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

Harp seal pups dying on beach as winter sea ice fails
A harp seal pup sits on a snow-covered beach near the town of Blanc-Sablon, Québec, in early March. Normally harp seals give birth and raise their pups on sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but this year’s ice coverage is at an all-time low, throwing pups’ survival into jeopardy.
Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, Canada
National Geographic

Some Alaska seals are getting skinnier — probably because of retreating sea ice
As sea ice off Alaska continues its long-term vanishing trend, two seal species that depend on ice may be showing the effects in their bodies. Ribbon seals, distinctive for their black-and-white striped patterns on their fur, and spotted seals, known for their speckled coats, became thinner over time.
Nome, Alaska, United States
ArcticToday

Gray Whale Dies After Washing Ashore on Dockweiler Beach
A roughly 25-foot gray whale washed ashore and died Wednesday on Dockweiler State Beach south of Marina Del Rey.
Marina del Rey, California, United States
NBC Los Angeles

From Greenland to Valentia: face to face with a king of the Arctic
A walk in the woods behind Glanleam beach on Valentia Island for local man Alan Houlihan and his daughther, Muireann (Mimi) (5) on Sunday morning took a rather unusual twist when the pair spotted a walrus out on the rocks, just off the beach.
Knightstown, Ireland
independent

Merritt Island park now a ‘manatee graveyard’ as Florida sea cows starve to death
Cold stress accounts for at least 39 of the deaths, or about 10%. For 277 others, almost 70%, the cause is unknown. Biologist suspect the sea cows are starving to death as the marine mammal’s main diet of seagrass wilts under ongoing years-long ecological collapse, driven by excess algae.
Merritt Island, Florida, United States
WKMG

Orca carcass at Hook Lagoon
An Orca (*Orcinus orca*) carcass has been found on a beach in Port Heiden near Hook Lagoon. Sightings of these whales are a bit rare compared to many other whale carcass sightings and we just wanted to share with you this observation.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Manatee Graveyard Found in Brevard as Mammals Die at Alarming Rate
The animals have been decaying on the isolated stretch of sand north of Manatee Cove Park
Rockledge, Florida, United States
Spectrum News

Rescuers monitor whale pod off New Zealand amid rebeaching fears
Rescuers were monitoring a pod of pilot whales swimming just off the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island late on Tuesday after more than a dozen of the group were killed in a mass stranding.
Takaka, Tasman, New Zealand
Reuters

Early humpback sighting
A humpback whale spotted off Bremer Bay late last week is believed to be the earliest sighting ever of the species on WA’s south coast. Humpback whales are usually spotted of WA's south coast in late March or early April. The whale's early appearance has prompted concerns from scientists about the lack of food stocks in Antarctica.
Bremer Submarine Canyon
ABC News

Lack of sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence means more seals on shore
Record-low levels of sea ice cover in the Gulf of St. Lawrence means a greater number of seals are coming on shore and are more likely to interact with humans.
Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, Canada
CBC

Reports of dead seals on coasts doubled in 2020, charity says
In 2020, Seal Rescue Ireland reported the highest number of strandings on record, 202 dead seal reports coming from all over the country. They think one contributing factor is climate change; an increase in the severity and frequency of storms is causing more deaths among pups, from drowning or storm related injuries.
Shanagarry, Munster, Ireland
TheJournal.ie

Bowhead whales appear to be on the rebound
The open ocean off Utqiagvik in fall and early winter is evidence of climate change. Remarkably, bowhead whales appear to be thriving, although there are new challenges. Kidney-worm infections have been detected in bowheads, possibly brought by other species of whales coming north. And then there are the killer whales, a natural predators of bowheads now venturing north.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

More critically endangered right whale calves spotted off Florida coast
Two more calves have been spotted off the coast of Amelia Island in Florida, increasing the total number of calves seen this season to 11, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Fernandina Beach, Florida, United States
wbal.com

West Coast’s gray whale population plummets by a quarter since 2016: NOAA
Researchers say the population of gray whales off the West Coast of the United States has fallen by nearly one-quarter since 2016, resembling a similar die-off two decades ago.
KTLA

