating erosion.
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

This "flock of sheep" was actually an unprecedented gathering of polar bears
Zoom in on this supposed image of sheep on a hillside and you'll be in for quite the surprise.
Wrangel Island
MNN - Mother Nature Network

Attack by 'emaciated' grizzly injures man near B.C.-Yukon border
A hunter from B.C. is recovering from a bear mauling earlier this week. Conservation officers say the attack was predatory, meaning the bear wanted to eat the man.
Foothills SW of Cassir MTNS, British Columbia, Canada

Lost but happy eating fish: the polar bear that strayed 700 km too far south
Far from the Arctic snow and ice, in brown bear territory, the adventurous two year old is soon to take a river trip back home.
Kolyma River Bank, ENE 150 km of Srednekolymsk, Russia
The Siberian Times

Lunch arrives on Wrangel Island, and 230 polar bears show up for the feast
A bowhead whale beached on the remote outpost in the Arctic Ocean, and the news spread fast among the island's bears.
Siberia Times

Lagarfljót River Has Flooded
Lagarfljót river, the river flowing through Egilsstaðir, the largest town in Eastern Iceland has begun to flood.
Lagarfljót River, Iceland

Common Rock Crab Spreads Quickly Across Icelandic Shores
The Common Rock Crab has begun to grow rapidly in number around Icelandic shores. It was first seen in Hvalfjörður, West Iceland, in the year 2006. This summer, it has reached Eyjafjörður in North Iceland.
Hrisey, Iceland

Investigation into washed up whale’s death begins in Alaska
The extraordinary sight of a 30-foot long dead humpback whale that washed up on a beach area in Anchorage.

Unexpected birch forest grows on sand plain
An unexpected birch forest is growing on Skeiðarársandur sand plain, South Iceland.
Skeiðarársandur Sand Plain, Iceland

King-of-the-salmon (Trachipterus altivelis) stranded on beach
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Low Water Levels in the Yukon River
Water levels are 5 feet below normal.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) in Auke Bay
California sea lions are rare but occasionally show up in Southeast Alaska and have been documented in other parts of Alaska as well.

The dead whale floating in Cook Inlet has washed ashore at Kincaid Park
It's not yet clear what led to the humpback’s death or where it died, and biologists are warning people to stay away from the carcass.
Cook Inlet, Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Poor harvest hikes bilberry prices worldwide
Bilberry harvests have been poor in several key regions, and the dearth of berries in Eastern Europe especially has raised prices by as much as 70 percent in a year.
Scandinavia, Finland

Plastic waste now polluting Arctic Ocean, scientists find
Plastic waste in the ocean is now so widespread it is polluting remote ice floes in the Arctic, scientists have discovered.
Arctic Ocean
The Telegraph

A glacier dam bursts and creates minor flooding on the Kenai
Sport fishermen are struggling to reel in the rainbow trout and Dolly Varden that usually are so abundant in fall.
Snow River Bridge, Alaska, United States

Alaska’s farming future is warmer, and probably weirder
The state's small farms are booming amid longer growing seasons and thriving farmers markets. But climate change has also made for less predictable weather.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Cleanup indicates Valdez spill bigger than initially thought
According to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, approximately 400 gallons of an oily water mix had been recovered from the Port of Valdez as of Saturday night.
Valdez, Alaska, United States
Elizabeth Harball, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

Horror as brown bear walks into a village and grabs one of six year old twins
Boy was mauled to death, his sister managed to escape and raised alarm.
Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia
Siberian Times

'Very rare' King-of-the-Salmon fish found on Vancouver Island beach
A thin, shimmering fish covered in purple scales and fringed with a red dorsal fin. It turned out to be a massive King-of-the-Salmon fish, measuring about two metres in length.
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Alarm as 'super malaria' spreads
The usual treatments are failing 60% of the time in some regions of Cambodia, scientists say.

64 walruses found dead at Point Lay haulout
Dozens of walruses were found dead earlier this month at their seasonal haulout near Point Lay. The findings came just about a day after locals said they saw an airplane they believed to be flying inappropriately over the herd, which comes to shore each year once the sea ice recedes past the continental shelf and it becomes too deep for them to feed.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Snow Falls In The Sierra Nevada On Summer's Last Full Day
Hurricanes have dominated weather news lately. When it snowed on Thursday in the Sierra Nevada, it not only added a new weather element to the news mix, it got resorts thinking about ski season.
Kirkwood, California, United States
NPR.org

Rare "king-of-the-salmon" washes up on Oak Bay beach
The rare type of ribbonfish was found by a man walking his dog on Rattenbury Beach.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Surrey Now-Leader

Alaska could become climate change refuge for tropical fish
Researchers from the University of Washington used 80 years of data to figure out how much warming fish could withstand. They discovered fish in the tropics are already living in water at the upper end of their threshold.
Gulf of Alaska, United States
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

Kangaroo Mouse?
Found what seems to be a kangaroo mouse and a normal mouse
Aniak Slough, Alaska, United States

Up to 71″ of Snow Forecast on Mt. Rainier This Week
NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Mt. Rainier area of Washington State for today including Crystal Mountain ski resort. The Winter Storm Warning is calling for 6-10 of snow by 5…
Crystal Mountain ski resort, WA
SnowBrains

Pink salmon found in odd places near Homer
Pink salmon are showing up in unexpected places around the Homer area.
Homer, Alaska, United States

Unknown Cause of Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Mortality
Black bear found dead along lake trail.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Late Run of Abundant Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Elders are finding this unusual for this late in the season.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Hurricane Maria’s aftermath: ‘There will be no food in Puerto Rico’
In a matter of hours, Hurricane Maria wiped out about 80 percent of the crop value in Puerto Rico — making it one of the costliest storms to hit the island’s agriculture industry.
Yabucoa, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Frances Robles, Luis Ferre-Sadurni, The New York Times

Oil worker killed and eaten by hungry bears as beasts besiege towns and villages
Staff and passengers at Nyagan airport in fear of bear patrolling the runway and trying to break into terminal.
Nyagan, Khanty-Mansiyskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Hurricane Maria Makes Landfall in Dominica as Other Islands Brace for Potential Disaster
Hurricane Maria barreled through the islands that curve through the Caribbean.
Dominican Republic, Caribbean

Disappearance of right whales from winter breeding grounds a mystery
Scientists are at a loss to explain one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.
South Atlantic States Continental Shelf

Monstrous 1-ton ocean sunfish caught in Russia's far east, thrown to the bears
The group of Sakhalin fishermen did not expect to find the Lovecraftian monster in their nets as they took to the sea for smaller fry on Saturday. The enormous fish, considered a delicacy in some cultures, proved to be a dead weight as it didn't make it to the shore fresh.
Iturup island, Russia
RT International

For first time in 300 years, Barbuda is empty
When Hurricane Irma ravaged the Caribbean island of Barbuda, the storm left it uninhabitable." And, now, for the first time in 300 years, no one lives there.
Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda
Joe Sterling and Cassandra Santiago, CNN

Salmon Spill Sends Thousands of Invasive Fish Swimming Up and Down the Pacific Coast
Last month, a pen in Washington State holding hundreds of thousands of fish broke, sending swarms of silver Atlantic salmon swimming to the south and north.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States
Gizmodo

Millions at risk of water shortages as Asian glaciers melt
Asian glaciers are set to shrink by at least a third by 2100 due to climate change, researchers said on Thursday, threatening the millions who depend on their meltwaters for drinking and farming.
Himalayan Mountains
Mail Online

Dozens of dead moose discovered in Lapland, tests reveal they starved to death
Dozens of moose carcasses were discovered last spring in a Lapland national park, and Finland animal disease watchdog Evira has since determined that the animals died of malnutrition. The reason why they were unable to find sustenance is a mystery, as the area had relatively normal temperatures and snowfall last winter.

As Alaska Thaws, Everything Changes
HEALY, ALASKA—Bitter winters still dominate life in the Alaskan interior, but a practiced eye can spot the signs of a warming climate, particularly in the ground. Beneath the rolling fields of tussock scattered just north of the Alaska Range, what was once permanently frozen is starting to thaw. The impacts could ripple across the planet.
Gizmodo

B.C. loses more than one million hectares to wildfires
There have been 1,249 fires that have burned through roughly 1,173,886 hectares in B.C.
British Columbia, Canada

Extreme Flooding in Huslia
Huslia, Alaska, United States

For third year in a row, Alaska seabirds wash up dead
For the third year in a row, seabirds are washing up dead along the coastline in Alaska. Hundreds of birds have been discovered along a stretch of the Bering Sea, on the Pribilof Islands and as far north as Deering. Julia Parrish said the thin bodies of the dead fulmars and shearwaters washing up on shore suggest the birds are struggling to find enough to eat. So far, about 800 have been discovered along the coast of the Bering Sea. Parish said early lab results don’t point to disease. It looks like the birds are starving to death.
Bering Sea, East Coast Alaska, United States

Record numbers of Portuguese man o' war wash up on Cornish coast
Record numbers of the potentially-fatal Portuguese man o' war have washed up on the Cornish coast, according to conservationists.
Perranporth, England, United Kingdom
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Video shows methane leaking from beneath an Arctic river after spectacular eruption
Gas bubbles from waters filling crater hole on Yamal peninsula two months after volcanic-style explosion in thawing permafrost.
Yamal-Nenets District, Russia

Charting a Path for Churchill to Become a Sustainable Arctic Community
The northern Canadian town of Churchill, Manitoba, may be an early casualty of climate change, but it could become an Arctic sustainability pioneer, says Douglas Clark, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Arctic Deeply

Atlantic salmon arrive in French Creek -- Not in a good way!
Atlantic salmon, believed to be part of a cohort that escaped from a U.S.-based fish farm on Aug. 19, are being hauled in by anglers fishing out of French Creek on mid-Vancouver Island. Cameron Whe…
French Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Fisherynation.com

Late Bloomer - Wild Rose Enjoying the Fall
Fairbanks rose bush blooming in early September, 2017.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nahanni Butte residents told to stay out of community, as officials monitor nearby wildfire
Residents are now being asked to stay away from Nahanni Butte, N.W.T., after being forced out Thursday night by a forest fire burning close to the community.
Nahannie Butte, Northwest Territories, Canada

Small potatoes, big need: food bank blames bad weather for poor yield
The head of the Ottawa Food Bank says their ability to provide fresh produce to people in need has taken a hit this summer after a wet and cold growing season stunted production of staple foods like potatoes and carrots.
Stittsville, Ontario, Canada

Late Bloomer - Salal / Laughing Berry (Gaultheria shallon)
Late blooming Laughing Berry (*Gaultheria shallon*) in Metlakatla
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

Debris Eroding from Old Dumpsite
Community concerned about health and safety from old site.
Cheenik Creek, Alaska, United States

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) Confusion - Flying North then South
There were lines of cranes flying north and then this morning just before daylight, flying south
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Monarch butterflies might vanish from Tri-City summers
A study in Biological Conservation led by a WSU scientist documents the steep decline of monarch butterflies in the West. They could be functionally extinct within a few decades.
Irrigon, Oregon, United States
tri-cityherald

Lynn Canal fishermen land record low sockeye harvest
Gillnetters have caught about 36,900 sockeye salmon in Lynn Canal so far this summer, the lowest harvest on record, according to preliminary Alaska.
Chilkat Valley News

Algae blooms throughout BC Interior
Concerns about water safety for human and animal consumption for drinking and for recreation.
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

Wildfire smoke leads to weather alert on Vancouver Island
Environment Canada says these smoky conditions could remain until Wednesday.
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Victoria News

Skagway rocked by second landslide in under 2 weeks
Early Tuesday morning, a rockslide crashed into Skagway’s largest cruise ship dock. It was the second slide event in less than two weeks and caused a pair of cruise ships to divert to other ports. Some Skagway residents are calling on the city and the private company that owns the dock to take action.
Skagway, Alaska, United States

Dry Koksilah River threatens fish in Cowichan Valley
The Koksilah River is in trouble, with low flows threatening fish populations.
Koksiloh River, British Columbia, Canada

Russian River flooding is affecting Kodiak residents
Russian River flooded last week in Kodiak leaving some residents scrambling to address the damage.
Womens Bay, Alaska, United States

