LEO Network

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

Observations

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

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

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
Yle Uutiset

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

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

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

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
Alaska Dispatch News

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

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.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC News

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.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

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
Alaska Public Media

Unidentified Ant
Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States

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.
Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

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.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

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
Alaska Public Media

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

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

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.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

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

‘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

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.
Alaska, United States
KTVA Alaska

Small Ladybug Like Beetle (Chrysomela)
Unidentified beetle near Tongass Highway
Ketchikan, 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
Vancouver Sun

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
Haines, Alaska, United States
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

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

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
The New York Times

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
Siberian Times

'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
CBC News

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

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.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

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

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

Fewer European Earwigs (Forficula auricularia) in Victoria, BC
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

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

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

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
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Fish and Wildlife News

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

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
CBC

Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) showed up late, then disappeared
Cemetry Beach, Haida Gwaii

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.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Alaska Dispatch News

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

Climate Change drives early laying/hatching, but not only Temperature!
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
The Earth Times

Early Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Early butterfly observed south of the Kaiyuh Mountains along the west bank of the Yukon River.
Anvik, Alaska, United States

First Compton Tortoiseshell Butterfly of the Year
Spring is approaching but it still seems too cold for this little guy.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

What Kind of Beetle?
A bright little unknown beetle in the middle of my kitchen.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Yukon species list shows climate change in action
A big emphasis in the last few years has been updating and adding to the list of species known to occur in the Yukon.
This past year, a whopping 1,973 species of plants, insects and animals have been added.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Amazon Deforestation, Once Tamed, Comes Roaring Back
"A decade after the “Save the Rainforest” movement captured the world’s imagination, Cargill and other food giants are pushing deeper into the wilderness."
Coari, Amazonas, Brazil
HIROKO TABUCHI, CLAIRE RIGBY and JEREMY WHITE

Logging Crew Mobilizes Near Irreplaceable Wetland, Slated for Site C Flooding
Watson Slough, Peace River region
DeSmog Canada

Support

Observation Template