Rare melanistic seal pups caught on camera
Rare melanistic seals have been captured on camera in north Norfolk. Rangers have spotted 10 melanistic seal pups during the winter 2020-21 pupping season at Blakeney Point.
Wells-next-the-Sea, England, United Kingdom
Eastern Daily Press

Thousands of salmon lost in major seal attack
More than 50,000 juvenile fish were killed or escaped in the incident on Skye, says an industry body. The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) said predation attacks continued to have a significant impact on fish health and welfare.
Portree, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

Orca pod returns to the Broughton Archipelago after more than 20 years
The A5 pod has returned to the Broughton Archipelago, their traditional winter hunting ground, with a brand new baby in tow.
Fife Sound, Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria News
Zoe Ducklow, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Killer whale rescued after getting stranded on remote Scottish beach
The BDMLR scrambled to help the orca with the help of locals in Orkney.
Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom
Metro

Sperm whale washes up in Ponte Vedra Beach
A dead 14-foot pygmy sperm whale washed ashore on Ponte Vedra Beach on Friday morning behind the Sawgrass Beach Club.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States
WJXT

Reeking whale carcasses plaguing Withernsea with sickening smell
Given the rarity of similar incidents, the whales have attracted a large crowd since Christmas Eve. On Boxing Day, the Coastguard confirmed that patrols have been taking place to ensure the safety of the public in the days since the animals were stranded.
Withernsea, England, United Kingdom
HullLive

Stranded whale pod beaches in East Yorkshire
Up to 10 sperm whales have been stranded between Withernsea and Tunstall on the coast. Members of the coastguard and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) are on the beach, between Tunstall and Withernsea, near Hull.
Withernsea, England, United Kingdom
BBC News

Dolphin and seal deaths in Waterford Harbour spur call for inquiry
Verified reports of deaths and circumstantial evidence animals trapped in ‘bycatch’
Waterford City, Ireland
The Irish Times

Polar bears leave the Chukchi village of Rrykaipi
As of December 18, only 3 polar bears remained. The polar bears had gathered near the village when a strong southern wind moved ice away from the shore, leaving the animals to move by shore to Kozhevnkov Cape, where the predators eat walrus remains.

Young whale with broken jaw washed up on Belgian beach
A dead minke whale with a broken jaw washed up on a Belgian beach on Friday.
Bredene, Flanders, Belgium
The Brussels Times

Researchers think they spotted new whale species off Mexico
Scientists are waiting for water samples analysis that could hold skin cells for possible DNA testing. . Read more at straitstimes.com.
San Benito Islands
The Straits Times

Seal hunters come across frozen beached bowhead whale
A family out seal hunting in Nunavut came across a very rare sight when they happened upon a full-size, beached, frozen bowhead whale, along with plenty of polar bear tracks nearby. "That was a very, very amazing sight. Its my first time to see a bowhead," said Panigayak.
Taloyoak, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

Nearly 100 whales die in mass stranding in New Zealand
Nearly 100 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand's Department of Conservation said Wednesday.
Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand
CNN

England's largest grey seal colony set to welcome record 4,000 new pups
England's largest grey seal colony is expected to see a record baby boom of 4,000 new arrivals this year. The seals thrived on the low levels of disturbance and mortality of the pups in the first few weeks of life, and a lack of natural predators on the long shingle spit where they have their young.
Wells-next-the-Sea, England, United Kingdom
Evening Express

Emaciated fin whales wash up dead on French shores
Marine biologists are investigating the deaths of at least six whales found washed up on Frances western shores with no apparent sign of having been hit by a ship or caught in a trawler's net.
Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Pays de la Loire, France
Reuters

New evidence suggests spate of Killer Whale-on-boat violence not tied to revenge but to fun
It was first reported, here, two months ago, that a pod of Killer Whales off the coasts of Spain and New Spain (i.e. Portugal) was exhibiting never-before-seen behavior in carrying out coordinated attacks on boats.
BeachGrit

Humpback whales have been spotted in an Australian river
East Alligator River is full of crocodiles, not alligators, and now humpback whales. If it came to a fight, who would win?
Kakadu National Park.
Stuff

Russian scientists discover huge walrus haulout in Arctic circle
Scientists in northern Russia have discovered a huge walrus haulout on the shores of the Kara Sea where their habitat is under threat from shrinking ice and human activity. The haulout, a place of refuge where walruses congregate, reproduce, and socialise, is located in a remote corner of Russia's Yamal peninsula, and scientists say they counted over 3,000 animals there last month.
Kara Sea
Reuters