No injuries in Sitka Labor Day landslide
A landslide in Sitka early Monday afternoon stranded people on either end of the road system for about eight hours, but otherwise there no reports of damage or injuries.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Flock of Sandhills (Grus canadensis)
Sandhill cranes spotted flying east
Portage Creek, Alaska, United States

The Post-Harvey Mosquito Invasion Seems Like Hell
Plenty of people have described Hurricane Harvey as a disaster of biblical proportions, and it seems the next plague is upon us. It’s not locusts. Thanks to untold quantities of filthy standing water, millions of mosquitos are starting to hatch. And yes, they do bite. They love to bite.
Houston, Texas, United States
Gizmodo

Parasites on Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Parasite identified as sea lice.
Whipple Creek, Alaska, United States

Stampede suspected as dozens of walruses found dead near Point Lay
The Arctic barrier island where the carcasses were found has emerged as a favored end-of-summer haulout for animals trying to survive without summer sea ice.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Juvenile Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) in southern coastal BC
Southern BC Waters

Irritating smoke from wildfires choking US West, turning lives upside down
The smoke from massive wildfires hangs like fog over large parts of the U.S. West, an irritating haze causing health concerns, forcing sports teams to change schedules and disrupting life from Seattle to tiny Seeley Lake, Montana.
California
Fox News

L.A. Area Wildfire Spurs Hundreds Of Evacuations, Smoke Keeps Others Indoors
Los Angeles County's La Tuna Fire is one of 29 burning across the state, and "is the largest fire in the history of L.A. city," Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
Brace Canyon, Burbank, California, United States

Another 1,500 evacuated from Manitoba First Nation due to wildfire
The Canadian Red Cross says an additional 1,500 people from the Garden Hill First Nation in Manitoba have been given evacuation orders due to wildfire smoke in the Island Lake area.
Garden HiIl First Nation

Jolly Mountain Fire threatens 3,800 homes, unhealthy levels of smoke hit Yakima
UPDATE 3:55 P.M. With assistance from several supporting agencies, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office completed evacuation notices mid-day Saturday in the Roslyn, Ronald and Lake Cle Elum areas.
Jolly Mountain
Yakima Herald-Republic

Human mood drugs end up in Great Lakes fish
Study finds Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac and Serafem in multiple Great Lakes fish species — possibly changing their behavior and impacting the ecosystem
Niagara River, New York, United States
Detroit Free Press

Assessing the U.S. Climate in September 2017
During September, the average contiguous U.S. temperature was 66.3°F, 1.4°F above average.
Contiguous United States
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Landslides, floods, smoke: Prepare for climate change effects in Denali National Park
A new report identifies climate change as one of the challenges facing transportation in Alaska's most famous national park.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States

San Francisco sets all-time heat record downtown at 106 degrees during hottest recorded summer
According to the National Weather Service, 36.5 million residents, 98% of Californians, are under a heat advisory Friday as a high-pressure system broils the state from the Oregon to Mexico borders.
San Francisco, California, United States
latimes.com

After Atlantic salmon spill, fish farms’ future under attack on both sides of border
Cooke Aquaculture Pacific knew its Cypress Island facility was “vulnerable” before the spill that sent tens of thousands of invasive Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound. Now, the future of Atlantic salmon farming in Washington is in doubt.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
The Seattle Times

Cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus) in Seldovia
Cloudberries observed in new area around Seldovia.
Jakolof Bay Headwaters, Alaska, United States

Day of reckoning for marine invaders
For centuries, marine species have moved around either by hitching ride on the hulls of ships or as stowaways in ballast water. In many instances, species have been deliberately introduced for aquaculture or other commercial purposes.
United Kingdom
Phys.org

Coyotes infected with mange are being confused for ‘zombie’ dogs
Coyotes infected with sarcoptic mange have been mistaken for "zombie" dogs near Chicago IL police say. Coyotes also prevalent in Southern Illinois.
Hanover Park, Illinois, United States
Belleville News Democrat

Abundant Year for Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)!
The creeks were so full - I bet the oxygen levels weren't so good for them though.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Mysterious, Brain-Like Blob Found in Lagoon
Scientists are unsure if warming temperatures are causing the bizarre invertebrates to spread.
Lost Lagoon, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Large Iceberg Spotted Off The Coast of Látrabjarg
A large iceberg was spotted approximately 93 km (57 miles) to the west of Látrabjarg, which is located in the north-west of Iceland.

Spruce beetle devastation returns to Southcentral Alaska — and moves north
Beetles that killed millions of acres of trees in the 1990s were a first sign of climate change. In a new flare-up, they continue marching north as Alaska warms.
Cantwell, Alaska, United States

In maps: Houston and Texas flooding
Maps and graphics show the extent of the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston and Texas.
Houston, Texas, United States

Hot summer ends with cold blast and 'abnormal' August snow
Yakutia in a white blanket as temperatures dip to minus 6C as winter 'comes too soon'.
Udachny, Sakha, Russia
Siberia Times

Researcher Strikes Alarm: May Mean Death to the Reindeer
A small caterpillar has already infected large areas of Norway's largest county. Scientists fear this may be the beginning of something far worse.
Alta, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
NRK Sápmi

Residents warned to ‘get out or die’ as Harvey unleashes new waves of punishing rains and flooding
The devastating storm once known as Hurricane Harvey, already the biggest rainstorm in the history of the continental United States, delivered another punishing wave of rain Wednesday to Texas and Louisiana.
The Washington Post

St. Paul Ramps Up Reindeer Program to Improve Food Security
For the last century, reindeer have roamed St. Paul Island without much oversight. But now, the tribal government is stepping up its management style to boost subsistence options and the local economy.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
KTOO Public Media

Harvey's Impacts Outside of Houston: Flood Emergency Ongoing in Port Arthur, Texas
Harvey has been devastating beyond Houston. Here's the latest.
Port Arthur, Texas, United States
The Weather Channel

Canadian Town, Isolated After Losing Rail Link, ‘Feels Held Hostage’
The last train to Churchill sits beside the town’s antique station, settling into place week after week.
It arrived on May 23, the morning when floods washed out the track connecting this frontier town in northern Manitoba on the edge of Hudson Bay — and it hasn’t moved since.
Once a symbol of expansion and hope, the passenger train has become a painful emblem of lost jobs, empty hotel rooms and mounting hunger for the town’s residents, and a bellwether of climate change for scientists.
Notoriously high to begin with, the price of groceries in Churchill has skyrocketed as supplies now arrive by plane. Even with emergency government subsidies in place, a four-liter jug of milk that once cost 6.19 Canadian dollars, or nearly $5, now rings in at 10.89. Two small bags of produce, containing just fruit, snap peas and beans, cost 82.99.
New York TImes

Giant Wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes giganteusin)
Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States
Kris Holderied, Stephen Payton, Mandy Lindeberg

Levee breached in Texas amid 'epic and catastrophic' Hurricane Harvey flooding
The storm is not expected to relent until Wednesday afternoon.
Columbia Lakes, Texas, United States
ABC News

Worries mount over what busy mining road in Nunavut could mean for caribou migration
The Kivalliq Inuit Association says a road connecting the Whale Tail pit project to the Meadowbank mine, near Baker Lake, will bisect a caribou migratory route and will have more frequent traffic than any other mine in Nunavut.
Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada

Sea Mammal Identified as Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
Unidentified sea mammal bones later identified as beluga whale.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

Lummi Nation fishermen catch an estimated 20,000 Atlantic salmon following fish farm collapse
It's unclear how many Atlantic salmon escaped from the pen. The Lummi Nation says tribal fishermen have removed 20,000 from the Puget Sound. Washington state officials says Cooke Aquaculture has recovered 120,000 fish from the pen and that more are still inside.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States

Floods In South Asia Have Killed More Than 1,000 People This Summer
For the past several weeks, monsoon-triggered floods have devastated regions in Nepal, Bangladesh and India. This week, a new series of storms has brought everyday life in Mumbai to a near halt.
South Asia

Life returning to normal in Kamloops as wildfire evacuees head home
Looking around the deserted plaza in front of the Sandman Centre arena in Kamloops on Monday, it’s hard to believe that last month it was crammed with thousands of people who were looking for help after being forced from their homes by wildfires.
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

How Climate Change Likely Heightened Harvey’s Fury
Several factors have conspired to make Hurricane Harvey so destructive in Texas, and warming temperatures are likely part of the problem.
National Geographic

Here’s what that farmed fish escape in Washington could mean for Alaska
Some are concerned about the farmed Atlantic salmon coming to Alaska and bringing unwelcome competition for native species.
Anacortes, Washington, United States

How Climate Change Is Shaping the Floods of Harvey - The Atlantic
“Local rainfall amounts of 50 inches would exceed any previous Texas rainfall record. The breadth and intensity of this rainfall are beyond anything experienced before,” said a statement from the National Weather Service. “Catastrophic flooding is now underway and expected to continue for several days.”
Texas Coast, Gulf of Mexico, United States
The Atlantic

Wildfires are a climate change wake-up call
Wildfires are sweeping B.C.
British Columbia, Canada

Animated Film about Chronic Wasting Disease (Norwegian)
Tromsø, Troms, Norway
Villrein.no - alt om villrein

Hurricane Harvey was fueled by record heat in the Gulf of Mexico
Study calculates energy Harvey took from the ocean, shows human role.
Gulf of Mexico
Ars Technica

'Historic Devastation' ahead from Hurricane Harvey
The remnants of Harvey re-intensified into a hurricane on Thursday, and it may become a major hurricane by Friday.
Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
The Weather Network

U.S. First Nation declares state of emergency after Atlantic salmon spill near Victoria
A First Nation near Bellingham, Wash., has declared a state of emergency after thousands of Atlantic salmon escaped a U.S. fish farm in the San Juan Islands near Victoria, B.C.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States

B.C.'s coastal sea star population in increasingly hot water
Biologist Jackie Hilderling says four years of decline in B.C.'s sea star population is due to climate change warming local waters and making the animals susceptible to sea star-associated densovirus.
British Columbia, Canada

More escaped Atlantic salmon show up off Washington, no reports from B.C. waters
Point Williams, Washington, United States

'Environmental Nightmare' After Thousands Of Atlantic Salmon Escape Fish Farm
Officials blame the failure of a pen near Washington's Cypress Island on high tides caused by the eclipse, but that is being questioned. Fishing boats are scrambling to catch as many as possible.
Deepwater Bay, Washington, United States

Spill of farmed Atlantic salmon near San Juan Islands much bigger than first estimates
A fish farm was destroyed after the Atlantic salmon escape, with Cooke Aquaculture calling it a “salvage operation.” Scientists debunked the statement from Cooke that “exceptionally high tides and currents coinciding with this week’s solar eclipse” caused the damage.
The Seattle Times

Atlantic salmon escape U.S. fish farm near B.C. waters
Local Indigenous community says the invasive species could devastate fishing industry in the area
The Globe and Mail

Disturbing New Footage Shows Diseased, Deformed Salmon in B.C. Fish Farms
New footage released to DeSmog Canada shows deformed and disfigured salmon at two salmon farms on the B.C. coast — just as British Columbia reels from news of the escape of up to 305,000 Atlantic farmed salmon from a Washington salmon pen. Wild salmon advocate and fisheries biologist Alexandra Morton said she was shocked by the footage. “I was shocked and frankly disgusted,” Morton told DeSmog Canada. “These fish have open sores, sea lice, blisters all over their skin and a disturbing number of them are going blind.” Morton said the footage also gives an indication of what is now travelling through Pacific waters after the escape of potentially hundreds of thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon in the San Juan Islands just east of Victoria. Atlantic salmon are considered invasive in Pacific waters.
Broughton Island
DeSmog Canada

Environmentalists question eclipse explanation for huge salmon dump
Did Monday's eclipse play a role in a huge Atlantic salmon spill from a fish farm in the San Juans? The company says yes. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is urging the public to catch as many of the fish as possible, with no limit on size or number. The fish are about 10 pounds each. No one will know how many escaped until harvesting is completed.
Skagit County, Washington, United States
KGW8 NEWS

'There had to be over 1,000': Dead geese wash up on Cambridge Bay shore
Hundreds of dead snow geese have washed up on the shores near Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, and it may be some time before officials figure out what caused them to die. David Bird, an emeritus professor of wildlife biology and ornithologist at McGill University, said that while it's impossible to do anything but speculate until tissue analysis is conducted on the dead geese, it's likely that the birds died of disease.
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada

Alaska’s Permafrost Is Thawing
The loss of frozen ground in Arctic regions is a striking result of climate change. And it is also a cause of more warming to come.
Y-K Delta Southwest, Alaska, United States

Please go fishing, Washington state says after farmed Atlantic salmon escape broken net
Thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon were accidentally released into the waters between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands, and officials are asking people to catch as many as possible. Tribal fishers, concerned about native salmon populations, call the accident “a devastation.”