Dead humpback whale floating in waters off Cape May County
The whale has likely been dead for several days.
Sea Isle City, New Jersey, United States
nj

Mysterious Mass Deaths of African Cape Fur Seals Alarm Conservationists
The beaches of Namibia have been filled with thousands of seal fetuses. The problem was first detected in August, when observers began to see an unusual number of abortions and prematurely killed pups on the beaches of Pelican Point. Current estimates indicate about 5,000 have died in Pelican Point alone, although the precise reasons are still unknown.
Walvis Bay, Erongo, Namibia
Latin America Herald Tribune

Deep-diving whale dies after swimming up river
Finding the deep-diving species so far inland was incredible. Rescuers made a sterling effort to save the 21ft-long animal found in a tributary of the River Clyde near Glasgow Airport. Two died after stranding on shores of the Firth of Clyde and another in the Western Isles.
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
BBC News

Whale in Gare Loch rescue attempt found dead
The animal was part of a pod which rescuers hoped would swim to deeper water before a major military exercise.
Rosneath, Scotland, United Kingdom

Scientists found plastic debris in the digestive track of southern right whale stranded in Argentina
Scientists found plastic debris in the digestive tract of a southern right whale stranded in Argentina, according to a study from the Southern Right Whale Health Monitoring Program, co-led by the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine; and Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas in Argentina.
Puerto Madryn, Chubut Province, Argentina
MercoPress

Ten polar bears - six adults and four cubs - besiege a stalled rubbish truck in Russian Arctic
Fellow driver tries to scare the predators away as they climb inside the truck to reach food scraps. All predators look healthy and well fed, however the author of the video suggests that it could have been hunger that made them surround the truck.
Siberian Times

Beluga Family Rescued From Low Tide by Russian Emergency Worker
Residents of the coastal Chumikan village reported two adult whales and one baby on Wednesday afternoon, on a shore of the Uda River that flows into the sea. Alexei Paramonov spent hours protecting the pod from wild animals and poachers and saved the baby whale from hypothermia.
Chumikan, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia
The Moscow Times

Beached bowhead whales in Nunavut point to killer whale attacks
This past weekend a group of hunters on all-terrain vehicles found four dead bowhead whales lying on a beach about 60 kilometres north of the Nunavut community of Kugaaruk. Photos of the bowhead whales taken by Rene Kukkuvak, appear to have a torn tongues and rake-like gouges.
Kugaaruk, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Lone Scottish dolphin spotted off Denmark
The Moray Firth dolphins have been moving out of their normal range in Scotland waters. A dolphin known as Yoda is the latest member to be spotted far from home. Another Moray Firth dolphin has been seen in the Irish Sea.
Svendborg, South Denmark, Denmark

Eco disaster at Kamchatka peninsula with mass death of sea animals at precious Pacific beach
Khalaktyrsky Beach near Petropavlovsk is littered with hundreds of dead sea animals, from deep-sea Giant Pacific octopuses, to seals, sea urchins, stars, crabs and fish. Surfers were the first to raise alarm after problems with eyesight, fevers and throat aches.
Khalaktyrsky Beach
Siberian Times

Rare ‘Ugly Duckling’ Albino Seal Pup in Far East Russia Wins Hearts
Scientists worry for the pup's survival. Due to the pup’s albinism, it not only has bad eyesight, but could also be ostracized by the colony due to its unique characteristics.
Tyuleny Island
The Moscow Times

A pair of stranded killer whales (and a sick sea lion) has biologists looking for answers
“For the killer whales, I honestly don’t know if this is normal or not,” said Mandy Keogh, the Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries in Alaska. Dead killer whales simply aren’t seen that often.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Polar bear kills man in Norway's Arctic Svalbard islands
The man, identified as 38-year-old Dutch citizen was attacked in his tent before dawn and died shortly afterwards of his injuries. Svalbard officials say there were seven people on the site at the time and they are being looked after by health services.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Dead whales wash up near Unalaska, but pandemic complicates necropsies
Two dead whales have washed up on Unalaska's shores in the past week: an adult fin whale — which is the second largest mammal in the world — and a juvenile humpback.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Dead beluga calf poses questions for biologists
It is thought to be either an aborted fetus or a very young calf. The calf is one of six belugas that have been found dead this year, five in the last month.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Polar bear mother brings her cubs into the Arctic town of Pevek in Chukotka
It is still not clear if the family was brought so close to people by hunger as most locals believe or, as one account suggests, out of fear of being followed by an aggressive large male.
Pevek, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Siberia Times

Six whales die in largest stranding of its type in Ireland's history
The seven northern bottlenose dolphins were spotted stranded on a beach in Rossnowlagh, County Donegal, on the north west coast of Ireland, earlier today.
Ballintra, Ulster, Ireland
Mail Online

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Floating by Moller Point
Between 2015 and 2020, two Unusual Mortality Events have been declared for wales along the western coast of British Colombia and the United States, indicating the possibility of a disturbance to the marine ecosystem.
King Cove Alaska

Saving Our Seals - 28 sea mammals rescued after becoming trapped in plastic junk
This was a first expedition by volunteers and activists to rescue seals trapped in plastic rubbish on the island, a breeding ground in the Sea of Okhotsk, off Sakhalin.
Siberia Times

U.S. officials allow killing of sea lions eating at-risk salmon and steelhead in Columbia River watershed
The sea lions have posed a long-running conundrum for wildlife officials, pitting mammals protected under federal law against protected — and valuable — fish runs.
Portland, Oregon, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Biologists hope dead sea lion will provide insight into endangered Aleutian population
Officials have been receiving reports of Steller sea lions hauling out on beaches in poor condition, but have been unable to retrieve the animals for research — largely because they are in remote areas.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Pacific walrus haulout is earliest on record
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Point Lay, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Rare white orca spotted off Kupreanof Island
This orca born in 2018 is called Tl’uk, a Coast Salish word for “moon.” Tl’uk is a greyish moon color, without the typical black and white pattern.
Petersburg, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Dead Seal On The Beach
King Cove Alaska

Is this Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Sick?
"It's been sitting up on the beach just putting his head up towards the sky and not making a sound."
King Cove

Southern resident whales returning later to Salish Sea in ‘drastic’ change
Southern resident killer whales made their first appearance in the Salish Sea on Canada Day after more than two months with only a brief sighting off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Strait of Georgia
Times Colonist

Dead Baby Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris)
First time we have ever seen a dead pup.

Beluga off San Diego is farthest south the species has been documented on West Coast
A beluga whale was spotted Friday off San Diego -- the farthest south the species has been documented on the West Coast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed.
Point Loma, Coronado, California, United States
FOX 5 San Diego

Alaska SeaLife Center takes on 6 rescued harbor seal pups
The Seward facility began housing five seals found in the Cook Inlet area and another that was rescued in Juneau.
Seward, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Walrus tongue tests positive for trichinella in Rankin Inlet
A public health advisory sent out Friday says anyone who has eaten uncooked walrus recently, and has experienced stomach pain, muscle pain, diarrhea, swollen eyelids, sweating and weakness, may be infected with trichinella, 'a parasite that causes worm disease.'
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
CBC

First a whale, now a bearded seal spotted in Laval
A video posted to social media shows the seal sunbathing on a floating dock in Laval, close to where the Mille Îles River joins the St. Lawrence River.
Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada
Global News

Washed-up Stellar Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) on Front Beach
Female Stellar sea lion found dead on the beach, partially scavenged by eagles. There was no sign of any bullet holes. In addition, there wasn't any other evidence of what happened to the sea lion.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Barbara Mahoney, Gay Sheffield, Julieanne Renee Berikoff, Melissa Good

Migratory dolphins return to Nepali waters earlier than usual
The early arrival of the dolphins can be attributed to rainfall from cyclone Nisarga that caused rainfall over the Chure range.
Bhajani, Seti, Nepal
Kathmandu Post

Dead Young Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
Young gray whale found dead on the beach.
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States
Maio Nishkian, Gay Sheffield, Barbara Mahoney