Increase in Common Raven (Corvus corax) abundance

Up to 305,000 invasive adult Atlantic salmon escape fish farm in San Juan Islands
There were 305,000, 10 lb Atlantic salmon when the pen at the fish farm in the San Juan Islands burst open on Saturday.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
Daily Hive

Please go fishing, Washington state says after farmed Atlantic salmon escape broken net
It's open season on Atlantic salmon as the public is urged to help mop up a salmon spill from an imploded net pen holding 305,000 fish at a Cooke Aquaculture fish farm near Cypress Island.

Hundreds of firefighters battling largest wildfire ever recorded in B.C.
Hundreds of firefighters and dozens of aircraft are working to contain the largest wildfire ever recorded in British Columbia's history, and it could take weeks to get it under control.
Chilcotin Plateau, British Columbia

What British Columbians can do in the aftermath of the Atlantic salmon farm spill
There could be a major ecological impact to the coastal waters stretching from British Columbia to Oregon after an Atlantic salmon farm near the San Juan Islands, just east of Victoria, accidentally spilled thousands of live fish into local waters.
Daily Hive

Thousands of Atlantic salmon escape fish farm near Victoria after nets damaged
Thousands of Atlantic salmon have escaped into Pacific waters east of Victoria after a net pen was damaged. The company is blaming high tides, but the tides weren't unusual.

How Climate Change Canceled the Grizzly Salmon Run
On an Alaskan island, one of nature’s greatest spectacles is shutting down, as brown bears abandon fish in favor of a surprising alternative.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
The Atlantic

Alaska's Grizzly Bears Drop Salmon for Berries as Climate Changes
When Kodiak Island's elderberries started ripening earlier, its iconic bears changed their diet. It's another ecological shift amid climate change, scientists say.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Land of ice and fire: Historic wildfire in the Arctic has burned for weeks
The wildfire appears historic in both its size and its duration, but no one can say for sure — because Greenland doesn't have longstanding records of fires.
Sisimiut, Qeqqata, Greenland
NBC News

Study shows increasing snow-free season on Slope
Snow is melting sooner and coming in later on the North Slope, and that, in turn, is having an affect on other ecological variables.
Arctic Slope, Alaska, United States

Walrus haulout in Northwest Alaska forms at earliest date ever recorded
Several hundred Pacific walruses have started to gather on an island off the northwest coast of Alaska — the earliest the animals have been observed leaving the water for the annual ritual, according to federal wildlife officials.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Loss of sea ice leads walruses to early appearance in Alaska
Hundreds of Pacific walruses came ashore to a barrier island on Alaska's northwest coast, the earliest appearance of the animals in a phenomenon tied to climate warming and diminished Arctic Ocean sea ice.

That's a lot of Humpies (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
We wondered at the huge number of pinks still in the lagoon. Are they running later then normal?
Tutka Bay Lagoon, Alaska, United States

2017 officially B.C.’s worst ever wildfire season

'It had to be done': Hot weather forces pleasurable dip in the Arctic Ocean
Temperatures neared 22 C in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, on the weekend. Hot enough for a sweet summer swim.
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada

Arctic heat wave sweeps across western Nunavut and High Arctic
Nunavut and High Arctic
NunatsiaqOnline

Can sea stars make a comeback in Kachemak Bay?
Sea star wasting syndrome, or disease as it has become known, hit Kachemak Bay hard in 2016, killing about 90 percent of sunflower and true star populations.
Kachemak Bay, Alaska, United States

Hazy, smokey skies continue to blanket parts of the N.W.T. prompting health advisories
Lutselk'e, N.W.T. is one of several communities in the Northwest Territories that has been blanketed by smoke over the past few days thanks to strong south winds blowing smoke up north from fires burning south of Great Slave Lake.
Lutselk'e, Northwest Territories, Canada

Tularemia reported around Fairbanks, Palmer; vets urge quick diagnosis, treatment for pets
The state Department of Fish and Game is warning pet owners in the Interior and Southcentral Alaska about a recent spike in reports of tularemia – sometimes called “rabbit fever.”
Interior - Southcentral, Alaska, United States

Unknown Plant Growing on Nanwalek Beach
Unidentified plant found on Nanwalek Beach
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

On Thin Ice in Peru
Human adaptation to climate change there is not going well
Lake Palcacocha, Ancash Region, Peru
Omaha World Herald

Funnel Cloud Spotted Near Flathorn Lake
Funnel cloud photographed from the air while flying near Flathorn Lake
Lower Susitna River Drainage, Alaska, United States

Changing Pingo (Palsa) Conditions
Enontekiö, Lapland, Finland

Yukoners noticing more stinging insects — and stings — this summer
A pest control specialist in Whitehorse says he's getting a lot more calls about stinging insects this summer - and that the heat may be to blame.

Permafrost Melt Causing River Erosion
Severe permafrost thaw and erosion along Koyukuk River banks.
Allakaket, Alaska, United States

Arctic waters get long-sought protection after Ottawa, Inuit group reach agreement
An Inuit group and the federal government are creating a national marine conservation area in Lancaster Sound that will be – by far – Canada’s largest
Lancaster Sound, Canada
The Globe and Mail

Skagway broke its all-time high temperature record on Saturday
Skagway set an all-time record high temperature of 93 degrees, and other records were broken across Southeast Alaska.
Skagway, Alaska, United States

Permafrost cost: Long-term fix at Ross River school could require constant power
A Yukon school could soon require constant electricity during the summer merely to avoid sinking. The 'active refrigeration system' would freeze ground under the Ross River school. The device would be the first of its kind in Yukon.
Ross River, Yukon Territory, Canada

Smoke from unusual Greenland wildfire hampers reindeer hunt
Smoke from a wildfire in southwestern Greenland is hampering the wild reindeer hunt on the Arctic island, best known for its ice rather than burning grass and bushes.
Nassuttooq Fjord, Greenland

Arctic Greenland is burning, hunters blinded by smoke
Smoke from a wildfire in southwestern Greenland is hampering the wild reindeer hunt on the Arctic island.
Nassuttooq Fjord, Greenland
ABC News

Smoke from unusual Greenland wildfire hampers reindeer hunt
Smoke from a wildfire in southwestern Greenland is hampering the wild reindeer hunt on the Arctic island, best known for its ice rather than burning grass and bushes.
Western Greenland

Swarm of Jellyfish in Garðabær
A swarm of jellyfish numbering in the hundreds washed ashore in the Sjáland area of Garðabær, a town just south of Reykjavík, yesterday.
Garðabær, Capital Region, Iceland

No end in sight for B.C. wildfires, one month since state of emergency declared
Wildfire conditions remained 'static' during the long weekend but fires still a concern through August
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Yukon News

More than 800,000 reindeer vaccinated against anthrax
In the course of summer, the whole reindeer population of the Nenets tundra will be made immune against the lethal bacteria infection.
Yamal Peninsula, Russia

Arctic Greenland is burning: Hunters blinded by billowing smoke during wild reindeer hunt
Smoke from a wildfire in southwestern Greenland is hampering the wild reindeer hunt on the Arctic island, best known for its ice rather than burning grass and bushes.
Nassuttoq Island, Greenland
National Post

Thawing permafrost forces closure of Dawson City's rec centre
Permafrost underneath the structure is believed to have melted since last fall and key parts of the building might not be able to withstand strong winds or an earthquake, according to a professional engineer hired by Dawson City.
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

Alaska’s tiny Bogoslof volcano erupts again, sending an ash cloud miles above the Aleutians
The significant explosive eruption started around 10 a.m. Monday, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported.
Bogoslof Island, Alaska, United States

Outside of Whitehorse, Yukon communities grapple with bear boom - Yukon News
'Officers have been going for two months straight with nothing but bear conflicts'
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

Global ocean circulation appears to be collapsing due to warming
Researchers have found a correlation between melting Arctic sea ice and changes in the planet's largest water circulation system that could lead to the collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
North Atlantic Ocean
Digital Journal

Extreme weather could kill 150,000 people each year in Europe by the end of the century
More than 150,000 people could die as a result of climate change each year in Europe by the end of the century, shocking new research has found. The number of deaths caused by extreme weather events will increase 50-fold and two in three people on the continent will be affected by disasters, the study – that serves as a stark warning of the deadly impact of global warming – found.
Europe
The Independent

Abundant Slugs Consuming Vegetation
Abundant slugs in Dillingham acting as a stressor to garden plants.
Dillingham, Alaska, United States

Mongolian reindeer herders' way of life under threat
One of the world's last nomadic reindeer people near Mongolia's border with Russia have captivated people from far and wide.
Khovsgal, Mongolia
TRTWorld

Horntail Wood Wasp (family Siricidae)
Horntail wood wasp (family Siricidae), attracted by fire damaged wood, observed a year after the McHugh fire along the Seward Highway.

Goose populations are shifting in Alaska
For decades, the crowds of small, dark sea geese on the tundra of southwestern Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta have been thinning, a situation opposite that of geese on the North Slope.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, United States

Retreating Exit Glacier has become an icon of climate change
The celebrity glacier on the Kenai Peninsula, though relatively small and getting smaller, looms large in the public consciousness.
Exit Glacier, Alaska, United States

Seabirds found dead on Nome beach
On Sunday, Austin Ahmasuk went along the beach to his camp at the Sinuk River, about 28 miles from Nome, and shortly after hitting West Beach past the port, he found one dead seabird on the shore.
Sinuk River, Alaska, United States

Dense Smoke Over Bellingham Bay
Bellingham, Washington, United States

Human influence in the Amazon's third 1-in-100 year drought since 2005
Deforestation and climate change appear to be amplifying droughts in the Amazon
Amazon River

Climate change may have driven gray whale up Kuskowkim
Climate change may be responsible for pushing Alaska’s Gray Whales up into estuaries and rivers like the Kuskokwim.
Napakiak, Alaska, United States

Air Quality Advisory due to Wildfires
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Poor air quality for Swinomish community members
Bay View, Washington, United States

Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata) - Smith Island, Puget Sound
Horned Puffin sighted near Smith Island in the Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, WA.
Oak Harbor, Washington, United States

Portland bakes: 105 degrees forecast Thursday
After hitting 100 degrees Wednesday, Portland’s light-rail trains are operating at slower speeds amid concern that the heat will cause tracks to expand and risk a derailment. In exchange for the slow service, inspectors are not checking riders for tickets.
Portland, Oregon, United States

New Jersey-Size Dead Zone Is Largest Ever in Gulf of Mexico
Scientists report the latest data from the Upper Gulf of Mexico, and the results aren’t good.
Northern Gulf of Mexico
National Geographic

Changing climate pushes polar bears toward more dangerous interactions with humans
Human-polar bear interactions are part of life in Arctic communities, but as melting sea ice forces polar bears onto dry land, they are becoming more common and potentially more dangerous. This is the message of a recent scientific paper. Listen now

Climate change before your eyes: Seas rise and trees die
Savannah River, United States

Growth on Rose Bush (Rosa acicularis)
Reddish growth on rosehip leaves
Gakona, Alaska, United States

Parts of South Asia could be too hot to live in by end of century
In 2015, South Asia experienced a deadly heat wave that killed roughly 3,500 people in Pakistan and India in a matter of months. New research suggests the region could face much worse by the end of the century.
Bangladesh

Deadly heat waves projected in the densely populated agricultural regions of South Asia
The risk associated with any climate change impact reflects intensity of natural hazard and level of human vulnerability. Previous work has shown that a wet-bulb temperature of 35°C can be considered an upper limit on human survivability. On the basis of an ensemble of high-resolution climate change simulations, we project that extremes of wet-bulb temperature in South Asia are likely to approach and, in a few locations, exceed this critical threshold by the late 21st century under the business-as-usual scenario of future greenhouse gas emissions. The most intense hazard from extreme future heat waves is concentrated around densely populated agricultural regions of the Ganges and Indus river basins. Climate change, without mitigation, presents a serious and unique risk in South Asia, a region inhabited by about one-fifth of the global human population, due to an unprecedented combination of severe natural hazard and acute vulnerability.
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Science Advances
Eun-Soon Im1, *, Jeremy S. Pal2, * and Elfatih A. B. Eltahir3, †

Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) off Masset, Haida Gwaii
near Masset, Haida Gwaii

110 salmon counted on Salmon River; tribe says new research could lead to protections
Another troubling sign of the poor state of this year's Pacific Ocean salmon runs was discovered on one the Klamath River's tributaries after an annual fish survey counted the second lowest number of spring-run Chinook salmon on record.
Salmon River, California
Eureka Times-Standard

3 Interior Alaska towns just had their warmest month on record
To varying degrees, nearly the entire state was warmer than normal this July, according to a weather expert.
Tanana, Alaska, United States

Local rivers possible solution for Iqaluit's imminent water shortage
While it researches long-term solutions, Iqaluit is looking at small fixes, like flexible pipe connectors, to stop pipes from breaking and leaking.

Meat industry blamed for largest-ever dead zone in Gulf of Mexico
A new report shows toxins from suppliers to companies like Tyson Foods are pouring into waterways, causing marine life to leave or die

Gray whale harvest on the Kuskokwim stirs up controversy
In Southwest Alaska, a tired crew of volunteers on Saturday night, dragged a large whale’s carcass onto shore near Napaskiak’s airport. The whale was grey, bloody and barnacled, and the men who set to work butchering it said it was at least 37-feet long. Residents are still distributing its blubber and meat, saying it will feed families throughout the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta for months.
Napaskiak, Alaska, United States

Sea Creature
Unidentified, deceased, sea animal washes ashore on Togiak beach

Australia records hottest July
Australia has had its warmest July on record, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has said. A BOM report released today shows the country's average July temperature was at its highest in more than 100 years of weather recording.
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Caterpillars spike around lakes and rivers near Aleknagik and Dillingham for second year
For the second year in a row, people around Dillingham, Aleknagik and Wood-Tikchik State Park and the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge are reporting a massive outbreak of caterpillars. Listen now
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States

Record July Temperatures
In July 2017 extremely high temperatures were recorded all over Cyprus. Specifically, the mean provisional daily maximum temperatures of Athalassa, Prodromos, Pafos Airport, Larnaka Airport and Paralimni are a record of high temperatures of July and rank July 2017 as the hottest for at least the last 30 years.
Nicosia, Lefkosia, Cyprus
Cyprus Government Information Office

A tale of two goose populations: Y-K Delta’s shrink, Arctic coast’s expands
Black brant populations are struggling in the species' once-dominant Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta breeding areas, but conditions are better for brant breeding on the Arctic coastline.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, United States

Stranded Carcass Identified as Bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) Whale
Carcass largely decomposed and difficult to identify.
North of Point Romanof, between Kotlik and Stebbins, Alaska, United States
William Murphy Jr., Kathy Burek Huntington, Gay Sheffield

Moose (Alces alces) with Boils on Hind Legs
Identified by ADFG as skin irritation caused by moose flies, (*Haematobosca alcis*) bites.

Homeowners see dead wildlife in Tinker Creek from chemical spill
Fallout continued Sunday after Saturday's chemical spill into Tinker Creek.
Hollins, Virginia, United States
WSLS

First record of bottlenose dolphins in Canadian Pacific waters
Authors of a recent Marine Biodiveristy Records publication describe a very special and surprising sighting of bottlenose dolphins in British Columbian waters: is this the first record of a long series to come?
South of Delwood Seamounts
On Biology

Coyote tapeworm in Alberta: 5th human case reported
A relatively rare tapeworm has popped up in several patients in Alberta, Canada in the past few years, which may not sound like much; however, the only other human case in Canada was in 1928 in Manitoba. The parasite is called Echinococcus multilocularis and it appearance in Alberta has caught the attention of some infectious …
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Outbreak News Today

Does the Caribbean have a shark problem?
Caribbean Sea
Virgin

Heavier Rainfall Will Increase Water Pollution in the Future
Researchers anticipate harmful nitrogen outputs to increase as a result of precipitation changes.
New York Bight

Australia’s dry and warm winter set to continue into spring
AUSTRALIA has just endured its second driest June in more than a century as the country’s virtually rainless winter continues.
Australia
NewsComAu

Unidentified Ant
Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States

Experts warn gas pipes are in real danger from exploding tundra
Gas pipes supplying Europe run right over swelling Yamal tundra which is deeply unstable to the release of underground methane.
Yamal Region, Russia

Entomologist tracks the year in Alaska bugs
Bugs of various shapes and sizes are part of life in Alaska, and it can be easy for them to escape notice.

Pumpkin the great white shark feasting in Nova Scotia's Minas Basin
Minas Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada

Change in Wind and Weather Patterns
Weather patterns have changed so much in the past several years.
Wales, Alaska, United States
Moses Tcheripanoff, Stanley Oxereok, Erica Lujan, Richard L Thoman Jr

Thousands lose power as windstorm roars through Interior Alaska
FAIRBANKS - A windstorm knocked out power to thousands of people from North Pole to Nenana on Sunday, according to the Golden Valley Electric Association.
Nenana, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Plastic Garbage Patch Bigger Than Mexico Found in Pacific
South Pacific Ocean Gyre

Stinging 'floating terror' spotted in Nova Scotia waters
The colourful Portuguese man-of-war is more commonly seen in warmer waters. Their painful stings can be fatal to some.
Crystal Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia

Officials resort to artificial rain to tackle raging wildfires in Siberia
Fires have wreaked havoc this summer with Yakutia and the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous the latest to be hard hit.
Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia
The Siberian Times

Weird Jelly on Tube Worms
Tube-Dwelling Worms on Seldovia Beach
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Hummingbird moths spotted in Yellowknife gardens
The moths hover in the air like hummingbirds, rapidly flapping their wings as they move from flower to flower, feeding on the nectar — and they've been seen in Yellowknife.

Warning about Death Cap mushrooms in Victoria and Vancouver
There is a warning from Island Health about a poisonous mushroom known as the "Death Cap", which has been spotted in residential areas near Victoria.
NEWS 1130

Wildfire season living longer than usual due to hot dry weather
Hot, dry weather over the northern Interior is keeping wildfire season alive longer than normal.
White Mountains, Alaska, United States

Indigenous fire clearing could prevent future wildfire infernos
One B.C. First Nation is preparing to revive traditional firekeeping to rejuvenate the forest and reduce the risk of destructive forest fires.
Peachland, British Columbia, Canada
Metro Vancouver

Beach Sand - Coastal Erosion
We are losing coastline due to erosion and this is a sad sight to witness.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States
Sandra Hill, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Mary Mullan

All hell breaks loose as the tundra thaws
Weatherwatch A recent heatwave in Siberia’s frozen wastes has resulted in outbreaks of deadly anthrax and a series of violent explosions
Yamal Pensula, Russia

Parasite worms its way into Alberta, infecting humans through dogs, coyotes
University of Alberta scientists are alerting the public to a potentially lethal tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis which infects humans through the feces of coyotes and dogs.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

BC wildfires caused in part by and contributing to climate change
In some recent years, GHG emissions from BC wildfires have been more than from all other sectors put together
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
The Climate Examiner

First Ripe Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium), South side of Wickersham Dome
Little early for blueberry to be ripe.
White Mountains National Recreation Area, Alaska, United States

Death cap mushrooms popping up early in Uplands
The potentially fatal death cap mushrooms that killed a three-year-old boy last year are popping up early in Uplands. The mushroom, known by the scientific name Amanita phalloides, was discovered.
Ripon Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

When the Sea Wall Breaks: Climate Change in Teller, Alaska
Teller, Alaska is identified by the US Army Corps of Engineers as one of 31 villages in imminent danger of the effects of climate change.
Teller, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Institute

Black Slugs (Arion ater L) Devastating Native Plants in Chugach Forest
Black slugs are impacting native plants in the Chugach Forest and may be spreading elsewhere.
McKinley Lake, Alaska, United States

Death cap mushrooms beginning to return to Victoria
A mycologist said the Amanita phalloides has sprouted up in Victoria again.

Woman dies from new, rare tick-borne virus
'No one had ever heard of it': Woman dies from rare tick-borne virus.
Miramiguoa State Park, Missouri, United States
KWWL

Fight fire with fire: How First Nations practice of burning the land helps prevent megafires
The grandchildren of Annie Kruger remember her lighting an Export A Green cigarette, throwing on her logger's jacket and heading out to set fires near Penticton, B.C. — part of an ancient tradition of using flames to clear brush, renew growth and create natural fireguards.
Okanagan Region, British Columbia, Canada

Potentially fatal death cap mushrooms spotted in Victoria neighbourhood
Island Health confirms the fungus, known scientifically as Amanita phalloides, has already flowered in Uplands this July.
Vancouver Island

Ticks Gorge on Squirrel
These ticks may have been an example of one native species in Alaska.
Bryers Lake State Recreation Area, Alaska , United States

'We never had fires like this for many years': Old Crow residents nervous about nearby fires
26 fires are burning in the Old Crow district but Yukon Wildland Fire says the community is not at risk
Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada

Early Flowering of Chinese Magnolia (soulangiana)
Flowering is occurring months early.
Maleny, Queensland, Australia

Ten Alaskans were sickened by raw or undercooked walrus. A parasite was in the meat, CDC says.
Alaskans from St. Lawrence Island were hospitalized with the food-borne parasite trichinella, which used to more typically infect pork. The CDC and state public health officials issued warnings.

Newly found disease could threaten Southeast Alaska spruce
A fungus that’s damaged trees in Southcentral and Interior Alaska has been discovered for the first time in Southeast. But there’s a chance its spread could be stopped.
Shrine of St. Terese, Alaska, United States

Where are Koliganek's king salmon?
More than 2.5 million sockeye have returned to spawn in the Nushagak River this year, one of the highest counts on record. They have filled pools and creeks, jumping and swimming their way to their spawning grounds.
Koliganek, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Mysterious bird deaths in Helsinki
Why are barnacle geese and seagulls dying by the dozens in Helsinki and not Turku? The birds have been dying in droves off the coast of Helsinki, and in the islands off coastal cities nearby as far out as Inkoo in the west and Porvoo in the east. The phenomenon was first reported on Thursday by Helsingin Sanomat.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

As low Nushagak River restricts barge travel, New Stuyahok limits heating fuel
Koliganek and New Stuyahok are still waiting on their first barge of the year. Heating fuel use for residents and businesses in New Stuyahok is limited.
New Stuyahok, Alaska, United States

Smoke from northeast Alaska fires drifts into Fairbanks
Smoke from a handful of fires in northeast Alaska and across the border in Canada drifted south to Fairbanks on Tuesday and is expected to linger through Wednesday night.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

As sea ice gets scarcer, polar bear attacks on people become more frequent
More polar bears on land have been encountering more people in the Arctic, a perfect storm of dangerous conditions, one scientist says.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

The Arctic is full of mercury, and scientists think they know how it's getting there
The remote Arctic tundra may seem like the last place on Earth human pollution should be causing a problem — yet it’s filled with mercury contamination.
Toolik Field Station, Alaska, United States
The Washington Post

These birds are trapped between predators and rising sea levels
Which is worse: getting eaten, or drowning? Read on.
Georgia salt marshes
Popular Science

Gansevoort man died after contracting rare tick virus
The state Department of Health announced Wednesday that a Saratoga County resident died in recent months after contracting a rare tick-borne illness known as Powassan Virus.
Gansevoort, New York, United States
Glens Falls Post-Star

The San Francisco Bay Area Faces Sea Level Rise and Chronic Inundation
Sea level rise will affect the Bay Area. A new study by UCS projects when will flooding happen regularly, and what areas will affect to help communities prepare for the changes to come.
Milpitas, California, United States
Union of Concerned Scientists

B.C. wildfires’ impact on animals ‘to be horrific’: wildlife rehab facility
A major wildlife rehabilitation facility is bracing for the devastating impact of the B.C. wildfires on birds and mammals.
Smithers, British Columbia, Canada

Yellowknife fire ban extends to Yellowknife River, Fred Henne parks
A fire ban, announced yesterday, includes two territorial parks, the GNWT confirmed.