Northern anchovy blooms bring more sea life to Burrard Inlet
Northern anchovy are becoming more comment perhaps due to warmer temperatures. A 10-centimetre-long fish represents an anchovy that's about a year old suggesting that the fish are spawned locally in the pelagic zone, or upper, warmer zone of the seawater.
Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada

Orca pod makes rare appearance in Vancouver’s False Creek
It's a rare sight in Vancouver's False Creek, but a pod of orcas was spotted swimming the city's most inner waterway on Wednesday.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Global News

New possible bottlenose dolphin sighting turns heads in Finland
The eyewitness, who first heard the animal splashing by the southeastern coast, said she couldn't believe her eyes.
Lovisa, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Seal Pup Found in Iceland Swam Home to Greenland
A seal pup found in Iceland about five months ago has now returned to its home turf in Greenland. The ringed seal pup was found behaving strangely in Njarðvík harbor.
Greenland
Iceland Review

Humpback whales numbers swell in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
The North Pacific Humpback whale population has increased, and sightings are becoming more common.
Clallam Bay, Washington, United States

Large landslides have passed in Alta
One person was evacuated and brought to safety after the landslide at Kråkneset in Alta municipality. A total of eight buildings were swept to the sea in the 650-metre landslide. Due to a high avalanche risk, police have still not entered the area.
Kråkenes, Alta, Norway
NRK
Sofie Dege Dimmen, Ida Loise Rostad, Idun Aalbu Rasmussen, Jo Hermstad Tronsen

Dolphins sighted in Kopli Bay in Estonia
Estonian ship pilot Indrek Sulla on Tuesday morning sighted two dolphins who had likely wandered into Kopli Bay from the Atlantic.
Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia
The Baltic Course

Humpback whale up Saint Lawrence River
“It’s extremely rare. For the Quebec Mammal Emergency Network it’s a first,” said Marie-Ève Muller, a spokesperson for GREMM. “We’ve had minke whales before, belugas but for such large whale like a humpback whale, it’s a first​.”
St. Lawrence River, Sorel, Quebec, Canada
Global News

Young gray whale appears to be stuck in Twentymile River near Portage
Biologists believe the 18- to 20-foot whale may be sick or injured. It’s unclear if it will be able to swim out during high tide.
Portage Creek, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Rare whale with long, spiky teeth washes up at California beach
A rare pygmy sperm whale washed up at San Onofre State Beach in southern California.
San Diego, California, United States
Fox News

Bottlenose dolphins sighted off Finnish coast for first time in nearly 70 years
Ascension Thursday, a Finnish holiday, was unforgettable for Keeri Sjöblom, 13, who lives in Kimitoön, a maritime municipality in southwest Finland.
Southwest Finland
Yle Uutiset

Possible Pacific White-sided Dolphin Sighting (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
Unusually active marine mammals seen near Unalaska may actually be Pacific white-sided dolphins.
Melissa Good, Julieanne Renee Berikoff, Asia Beder

Wild Animals Roam Russian Cities During Quarantine
With the coronavirus pandemic leaving Russia's cities quiet and deserted, its wild animals have decided to check things out.
Russia
The Moscow Times

Humpback whale breaching east of Vancouver spotted by Burnaby seniors
Some residents of a Burnaby retirement home were about to start a meditation class on Wednesday when a humpback whale sighting stole their focus.
Burrard Inlet, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

From Iceland — Beached Whale In Northwest Iceland Sparks Concern
A sperm whale beached itself in the northwest Iceland region of Skaga, the Northwest Iceland Nature Agency reports.
Skagaströnd, Northwest, Iceland
The Reykjavik Grapevine

Officials find pregnant Hawaiian monk seal dead on beach
Wildlife officials reported the death of a pregnant Hawaiian monk seal who was found at a beach on Kauai.
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
SFGate

First recorded striped dolphin sighting on Haida Gwaii
Animal discovered stranded on Tlell beach, marking first recorded sighting north of Vancouver Island
Crow's Nest, Haisa Gwaii, Canada
Haida Gwaii Observer

Gray whale washes up on Emma Wood State Beach, likely will be towed out to sea
Here's what we know about a dead whale that washed up on Emma Wood State Beach.
Ventura, California, United States
Ventura County Star