Dazed and Confused Pilot Whales
Pilot whales are abyssal creatures, usually spending their lives far away from land. It is not known for sure why the whales drift ashore but they might be confused when they encounter shallows on their swims.
Rif, West, Iceland

No weather relief in sight
As wildfires continue to rage in B.C., there's no rain relief in sight
Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada

State of emergency continues as fire near Fort Good Hope, N.W.T. grows to over 8,000 hectares
A wildfire burning near Fort Good Hope, N.W.T. has increased in size to over 8,000 hectares and is moving closer to the community.
Sahtu Region, Northwest Territory, Canada

Emptied tide pools tell the story of Kachemak Bay’s disrupted ecosystem
Beach walks this summer find many familiar creatures absent. This changing natural world demands attention and caring.
Bear Cove, Alaska, United States

Gas pipelines supplying Europe 'in real danger from exploding tundra' - top scientist
Pipes are built over bulging and unstable Arctic pingos prone to violent eruptions caused by 'thawing methane gas', as seen twice on the Yamal peninsula this year.
Yamal Region, Russia

L'agrile du frêne (Agrilus planipennis) détecté à Québec
Emerald Ash Borer Detected in Quebec City - a larva was found under the bark of one of the 400 branches taken from municipal ash trees in 2017. "
Québec, Quebec, Canada

Family watches in horror as cabin is swept away by river in Alaska
A family in Alaska watched in horror as their beloved cabin (pictured) that was built in the 1940s was swept away by the Matanuska River over the Fourth of July weekend.
Matanusak River, Alaska, United States
Mail Online

California fires spread quickly, evacuation orders lifted in other parts of West
In other parts of the West, evacuation orders were lifted in Colorado and Montana towns threatened by wildfires
Santa Barbara County
CBS News

Canada's British Columbia battles wildfires
British Columbia has declared a state of emergency and thousands have been evacuated.
100 Mile House

It's All a Month Early
A number of plants are growing oddly "out of season".
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States

Possible new invasive species discovered in Juneau
There’s a new, probably non-native, invasive species in town, just discovered in late June. It’s a disease-causing fungus (*Gemmamyces piceae*) that afflicts spruce buds, often killing them altogether but sometimes just causing deformed buds and twigs.

Caterpillars taking Anvil Mountain, inch by inch?
A biologist peers into his collection jar to find an example of the green caterpillars that have been dining on willow bushes, making brown batches on the landscape in and about Nome.

A trillion-ton iceberg the size of Delaware is about to break off Antarctica
Scientists are divided about the impact of climate change on this particular break in Antarctica's ice shelf.
Weddell Sea, Antarctica
ChicagoTribune.com

18 temperature records smashed
Temperature records were broken around the province with Vernon breaking an 111-year-old record
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

Caterpillar (Orthosia hibisci) Infestation Causes Defoliation
The village of Anvik along the west bank of the Yukon River has an increase in defoliation associated with caterpillar numbers.
Anvik, Alaska, United States
Derek Sikes, Alberta Walker, Jessie Moan

Wildfires burning across northern Alaska
Of the 89 wildfires burning across Alaska right now, several are in the northern part of the state, either in the Arctic or near its southern boundary.
Campbell River Fire, Alaska, United States

‘Biblical’ plague of flies descends on Dublin 4
Locals blame Poolbeg incinerator for infestation in Sandymount and Ringsend
Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
The Irish Times

What Kind of Beetle is This?
Unknown Beetle
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States

M 5.8 Earthquake
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, responsible for monitoring, reporting, and researching earthquakes and earthquake hazards
Montana Mountains NW of Helena
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

Scientists find strange sea creatures in Alaska for the first time
Pyrosomes were first seen on the Oregon coast in 2014 and every year since. Recently they have been reported in Washington, BC and Alaska. These weird organisms that resemble large pink thimbles, could signal really big changes in the marine ecosystem.
CBS News

Methane explodes under Yamal tundra, creates another sinkhole
Locals say they saw flames and smoke as a major bubble of methane blasted below the surface and created another sinkhole in the Russian Arctic peninsula.
Yamal Peninsula, Russia

Lake Ontario levels are falling – but damage costs are rising
Taxpayers are staring at a $4.5-million-plus bill to repair everything from eroded trails to disappearing beaches to flooding streets.
Bayfront Park, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
TheSpec.com

A New Trend On The Great Plains: More Wildfires
Wildfires burned through thousands of acres of Great Plains farm and ranch land in the 1980s. Today, wildfires are likely to char millions of acres. The
Pine Ridge, Nebraska, United States
KUNC

Scientist says hatchery strays could threaten wild fish populations
Large numbers of salmon straying from hatcheries in Southeast Alaska, as well as a low river flow, helped create lethal environments for wild salmon, according to a new report.

What Is This Cotton-like Bug?

Fish & Game: Ticks on the rise in Alaska
They're a parasite many people don't think live in Alaska, but Fish and Game says ticks are here and their numbers are on the rise.
KTVA Alaska

Small Ladybug Like Beetle (Chrysomela)
Unidentified beetle near Tongass Highway
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Coastal Shore Erosion
Coastal erosion occurring near Cape Blossom, outside of Kotzebue, Alaska.
Cape Blossom, NW Alaska, United States

Storm winds knock out power to thousands
High winds blasted across south-western Finland Friday, cutting electricity to customers. The rare June storm peaked on Friday afternoon.
West of Helsinki, Finland

Yukon River chinook run stronger, but not enough for open fishing - Yukon News
‘It’s still only about half of the historical average,’ fisheries official says
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

An Interior wildfire sparks back up
A wildfire north of Delta Junction has reignited. The more than 8,000-acre South Fork Salcha Fire was started by lightning earlier this month in a remote area about 70 miles southeast of Fairbanks.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Mosquitoes from hell: Why you shouldn't go outside unless you're prepared to get eaten alive
April’s high levels of rainfall led to continued flooding across the Greater Toronto Area‘s many beaches, creating a “breeding ground” for mosquitoes and West Nile Virus.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Unidentified Marine Mammal
We could not figure out the what type of sea mammal it is.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Kathy Burek Huntington, Janet Mitchell

Pine foliage disease apparently slowing
A foliage disease epidemic that killed shore pines near 10 Mile and other areas around Haines appears to have subsided, according to a U.S. Forest
Chilkat Valley News

Plant Health and Condition
The leaves, in general, don't look too healthy. They seem to lack vitality and are shriveled in many places.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States
Gino Graziano, Jessie Moan, Wilson Justin

Tales of Lake Iliamna monster resurface with new sightings
On June 19, some kids spotted an unrecognized creature the size of a large whale offshore near the Alaska village of Iliamna. Other accounts followed.
Iliamna Lake, Alaska, United States

Caterpillars Infestation
Infestation of an unknown species of caterpillar.
Grayling, Alaska, United States

Plenty of water? Canadian Arctic communities on the verge of running out
Looking at a map of Arctic Canada, it seems there are literally thousands of lakes and rivers, yet many Arctic communities are facing water shortages or threats of shortages to come.
Iqaluit, capital of Nunavut Territory, will be facing that problem in the very near future.
Andrew Medeiros (PhD)

Aggressive grizzly bear harasses Dempster Highway travellers
Conservation officers believe the same bear was involved in two recent encounters. The most recent involved a motorcyclist forced to back up by the approaching bear.
Dempster Highway (kilometres 230-270), Yukon Territory, Canada

'Hard to believe': Western Arctic community marvels at moose sighting
Community members in Paulatuk, N.W.T., captured rare images this week of two moose wading in the Arctic Ocean.
Paulatuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Algae bloom prompts warning to avoid part of Okanagan Lake
The Okanagan Indian Band is advising residents to not enter or consume water from the north arm of Okanagan Lake until further notice due to a toxic algae bloom.
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

Plague Is Found in New Mexico. Again.
Two people were found to have plague this week. What does the disease look like in the modern world, and why does it keep happening in New Mexico?
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

Tiny California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus)
The smallest California cuke I have found.

A 'Ghost Shark' Swims into our Imaginations
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute fascinated the world when it released a video of an unusual species of "ghost shark" in its natural, deep-sea habitat off our own Central Coast—the first time the species has ever been seen alive. These recently published observations also established a range extension for the species into the Northern Hemisphere.
Davidson Seamount
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM SHORELINES

Jellied sea creatures confound scientists, fishermen on U.S. Pacific Coast
Drifting throngs of pyrosomes, jelly-like, glowing organisms native to tropical seas have invaded Pacific coastal waters from Southern California to the Gulf of Alaska this year, baffling researchers and frustrating fishing crews.
Baranof Island, Alaska, United States
Reuters

Twenty Humpbacks Spotted in Eyjafjörður
Visitors to Eyjafjörður fjord in North Iceland could be lucky enough to meet with the spectacle of up to 20 humpback whales currently sojourning there.
Eyjafjörður, Iceland

Large hailstone deluge marks midsummer in Altai, breaking car windows, ruining harvests
Female resident killed in Novosibirsk by falling tree as freak weather continues to grip Siberia.
Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk, Russia

Fire May Be the Only Remedy for a Plague Killing Deer and Elk
Across a growing swath of North America, these animals are dying from a mysterious disorder called chronic wasting disease. It’s caused not by a virus or bacterium, but a deformed protein called a prion.
Rocky Mountains, United States

4 Dead, Liverless Sharks Wash Ashore in Weird Whodunit
Orca whales appear to be killing great white sharks and eating their livers and, in some cases, their hearts.
Western Cape Province, South Africa
Live Science

Going Buggy Without Bats
East Burke, Vermont, United States

Change in Maple Sugaring
Farmers that "sugar" are frustrated with the short Spring sugaring season and are looking into alternate ways to collect the sap.
East Burke, Vermont, United States

Pipefish (Sygnathinae) Observed
Found Pipefish
Port Graham, Alaska, United States

Decline in Bumble and Honey Bees
This year we have very few apples that are fully pollinated. We are building bee houses next to our garden in hopes that we can bring the bees back and next year.
St Johnsbury, Vermont, United States

Butterfly invasion hits Siberia as Black-veined White goes east
Extinct in the UK, and on the retreat in western Europe and Scandinavia, the species if prolific this summer in Tomsk and Novosibirsk.
Tomsk, Tomsk, Russia

Unprecedented event: 6 North Atlantic right whales found dead in June
Gulf of Saint Lawrence

New Research Sparks Health Canada Warning Deer Plague Might Infect Humans
Chronic wasting disease long thought not to affect human health.
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
The Tyee

What has happened to our Chugach Dall sheep?
Is climate change reducing the quantity and quality of Alaska's Dall sheep habitat? That's the hypothesis being tested by two researchers.
Nelchina Glacier, Alaska, United States

Where are the kings? Kuskokwim River may see its worst run on record.
Residents who have long depended on chinook salmon to fill drying racks and smokehouses are worried about their food for next winter.

Rat (Rattus norvegicus) at Kodiak Airport
Spotted a rat at the Kodiak Airport while doing intertidal surveys.

'I had no idea they would add up so quickly': Cockroaches infest Arviat home
Savia Shamee is warning Northerners who travel to pay attention to what they might inadvertently be bringing home.
Arviat, Nunavut, Canada

Phoenix sets heat record for third day in a row
For the third day in a row, Phoenix has broken a daily high temperature record.
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
azcentral.com

Health authorities have found Zika virus mosquitoes in Long Beach, California
Authorities have warned residents to watch out for mosquito bites and clean out pet bowls as the Aedes aegypti species breeds in stagnant water.
Long Beach, California, United States
Newsweek

Sitka considers code changes in landslide zones
The state is currently mapping the potential risk for landslides in Sitka. This time next year, the Sitka Assembly will be presented with a community-wide map. Listen now

Las Vegas hits 117 degrees, tying a record, as the Southwest bakes
Dozens of flights out of Phoenix, Arizona, have been cancelled because of extreme heat.
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Killer whales are stalking boats and stealing their fish
Pods of killer whales are stalking the boats of Alaska fishermen and stealing their halibut catches, leaving the men with no fish and thousands of gallons of fuel wasted trying to flee.
It’s not...
Bering Sea
The Verge

Western Greenland could see more flooding like Saturday's tsunami
A 300-metre wide, 1,000-meter high rock slid into the sea causing the initial wave and more of the rock face is unstable.
Nuugaatsiaq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland

'Really odd': 2 fatal maulings in 2 days by Alaska black bears
Experts say brown or grizzly bears attack and kill people far more often in Alaska than black bears. Authorities say black bears killed a 16-year-old runner at Bird Ridge over the weekend and a Pogo Mine contractor Monday.
Pogo Mine, Alaska, United States

Death Valley temperatures may hit 128 on summer's first day. The heat may give you bragging rights. Or it can kill you
You won't need any reminder that it's summer in the national park. The heat wave that's settled over the Southwest has already brought 120-degree readings, which will likely be surpassed this week.
Furnace Creek, California, United States

American Airlines Cancels 38 Phoenix Flights Due to Heat
American Airlines has canceled 38 flights in and out of Phoenix on Tuesday afternoon because of extreme heat.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona, United States
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Extreme heat keeping Kings River at flood levels
Because this extreme heat will last for several more days, the floodwaters aren't going away anytime soon. The higher the truck, the better for residents evacuating flooded homes in the River Bend RV Park.
River Bend RV Park, Minkler, California, United States
ABC30 Fresno

Millions of tropical sea creatures invade waters off B.C. coast

Too Much Rain
Summer rain affecting subsistence food preservation.

Polar bear in Nunavik's northernmost community? No, it's a black bear.
Black bears typically stay near the treeline — but what was this guy doing so far up North, away from it?
Salluit, Nunavut, Canada

Natural catastrophe in Greenland caused by tsunami
The town of Nuugaatsiaq on Greenland's west coast was hit by a tsunami on Sunday devastating the town and the people living there. The people were evacuated by helicopters.
Nuugaatsiaq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland
IceNews

Snow cancels Yukon-Alaska bike race for 1,300 riders
For the first time in 25 years, the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay has been cancelled - unexpectedly due to snow, 'black ice and slushy sections.'
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada

Caterpillars invade Great Slave Lake area
The tent caterpillar may be chewing its way through swathes of forest foliage, but there's no danger of harm to trees, says expert.

As the North Slope of Alaska warms, greenhouse gases have nowhere to go but up
Thanks to warming winters and thawing permafrost, Arctic soil microbes are churning out carbon dioxide well after the end of the growing season ends. This extra source of atmospheric carbon may accelerate a regional warming trend that is already twice as fast as the global average.
Climate.gov

Sitka-based trooper kills brown bear chasing his dog
The 400-pound young boar attacked the 6-month-old puppy Wednesday morning, according to troopers and state biologists.

Spring Peepers Frogs (Pseudacris crucifer) Make Mating Calls in February
Trafalgar, Indiana, United States

At Denali base camp, unseasonable warmth creates dangers for climbers
The fall of a climber into a crevasse highlighted this season's risky combination of crumbling snow bridges and splintered climbing teams.
Kahiltna Glacier, Mount Denali, Alaska, United States

Phytoplankton Have Turned The Bosphorus A Stunning Turquoise
When conditions are right, phytoplankton populations can grow explosively. And the ones blooming in the Black Sea right now are reflective, turning the usually dark water bright and milky.
Karakoy Neighborhood, Istanbul, Turkey

Squid Found in Seldovia Bay
Squid are occasionally found in the area, but not very often.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Bizarre, Glowing Sea Creatures Bloom in the Pacific
Tropical, tube-shaped animals called pyrosomes, known as "fire bodies,"; appear by the millions off the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. No one knows why.
Gulf of Alaska, United States

Tick discovered in Yellowknife, being tested for Lyme disease
It appears ticks have made their way to Yellowknife - one of the blood-thirsty bugs was plucked off a dog over the weekend.

Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum pluviale) Outbreak in Yellowknife
Jakub Olesinski, Brian Sieben, Moses Tcheripanoff

Iqaluit could start running out of fresh water by 2024
Without action, the supply of fresh water in Iqaluit will begin to dwindle by 2024 due to climate change and increased demand, new research has found.
ScienceDaily

Climate change researchers cancel expedition after climate change makes conditions too dangerous
A team of scientists had to abandon an expedition from Quebec City to Churchill, Man., on Sunday because of hazardous ice conditions caused by climate change.
Strait of Belle Isle, Newfoundland, Canada

Some Of Our Birches Are Dying

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), Taylor Highway
Bird observed well beyond its typical range.
Columbia Creek Bridge, Taylor Highway, Alaska, United States

Climate change and low water sinks popular Yukon fishing derby
The Kluane Lake Fishing Derby won't happen this Canada Day weekend, because organizers say it's become too hard to launch a boat. The lake's water level has dropped significantly, since a retreating glacier stopped feeding the lake with melt water.
Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

Climate change draws beavers farther north, causing problems for Inuvialuit fishermen
Richard Gruben was planning to hunt wild geese near Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. Instead, the Inuvialuit hunter ended up harvesting an iconic rodent — his first ever.
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territory, Canada

Climate change is catching up with gardeners: just look at the Chelsea flower show
What will British gardens look like in 20 years’ time? Robbie Blackhall-Miles finds some clues at the Chelsea flower show
Chelsea, England, United Kingdom

Musk-ox (Ovibos moschatus) Far Inland
No one in Chuathbaluk has ever seen Musk-ox this far inland before.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Fire Smoke Encroaching into Unalakleet
A haze surrounding the hills had a distinct smell of burned wood.

Late Bloom Of Moss
Late Mossberry (*Empetrum nigru*) Bloom

Dead Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Spit Beach
Dead eagles are becoming more common around Sand Point, with one recently reported on Spit Beach

Study looks at climate change’s effects on Kodiak berries, wildlife
“We really don’t know when the problem started and whether it was a long-term situation this winter, but the bottom line is that it appears that salmonberry and blueberry were affected by the amount of cold and the depth of cold that we had that killed the winter buds and killed the above-ground stems of those plants,” Pyle said.

Summer surprise: Snow in Lapland prompts ski resort to reopen
The skiing season ended in Northern Lapland in mid-May, but the weather there is still so cold and snowfall so frequent that the Saariselkä resort will temporarily reopen its slopes, which are currently up to a metre deep in snow.
Inari, Lapland, Finland

Too many pink salmon in Kachemak Bay?
If Alaska expands how many pink salmon its hatcheries — such as the one in Tutka Bay — produce, will there be unintended consequences that harm Kachemak Bay?
Tutka Bay, Alaska, United States

Dramatic Rise in Tick Population
We were picking ticks off the dogs and ourselves and when we got home we found an additional 20 or so ticks on ourselves and each of the dogs.
West Burke, Vermont, United States

Record flooding levels on Okanagan Lake
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Worm Species Found During Beluga Hunt
Several dozen worms were observed during a Beluga hunt in Norton Bay.
Norton Bay, Alaska, United States

Fewer European Earwigs (Forficula auricularia) in Victoria, BC

Dwindling spring snowpack could be a troubling sign for Alaska wolverines
The elusive animals use snow caves to give birth and nurture their young. Just how much spring snow they need is not yet known.
Northwest Alaska, United States

Risk of profuse blue-green algae blooms in Gulf of Finland
The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) has warned that the Gulf of Finland faces the risk of earlier and larger than usual blue-green algae blooms this summer – weather permitting. The environment agency says high levels of phosphorous have the potential to feed abundant toxic algal growths.
Gulf of Finland, Suoim, Finland

Oceanfloor Craters Hint of Potential Arctic Methane Explosions in the Future
Hundreds of craters caused by methane explosions were discovered underneath Barents sea. Further research finds evidence that the violent explosions could happen again in the future.
Barrents Sea
Tech Times

Idaho mosquitoes test positive for West Nile
BANNOCK COUNTY -- Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus have been discovered in eastern Idaho, health officials warned Friday.
Brannock County, Idaho, United States
KTVB

Warmer Kodiak seasons mean more fruit
The last few years of warm weather means that more apples and even pears have popped up around town.
KMXT - Kodiak

Drying Ponds and Buttercups
I went to gather some yesterday and there was no water to speak of; in a pond that's has been filled with water my whole life.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Mosquito capable of spreading Zika found in Southern Nevada
County health officials have detected a species of mosquito responsible for spreading Zika and other viruses for the first time in Southern Nevada.
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Las Vegas Review-Journal

West Nile Virus: Mosquitoes In Madison, Antioch Test Positive
The Health Department says two batches of mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus, but no human cases have been reported.
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
East Nashville, TN Patch

Tent caterpillars take over Dundurn-area yard
Tammi Hanowskirsquo's yard is carpeted in forest tent caterpillars.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Saskatoon

Finland endures coldest May in nearly half a century
As many people resident in Finland already know, May was an exceptionally cold month. According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute FMI, the last time May daytime temperatures were this low was in 1969.
Paimio, Southwest Finland, Finland

Mule Deer Found Dead Raises Questions
Winter tick has been found in over 50 percent of the mule deer examined by wildlife officials in the Whitehorse area and is also found on moose, caribou, and elk in the Yukon
Alaska Fish and Wildlife News

Food Forest Garden at NWIC Enjoying the Warm Weather
*Foodscaping a Tribal College* – The purpose of the project is to provide the Northwest Indian College (NWIC) and Lummi Communities with a model of food sovereignty and local access to organic, traditional foods.
Ferndale, Washington, United States

Dropping water level on Kluane Lake causing problems, MLA says
The water level on Kluane Lake began dropping last year after a river of glacial meltwater abruptly changed course, leaving docks and boat ramps high and dry.
Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory, Canada

West Nile investigated in boy’s death, which would be Missouri’s earliest fatal case
The Jackson County Medical Examiner has sent samples for testing to the Missouri Department of Health after a possible West Nile death. If confirmed it would be the earliest West Nile fatality in a calendar year in Missouri history.
Independence, Missouri, United States
Kansas City Star

Poisonous Mushroom in Iceland
It has recently been confirmed that a poisonous mushroom, by the name of Steinkrympill has found its way to Iceland.
Laugarvatn, South, Iceland

Hundreds Of Dead Seabirds, Sea Lions Wash Up In California
The likely culprit is a toxic algal bloom, fueled by warmer ocean temperatures.
Carpinteria, California, United States
HuffPost

They just keep coming: Tent caterpillar invasion coats Sask. home in insects — and feces
Hordes of tent caterpillars have covered Tammi Hanowski's home south of Saskatoon and have crawled up the walls and made their way into her pool.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Moscow storm: At least 16 people killed
A fierce storm whipped through Moscow Monday, killing 16 people, toppling thousands of trees and damaging several buildings, officials said.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia

Erosion Could Drain Lake at Anytime
Goldfish Lake near Port Heiden is on the verge of draining into the Bering Sea.
Chris Maio, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Mike Brubaker, Richard Buzard, Scott Anderson, Susan Flensburg, Erica Lujan, Moses Tcheripanoff

Extremely dry conditions as crews fight wildfire near Haines Junction
Crews continue to work a 13-hectare blaze about 40 kilometres northwest of Haines Junction. The risk of wildfire is now considered 'extreme' in many parts of the territory.
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada

Lone Star Tick invades Southeast
Tick season is here and it's no secret the parasites can transmit dangerous diseases.But there's a relatively new and rare tick-borne disorder that causes an allergic reaction to red meat called 'Alpha Gal.'Jasmine Bailey reports how the tick that carries
Mobile, Alabama, United States
WPMI

Ticks are flourishing in St. Lawrence County, Lyme disease rates likely higher than tracking shows
Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States
NorthCountryNow

Ghost fishing: Lost pots are a crab killer
Douglas Indian Association catalogs marine debris at the bottom of Gastineau Channel | Though it sounds like the subtitle to a Pirates of the Caribbean movie, ghost fishing is a real phenomenon. It's going on right now in Gastineau Channel.

Leaping lizards! Victoria under invasion
Times Colonist

Video: Savoonga residents describe changes in spring sea ice
As spring walrus hunting season gets underway, residents of St. Lawrence Island talk about sea ice changes and how they affect the village.
Savoonga, Alaska, United States

Scientists: Tick population exploding across Long Island
Scientists predict a record year for ticks on Long Island and the rest of the Northeast, and they are attributing the surge to a confluence
Long Island, New York, United States
Newsday

Melting sea ice causing 'eco-anxiety' in remote Labrador community
The annual ice melt in Canada's North is occurring earlier and earlier, and some researchers say that and other climate-related changes are affecting the mental health of populations in Inuit communities. CBC's Sabrina Fabian reports from Rigolet, Labrador.
Rigolet, Labrador Canada

Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) Hauling Out with Seals
Sea otter population growth not seen in recent history and shellfish harvest have been dropping.