Harbor seal pupping season has begun
Two abandoned harbor seal pups were found on beaches near Haines last week. Tracy Mikowski, at Haines Animal Rescue Kennel, said two abandoned seal pups in a single week is unprecedented
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Juvenile grey whale caught on camera in Nanoose Bay
A Parksville photographer has captured some stunning images of a grey whale that has been hanging out in the community of Nanoose Bay over the past several days.
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia, Canada
CTV News

Dead gray whale washes up on Oregon coast, buried
State park rangers and a contractor have buried a gray whale carcass that washed up on the beach at Sand Lake Recreation Area south of Tillamook.
Tillamook, Oregon, United States
AP NEWS

Three Dead Sperm Whales Have Scientists Concerned
It is quite unusual that three specimens of the same species have been stranded in such a short time. It may be a coincidence or something more behind. A concerned researcher hopes samples will answer what the whales died of.
Bleik, Nordland, Norway
NRK

Whales are dying, but numbers are unknown. Coronavirus has stalled scientific fieldwork
Stay-at-home requirements have upended the fieldwork of ecological researchers, including that of scientists and volunteers who track migrating gray whales.
Los Angeles, California, United States
Los Angeles Times

The changing behaviour of humpback whales
There are currently fewer minke whales and more humpbacks in Icelandic waters than usual for the time of year, and some appear to be skipping the southward migration altogether.
Húsavík, Northeast, Iceland
RÚV

Brand new whale behaviour caught on video
Whale watchers in Eyjafjörður, North Iceland, witnessed something new and exciting during a tour last weekend. A marine biologist describes the hunting behaviour as unique and something never before seen around Iceland.
Hjalteyri, Northeast, Iceland
RÚV

Ten seals are dead in the Oslo fjord
Seals have suffered serious infections of the heart and lungs. Veterinarians do not yet know the cause.
Helgeroa, Larvik
NRK

Orca Completes 8,000 km Swim from Iceland to Lebanon
A male orca whale belonging to an Icelandic pod was sighted around Beirut, Lebanon, on February 19 and 20. Per a press release issued by Orca Guardians of Iceland, this is a journey of just over 8,000 kilometres (4,970 miles) and is the longest known one-way distance travelled by any ‘killer whale’ to date. The …
Beirut, Lebanon
Iceland Review

Otters spotted in southern Alberta city for first time in about a century
Some welcome new visitors have recently appeared in a southeastern Alberta park — otters.
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Receding sea ice off northern Japan proves blessing and potential curse for seals
Climate change has allowed spotted seals to find new hunting grounds, but the marine mammals ultimately depend on sea ice to survive.
Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan

Sperm whale carcass will decompose on Lanai beach
Federal and state officials are monitoring a sperm whale carcass in the nearshore waters of Lanai.
Lāna‘i City, Hawaii, United States
Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Rare Arctic seal pup named after a flower rescued from Storm Brendan
Ringed seal Cloudberry was rescued from Quilty by Seal Rescue Ireland after being seen in Kerry.
Burren, Mayo, Ireland
Metro

Mild winter puts squeeze on Saimaa ringed seal
Sipilä said that during his 40 years working for state-owned parks and wildlife management agency Metsähallitus, he has never seen such poor ice conditions in January.
Gulf of Finland
Yle Uutiset

Massive anchovy school in White Rock draws a crowd
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said photographer Marissa Baecker, who was visiting White Rock from Kelowna on Christmas Day. “It wasn’t just a feeding, it was a feast.”
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Anchovies take over White Rock shores
People in White Rock, B.C. are used to seeing fish in their waters but not quite like this.
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Facebook Watch

Pod of Orca whales migrate more than 3,000 miles from Iceland to Italy
A pod of Orca whales has made an unprecedented trip from Iceland to more than 3,000 miles away in Genoa, Italy according to a nonprofit organization that tracks them.
Genoa, Liguria, Italy
ABC News

Flares used to scare away 63 polar bears besieging a remote Russian village
Amazing footage shows the bears just 150 metres from the nearest house as shooting is criticised - but does little to deter predators.
Siberia Times

Dozens of polar bears stranded outside Russian Arctic village because of melting ice
Nearly 60 polar bears have been stranded on the Arctic coast near a remote village in Russia's Far East after warm winter weather hampered their hunting routine.
The Telegraph