Greenland Glacier Melt Actually Warped Earth's Crust
A massive wave of ice and water in 2012 caused the amount of ice lost from the Rink Glacier to increase by more than 50 percent
Rink Glacier, Greenland
Scientific American

For two Alaska villages, walruses remain essential. As sea ice disappears, can it last?
Thinning sea ice puts walruses nearly out of reach. The federal government may list walruses as an endangered species. And ivory bans elsewhere are making it hard for walrus-tusk carvers to sell their art.

Marea Roja en costas de Ensenada
Salvavidas, pescadores y funcionarios de gobierno dicen que nunca se había presentado este fenómeno en esta zona.
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) Haulout at Cape Greig
Pacific Walrus haulout at Cape Greig.
Cape Greig, Alaska, United States

Earthquakes Change Well-water Quality
Residents associated poor well water quality with earthquakes.
Scott Anderson, Melissa O'Domin, Erica Lujan

Victoria Day heat a 10-year Duncan high
Victoria Day brought with it a statutory holiday and a new 10-year high in Duncan.
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada

Swedes face hosepipe bans after long dry spell
Sweden's towns, villages and cities have been warned to plan for emergency water deliveries and hosepipe bans in a letter from nine Swedish agencies.
Södertälje, Stockholm, Sweden

Evacuation alert issued for wildfire near Lumby
More firefighters are expected to go to a wildfire burning out of control near Lumby, B.C. on Wednesday.
Lumby, British Columbia, Canada

Fast Moving Hail Storm
Observed fast moving weather system... as quickly as it came it abated.

Climate change taking toll on clarity of Lake Tahoe water
Scientists say climate change is causing Lake Tahoe to warm sooner in the spring than it has historically, disrupting the normal mixing of shallow and deep water and undercutting gains made in reversing the loss of clarity of the cobalt mountain lake.
Crystal Bay, Nevada, United States
sacbee

Southern California fisherman catches rare giant fish
Shawn Steward of Oxnard, Calif., had a once-in-a-lifetime catch last week in the Channel Islands. Steward caught a 90-pound opah, which is very rare to this area.
Channel Islands, California
Fox News

Fast Sea Ice Movement

Don't panic, humanity's doomsday seed vault is probably still safe
A lot of water went into the start of the tunnel and then it froze to ice, so it was like a glacier when you went in,” Statsbygg spokeswoman Hege Njaa Aschim told the Guardian of the water breach.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Eastern US Trees Shift North, West With Climate Change
The northward shift to get to cooler weather was expected, but several experts were surprised by the move to the west, which was larger and in a majority of the species
Eastern forests, United States
VOA

‘Doomsday’ seed vault meant to survive global disasters breached by climate change
The seed bank designed to preserve the world’s crops and plants in the event of global disaster isn’t prepared to withstand the greatest global disaster facing our planet: global warming. Melting...
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
The Verge

State checks dead mule deer near North Pole for dreaded parasite
Alaska Department of Fish and Game seeks the public's help in determining the date that an exotic deer died near North Pole.
North Pole, Alaska, United States

Sinkhole pops up at Ft. Wainwright
A sinkhole has opened up on Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks. The 3-foot diameter void discovered Monday near a housing unit, is suspected to be the result of thawing permafrost.

Overfishing is killing climate-resistant coral found in Mozambique
Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique

Less sea ice means shorter hunting season for polar bears and scientists who study them
"It was pretty crazy how much water just kind of showed up," said Michelle St. Martin, whose field season was cut short by melting sea ice.
Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean

Explosion of Deadly Ticks Fueled by Climate Change, Ravaging Moose, Infecting People and Pets
EnviroNews Exclusive: Warmer, shorter winters due to climate change are a boon for the ticks that harm people, their pets and wildlife, scientists told EnviroNews in a series of exclusive interviews for this report. A walk in the woods can be refreshing, fun and good exercise.
Canada-United States, North America
EnviroNews DC News Bureau

38 million pieces of plastic waste found on uninhabited South Pacific island
Henderson Island

Extraordinary levels of pollutants found in 10km deep Mariana trench
Mariana Trench

Yemen war: Emergency in Sanaa as cholera kills scores
Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen

Up to 20cm of Mother’s Day snow greets mums in eastern Finland
Spring’s many faces and moods greeted mums across Finland on Mother’s Day. Some celebrated the occasion in summery weather, while others in areas like Kainuu in eastern Finland contended with up to 20cm of snow.
Kainuu, Finland

The reindeer island that disappeared
Following mass deaths of animals, the once powerful cooperative managing the reindeer flocks in the island of Kolguyev shuts down.
Bugrino, Russia

Landslide forces evacuations, flooding fears persist near Kelowna, B.C.
A landslide has forced residents of 17 properties to flee their homes near Kelowna, B.C., as flooding continues to threaten the area.
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
CTVNews

Noatak residents speak out in support of caribou closure
With fewer caribou in the area and the higher cost of fuel to travel upriver to find the animals, families and neighbors are finding themselves in a tough spot.
Noatak, Alaska, United States

Polar bears shift from seals to bird eggs as Arctic ice melts
The habitat overlap of polar bears and their main prey, ringed seals, is disappearing and the bears are instead getting closer to nesting birds.
Svalbard, Norway
New Scientist

This Giant Dead Sea Creature Washed Up On An Island, And It's Freaking Everyone Out
Pulau Seram, Maluku, Indonesia
The Huffington Post

Bringing beluga back to Buckland
Technology has changed, communities have moved, people have grown older, and the beluga whales the Kanigmiut have relied on for generations have all but disappeared.
Buckland, Alaska, United States

Shiveluch Volcano Erupts in Eastern Russia
The Shiveluch volcano in Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka region has erupted, spewing ash some 13km above sea level.Officials from the region's Emergency Situations Ministry have confirmed that the ash is not expected to land on nearby settlements, Meanwhile a "red warning" has been issued to passing planes, urging them to avoid the site.The Shiveluch volcano is extimated to be between 60,000 and 70,000 years old.
Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
The Moscow Times

Salinity and leopard shark mortality in San Francisco Bay
San Francisco, California, United States

The worst may be yet to come as the flood risk rises in the Okanagan - NEWS 1130
NEWS 1130

Murre colonies struggle to reproduce following die-off
While reproductive failure is common for some species like black-legged kittiwakes, it isn’t for murres. In some places less than one percent of the chicks survived.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Stream temperature monitoring could provide insight into important fish populations
The Chilkat River and its nearby waters are a major source of food for subsistence fishermen in Haines and Klukwan. That’s one reason decreased salmon runs are alarming in the Chilkat and other rivers in Southeast. Tribal leaders around the region are trying to get a handle on one factor that may contribute to declining returns.
Klukwan, Alaska, United States

Rare Eagle observed on Swinomish Reservation
La Conner, Washington, United States

Kelowna mayor warns residents to prepare for unprecedented flooding tonight
'As a community, we need to come together and look after each other,' mayor says

Quebec floods: Water-control agency eyes weekend rain, warns of 'high water' summer
Faced with record breaking water levels in Lake Ontario that are expected to climb even higher, the agency responsible for determining the downstream outflow from the lake has regularly been releasing water into Lac St. Louis since last Saturday and will continue to do so.
Châteauguay, Quebec, Canada
Montreal Gazette

Flooded Quebec communities brace for more rain as Trudeau does Gatineau aerial tour
Nicolet, Quebec, Canada

Okanagan flooding expected to be ‘unlike anything ever seen,' Kelowna mayor warns
British Columbia’s Okanagan region is bracing for a storm that Kelowna’s mayor worries could unleash the worst flooding the region has ever seen.

City of Ottawa warns flood victims of contamination risk
The City of Ottawa has advised residents affected by flooding to throw out many household items that have come into contact with flood water.

Ottawa River full of untreated sewage during May flooding
Heavy rain and winter runoff in the month of May has affected more than people's homes along the Ottawa River. The river itself, often polluted with sewage overflow after a day or two of heavy rain, has had to absorb more than 600-million litres over the past week alone.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

A late spring is better than an early summer
Unseasonably cold weather is keeping birds from nesting and delaying the blossoming of wild berry bushes in Finland's north.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

Beavers on the tundra? Yukon biologists see the unexpected
Tom Jung and Dave Mossop were monitoring falcons on Yukon's Arctic coastal plain when they spotted a beaver dam, made of shrubs. 'This was a bit of a unique observation.'
Babbage River, Ivvavik National Park, YT, Canada

Glacier National Park is Losing its Glaciers
Over the past 50 years, some of Glacier National Park's namesake glaciers have shrunk by as much as 85 percent.
Boulder Glacier, Glacier National Park
Climate Central

Beavers on the tundra? Yukon biologists see the unexpected
Tom Jung and Dave Mossop were monitoring falcons on Yukon's Arctic coastal plain when they spotted a beaver dam, made of shrubs. 'This was a bit of a unique observation.'

Pocahontas Flood Cleanup Continues for Homeowners
Pocahontas, Arkansas, United States
ARKANSASMATTERS

Snowmelt triggers a flood warning in Yosemite and a river closure in the Central Valley
Yosemite Valley, California, United States

Residents in flood zone should get well water tested, health officials advise
Residents who get their water from wells in areas affected by flooding should get their water tested before drinking it, and should check well pumps for damage, Ottawa Public Health is recommending.
On Monday city officials said more than 300 homes near the Ottawa River have been affected by severe spring flooding.
Bells Corners, Ontario, Canada

Lake Ontario flood warning remains in effect for Oswego County
Oswego, New York, United States
syracuse.com

Earthquakes caused by melting glaciers?
There is some evidence that shifts in the weight on a land mass can affect earthquakes — and glaciers are receding around the world — but seismologists and glaciologists simply cannot “connect the dots” between the two happenings.

Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) showed up late, then disappeared
Cemetry Beach, Haida Gwaii

World’s Oceans Experiencing Significant Decline In Dissolved Oxygen
CleanTechnica

B.C. spring run-off and torrential rain cause floods and mudslides
Warm temperatures prompting spring run-off combined with heavy rainfall in some areas caused devastating floods and mudslides in several parts of B.C.
Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada

Early Morning Call - Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
I've only heard this animal in the spring/summer.

Threat of moose-killing tick infestation looms as far-north climate warms
In New England where ticks have decimated moose, the average tick load is 40,000, and some have been found with 90,000.

Sea star populations in Kachemak Bay annihilated by wasting disease
Sea star wasting disease, a type of densovirus, reduced the count of sea stars in Kachemak Bay from 180 last spring to a measly five this year.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

Farmers say government bleating over sheep disease concerns | Yukon News
Officials worry about the possible transmission of pathogens between domestic sheep and goats and wild thinhorns, an issue which has caused some tension among local farmers.

Leopard sharks dying by the hundreds in San Francisco Bay
Alameda, California, United States
SFGate

U.S. Native Coastal Communities Moving Due to Change Climate Change
La Push, Washington
Colorlines

Heat Wave in Iceland
There is an unusually warm mass of air over Iceland. Thermometers rose to rare heights in the northeastern part of the country.
Húsavík, Northeast, Iceland

Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) spawning along west Seattle shoreline
West Seattle Beaches, Washington, United States

Water rising in Interior
With warmer temperatures in the forecast, the province has issued a high streamflow warning for streams and rivers across the Interior. Currently, Nicola Lake is about one metre below the minor flooding point, and it's forecast to continue climbing over the next 30 days.
Castanet

Lots of Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus)
Spotted half a dozen wood frogs crossing Roland Road, Fairbanks. Those that were run over by cars were females loaded with eggs.

Killer whales bad news for belugas
After attacks belugas scattered northward, away from a traditional calving area. Scattering could impact the survival rate of young belugas.
Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada

A desperate plea for help as four African nations near a famine crisis
Somaliland villages
CHRISTINE ROMO, DAVID MUIR, ENJOLI FRANCIS

Wildfires rage across Siberia and the Russian Far East
Dry conditions fuel dozens of fires and result in a state of emergency across the Siberian Federal District.
Bubnovka, Irkutsk, Russia

1.4 million children to suffer acute malnutrition in Somalia
Somalia
Africanews

Sharks Are Dying By the Hundreds in San Francisco Bay -
Foster City, California, United States
Bay Nature

Weather is Confused!
It's still snowing in early May.
King's Cove, Alaska, United States

Climate Change Drives Up the Cost of Canada’s Northernmost Highway
Chris Burn at Carleton University is tracking the growing cost of maintaining Yukon’s Dempster Highway as warmer weather brings more landslides, washouts and other challenges.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
Arctic Deeply

Prince George on the verge of experiencing wettest April on record since 1943
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
My Prince George Now

Large Number of Moths
Last year there was a large infestation of caterpillars in the area, wondering if that is why we have all the moths this spring
Anvik, Alaska, United States
Jessie Moan, Erica Lujan, Nathan Elswick

Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with Sores/Deformities?
Several bald eagles were observed with sores around their eyes and bills.
King's Cove, Alaska, United States

Community Sick with Spring Flu
Seems to happen same time each year.
Scammon Bay, Alaska, United States
Jennifer Dobson, James Berner, Morgan Simon

When Alaska shellfish turns deadly
No one really knows why algae put so much effort into making poisons. Alexandrium makes saxitoxin, and causes PSP. Another algae called Pseudo-nitzschia produces domoic acid, the source of amnesiac shellfish poisoning.

In Greenland’s northernmost village, a melting Arctic threatens the age-old hunt
But the age-old Inugguit lifestyle is changing fast as the climate warms, disrupting long-held patterns and possibilities and forcing economic challenges as a traditional hunting culture weighs new industries such as fishing and even tourism.
Qaanaaq, Greenland

Biologist: Orca attacks on gray whales up in California bay
Monterey Bay

Two-Spot Keyhole Limpet (Fissurellidea bimaculata)
A limpet not seen in the area before.

Fire burns 2,000 acres on Selawik refuge
A tundra fire has burned nearly 2,000 acres on the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge over the past week.
Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, United States

Mass Die-Off of Whales in Atlantic Is Being Investigated
Forty-one whales have died in the past 15 months along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Maine. Ten of the whales were killed by collisions with ships.On average, eight humpback whales are stranded each year and fewer than two are hit by ships.
New York City, New York, United States

Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) in Port Moody Arm
Port Moody Arm, British Columbia, Canada

Parasite on a Hooligan's (Thaleichthys pacificus) Gill
A parasitic copepod- similar to or possibly *Salmincola*.
Lutak Inlet, Alaska, United States

Medieval Child’s Burial Unearthed in Northern Russia
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Archeology

After the last sigluaq
Sixty years ago there were 12 of these such cellars in Kaktovik.Today there is only one left. All the other family cellars have been flooded and have collapsed.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

Climate Change drives early laying/hatching, but not only Temperature!
The Earth Times

California Sea Level Could Rise 10 Feet By End Of This Century
San Bruno, California, United States
The Huffington Post

VIMS: Chesapeake Bay sees another record year in underwater grass abundance
Chesapeake Bay, United States
dailypress.com

Oxfam: Climate change deepening Horn of Africa's hunger crisis
Mogadishu, Banaadir, Somalia
Eyewitness News

Two dead squid in two weeks: Coincidence?
The novelty of seeing a jumbo squid in Unalaska is not wearing off: a second one washed ashore Monday night.
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Nuclear town on fire, with residents 'choking' from smoke
Facilities for producing weapons grade plutonium believed safe despite fierce flames caused by wildfires.
Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

Transient orcas spotted off Vashon Island
Multiple groups of transient killer whales were spotted in the waters off Vashon Island Friday, according to the Vashon Hydrophone Project’s Ann Stateler (“Orca Annie”).
Vashon Island, Washington, United States
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Canada's 'Iceberg Alley' Is Spectacular This Year For A Sad Reason
Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada
The Huffington Post

1,900-acre fire spreads across Northwest Alaska
A wildfire is burning in a remote area of northwest Alaska. The Alaska Fire Service reports that the Zane Hills Fire was discovered this week, and mapped at 1,900 acres.
Zane Hills Fire, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, United States

Low water in the Peace River
Peace River, Taylor, British Columbia

Emperor Goose (Chen canagica) Spotted in Anchorage
Nearly all emperors winter in the Aleutian Islands, on the western and south side of the Alaska Peninsula, and on Kodiak Island. However, sightings have occurred as far south as California and even Hawaii.

Green Yellow Puss on Tiny Seal
I never thought of seeing sick seal but what is that?
Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Diane Abraham, Kathy Burek Huntington

Climate change is a boon for Santa Claus with April snowfall
Kirov, Kirov, Russia
Russia Beyond The Headlines

We've never seen this drought, this disease: Somali families bury their dead
Baidoa, Bay, Somalia

Wildfire near Indian forces 2-hour closure of Seward Highway
Alaska Division of Forestry spokesman Norm McDonald said the 2-acre fire's exact cause has not been determined but is suspected to be similar to that of four smaller Mat-Su wildfires earlier Thursday. Those blazes were tracked to backfires from a white Chevrolet pickup truck.
Sunrise, Alaska, United States

Stranded, lethargic ringed seal found far south of normal icy habitat
A parasite-riddled seal afraid of the water is the first Alaska marine mammal rescued in 2017. The seal will not be returned to the wild if it continues to survive rehabilitation at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.
Seward, Alaska, United States

As woody shrubs move north in a warming Arctic, so do beavers
Canadian researchers learned that local Inuvialuit hunters had spotted beavers in the region in 2008 and 2009. Those sightings are the first documented signs of North American beaver occupancy on the Beaufort coastal plain.
Babbage River, Yukon Territory, Canada

Iceberg Alley: Newfoundland's new tourist attraction
Over 600 icebergs have already floated into the North Atlantic this year, compared to an average of 687 over the whole season. Experts believe that this year’s bumper crop is down to strong counter-clockwise winds, as well as global warming.
Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada
INDEPENDENT

Ice roads ease isolation in Canada's north, but they're melting too soon
The country's 3,300 miles of ice roads are a lifeline for marooned communities during frigid winters, but climate change is making the roads unsafe much earlier.

Scientists have discovered vast systems of flowing water in Antarctica. And that worries them.
Nansen Ice Sheet, Antarctica

Early Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Early butterfly observed south of the Kaiyuh Mountains along the west bank of the Yukon River.

California wildflowers erupt in super bloom
Southern California is enjoying a wildflower super bloom after years of extreme drought.
Derby Acres, California, United States

Slow Fairbanks snowmelt slows Canada Geese migration
Sunshine is abundant this time of year, but cooler temperatures this week have slowed the melting of a well above normal snowpack in Fairbanks. That’s affecting migratory bird’s arrival at a local refuge.

California's Rare Super Bloom Flowers Are Migrating North
Carrizo Plain National Monument

Springtime in Anvik Alaska
What are the weather conditions for Anvik in mid-April?

Researchers identify widespread parasite in Alaska scallops
The prevalence of "weak meats" syndrome in 2014, 2015 meant that somewhere on the order of half of all scallops shucked couldn’t be marketed. That was much higher than the fleet had ever seen before.
Kamishak Bay, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Receding glacier causes immense Canadian river to vanish in four days
Kaskawulsh Glacier, Yukon Territories, Canada

'It scares me': Permafrost thaw in Canadian Arctic sign of global trend
For years now, buildings in Inuvik have been sinking due to thawing permafrost. It's part of a worrying trend across the Arctic, writes David Michael Lamb.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

A new crack in one of Greenland's largest glaciers
Petermann Glacier, Greenland

7,000 massive methane gas bubbles under the Russian permafrost could explode anytime
Yamal Penninsula, Siberia, Russia
ThinkProgress

B.C.'s provincial tree threatened by climate change, expert says
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Erosion and Habitat Disturbance at Mimico Creek
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

California wildflowers erupt in super bloom
Southern California is enjoying a wildflower "super bloom" after years of extreme drought.
Cardio Plain National Monument, California, United States

Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) late by 2 weeks, then gone
Masset, Haida Gwaii

Hurghada Coast Degradation
Coral degradation, fish species decline and an increase in jellyfish population.
Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt

Northern California gets its wettest winter in nearly a century
Northstar Resort, California, United States

At-risk countries worry what 'America first' means for climate change
Bairiki Village, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati
Public Radio International

First Compton Tortoiseshell Butterfly of the Year
Spring is approaching but it still seems too cold for this little guy.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

First seismic sensor installed to give early warning on new 'exploding pingos'
The aim is to give warnings over seismic activity that could lead to the sudden formation of new craters, which could potentially damage key industrial infrastructure.
Sabetta, Yamalo-Nenets
Siberia Times

Unalaska receives surprise visitor from the deep
What has eight arms, two tentacles and washed ashore on a beach in Unalaska Monday night? A more than six-foot long squid.

Two Robust Clubhook Squid (Onykia robusta) Wash Ashore
Both squid were of the genus/species Onykia robusta, previously known as Moroteuthis robusta, and commonly known as the robust clubhook squid.

Great Barrier Reef hit by severe coral bleaching — study
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
NBC News

Cause of death unclear for Steller sea lion in Morris Cove
The carcass of a Steller sea lion washed up this weekend in Unalaska's Morris Cove. The dead marine mammal was an adult male, almost 8-feet long, according to Melissa Good of the Alaska Sea Grant program.

What tiny particles blowing in North Slope air tell us about oil-field pollution
Air emissions from Prudhoe Bay-area oil fields can have a big influence on the particles in the air in Utqiaġvik, the town formerly known as Barrow.
Utqiagvik, Alaska, United States

Warnings of new Arctic explosions at some 700-plus sites in Yamal due to thawing permafrost
Scientists rush to site of latest tundra eruption - which formed a crater 50 metres deep - amid fears for homes and key industrial sites.
Bovanenkovo, Yamal Peninsula, Russia

Mild winter temperatures cause damage to roads in Finland
The past three winters have been particularly hard on road pavements. Wet winters with temperatures fluctuating on both sides of the freezing point have damaged even relatively fresh asphalt, leading to cracks, potholes and deep ruts.
Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland

Reef restoration underway to restore native oyster populations
Victoria's biggest-ever reef restoration project is underway, in attempt to restore the once abundant populations of native oysters in Port Philip Bay.

What Kind of Beetle?
A bright little unknown beetle in the middle of my kitchen.

Poor Grazing Conditions for Reindeer in Varanger
Harsh grazing conditions have been reported this winter due to some rainy days that have lead to ice cover on the ground.
Varanger Halvo, Norway

When Globalization Brings Brain-Invading Worms
The parasite that causes rat lungworm disease is now endemic in the southeastern United States, and it’s expected to spread northward.
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
The Atlantic

Climate change hits Alaska's rural water systems
Thawing permafrost is warping water and sewer lines. Along the coast and rivers, erosion is threatening the lakes that communities use for drinking water or the lagoons where they dump sewage.

Bears Out, Despite Snow Cover
Early bears (?), and snow cover still significant.
Truckee, California, United States

No assurance that water in Cowichan River now will help with summer drought
It’s likely a lot of Cowichan Lake residents think there’s plenty of water around for the summer of 2017, given the winter we’ve been having. But, according to Cowichan River watcher Parker Jefferson, “We’re just about where we were last year.”
Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada

Anchorage Area Rarity – Hawfinch
Location:  Two locations in the same Hillside neighborhood:  1st Location:  Metz Court, 2nd Location:  Park Hills Drive – Anchorage,
Anchorage Audubon Society

Paralytic shellfish toxin found in mollusks at Auke Bay
Researchers with Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research found high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin in a population of mollusks at Auke Recreation Area in Juneau on Friday.
JuneauEmpire.com

Fourth year of mild March temperatures
Up north highs were up to 2 degrees warmer than average, while central and southern regions of Finland were up to 3 degrees warmer.
Muonio, Lapland, Finland

Ice Shelf Off of St George Island
Coastline along town had sheets of ice pushed against it, maybe 20 to 30 yards deep, this has not happened since 2012, 5 years ago.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

Herring spawn on eelgrass
Coal Port, Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Volunteers needed to monitor bats
Millions of bats in the Eastern US and the Midwest have died from white nose syndrome disease, and it’s spreading.
Alaska Fish & Wildlife News

Second Spring in Whitehorse

The Antelope Valley poppies have exploded into a spectacular burst of neon, signaling an end to drought
Antelope valley California Poppy Reserve, California, United States

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