Utqiagvik celebrates first whale of season in November
It's been a challenging year for whalers in Utqiagvik. Crews started going out in September, but found the bowheads weren't appearing in their usual concentrations in the waters closer to shore. On the water Nov. 16 Panigiuq Crew landed the first whale of the season for Utqiagvik, later than many people can remember ever bringing one in before.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Utqiagvik whalers still hope to land a bowhead as season wanes
Aerial surveys this September and October show the bowheads aren’t where they usually are.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Dead humpack whale found between Port Graham and Seldovia.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States
Naomi McMullen, Stephen Payton, Michael Opheim , Barbara Mahoney, Sue Mauger

Humpback whale spotted in River Thames found dead
It was hoped the whale would find its way out without help, as it did not initially appear to be in any distress.
Greenhithe, England, United Kingdom
Sky News

Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) Whale in the River Thames, off Rainham
Erith, England, United Kingdom
Twitter

Another pygmy killer whale stranding hits Sugar Beach
KIHEI — Called a “rare” occurrence that hasn’t happened in 40 to 50 years, the second mass stranding of pygmy killer whales at the same South Maui beach
Kīhei, Hawaii, United States
mauinews.com

62 whales die on Northeast beach
62 pilot whales swam onto the shore at Ytra Lón on the Langanes peninsula, northeast Iceland, on Friday evening. All died.
Þórshöfn, Northeast, Iceland
RÚV

Scientists monitoring new marine heat wave off B.C. coast similar to 'the Blob'
A new marine heat wave spreading across a portion of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of British Columbia resembles the infamous "blob" that disrupted marine life five years ago.
Northeast Pacific Ocean

Marine Mammal Strandings at 2nd Cape
A variety of stranded marine mammals were observed in the Port Heiden area between August 17 and 26th.
Near Port Heiden
Kathy Burek Huntington, Hillary Burgess, Kris Holderied, Joel Garlich-Miller, Barbara Mahoney, Melissa Good, Gay Sheffield, Jonathan Snyder, Bruce Wright, Kathy Kuletz, Gabe Dunham, Dean Stockwell, Jaclyn Christensen

Short-tailed Shearwaters (Ardenna tenuirostris) Found on Chukchi Sea Beach
More than 50 birds and a seal were found along the shoreline.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Kathy Kuletz, Janet Mitchell, Gay Sheffield, Hillary Burgess

Polar bear encounters in Kaktovik aren’t new. But they’re happening a bit earlier than last year.
Looking over a longer time span, bears in the southern Beaufort Sea are now using land to an extent they haven’t used it historically,” a researcher said.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

Another major whale stranding event
For the second time in less than a month, a large pod of pilot whales has been discovered stranded on an Icelandic beach.Two-thirds of them were saved and driven back out to sea.
Garður, Southern Peninsula, Iceland

Dead Seal
Alaska has experienced a series of seal mortalities in June that were concentrated in the northern part of the state. This dead seal was found on the bluff near a public park in Anchorage.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Thousands of walruses show up early on Northwest Alaska coast as sea ice recedes
Sea ice in the Chukchi Sea disappeared far earlier than normal this spring as a result of exceptionally warm ocean temperatures.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Fifty Whales Found Dead on West Iceland Beach
Fifty pilot whales were found dead on the shore of Löngufjörur in a sparsely populated part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula on Thursday, RÚV reports.
Stykkishólmur, West, Iceland
Iceland Review

More dead marine mammals, birds found on region’s beaches
Alaska Sea Grant agent Gay Sheffield from Nome responded to report of a dead bowhead and a dead grey whale northeast of Shishmaref near Cape Espenburg.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Add krill and mussels to the list of unusual marine deaths in Northwest Alaska
Village wildlife observers worry that the unusual warmth of oceans off Alaska is causing problems throughout the ecosystem.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Where are the endangered whales? Southern residents haven't been spotted in B.C.'s Salish Sea
Southern resident killer whales which are often spotted in the Salish Sea near Vancouver throughout June haven't been seen this season, and scientists believe that could be because of the lack of chinook salmon.
Salish Sea, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

More dead ice seals found near Deering
This comes just days after other reports of about 60 dead ice seals found from Kotlik to Kotzebue and Kivalina to Point Hope.
Deering, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

2 more dead right whales discovered in Gulf of St. Lawrence
There was no evidence of recent fishing gear entanglement or recent vessel strike in their preliminary assessment. Further testing is ongoing to identify other potential causes of death.

Scientists search for cause of ice seal deaths
Around 60 ice seals have been reported dead across northern and western Alaska this month.
The cause of the strandings and deaths is not known.
Kotlik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

The Salish Sea’s orcas are late for their annual summer visit, the latest sign something is wrong
Researchers say their absence is a stark reminder that the orcas are slowly starving to death because there is not enough Chinook salmon to sustain them.
Salish Sea
The Star

Late Arrival of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Late arrival of humpback whales may be related to a change in abundance of prey species.

3 more gray whale carcasses found in Alaska amid spike in deaths along West Coast
An alarming number of gray whales have been found dead this year from Mexico to Alaska, triggering a federal investigation into what’s causing the die-off.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Stranded walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)
"Its face was down in the mud and it was laboring to breathe. Its body condition was wasted and we could see its ribs."
Solomon, Alaska, United States
Jonathan Snyder, Dean Stockwell, Barbara Mahoney, Anahma Shannon, Mellisa Heflin, Gay Sheffield, Kathy Kuletz, Racheal Lee, Louisa Castrodale, Joel Garlich-Miller, Michelle Snowball, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Chris Dankmeyer

Exhausted and Starving Polar Bear Wanders Into Siberian City
It is the first polar bear seen in the city in more than 40 years, according to local environmentalists.
Norilsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia

13-year-old girl bit by sea lion in ‘very rare’ attack at Pismo Beach
A girl from Paso Robles, California, was bit by a sea lion in Pismo Beach on Friday near the pier. The animal that attacked likely had domoic acid poisoning, and will be treated at the Marine Mammal Center.
Pismo Beach, California, United States
The San Luis Obispo Tribune

Dead Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)
This walrus was found by a local fisherman and reported by LEO Network to the US Fish and Wildlife Walrus Hotline. The carcass is thought to be too old for necropsy or sample collection.
St. Michael, Alaska, United States
Louisa Castrodale, Mellisa Heflin, Anahma Shannon, Joel Garlich-Miller, Jonathan Snyder, Barbara Mahoney, Racheal Lee, Gay Sheffield, Michelle Snowball

Booming anchovy population helps salmon, orcas
Swarms of anchovy can be seen swimming through the South Sound.
KIRO

2 more gray whales found dead near Kodiak Island
NOAA has declared an “unusual mortality event” for gray whales on the North American west coast and launched an investigation.

18 Dead Seals near Kotlik
18 dead seals were found along the coast, and are like part of a larger mortality event that includes 60 seals total. The average number of dead ice seals normally found in a year is 18.
Kotlik, Alaska, United States

Little Ice for Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus) Hunting
Because of the increased travel distance, only families with larger boats were able to participate in the hunt and bring back enough to make the trip cost effective. With a heavier load in the boat, one family ran out of gas trying to get home and had to be rescued.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Janet Mitchell, Anna Godduhn, Richard L Thoman Jr

Another dead grey whale found off B.C. coast
A dead grey whale was found floating in Boundary Bay, near the United States border, this week. It's the sixth grey whale to have been found dead in B.C. waters this year.
Boundary Bay, Canada

Beached Grey Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) near Turnagain Arm
Grey whale (*Eschrichtius robustus*) found beached near the Placer River along Turnagain Arm is one of five grey whales reported dead along the Alaska coast during 2019.
Placer Creek

Rare white ‘ghost orca’ spotted near Nanaimo
The jury is still out on exactly what the cause is, but the unusually-coloured calf spotted near Nanaimo on Tuesday is already making waves.
Northern Strait of Georgia

Two whale carcasses wash ashore
The body of a minke whale washed ashore in the Grandi area of Reykjavík yesterday, shortly following the discovery of a dead orca whale near Hólmavík in the Westfjords.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

Beached Whale Off Reykjavík Coast
The exact species is not known. Part of the carcass has ballooned with gas, a common occurrence with beached whales.
Seltjarnarnes, Capital Region, Iceland

Báru kennsl á háhyrning sem rak á land
Samtökin Orca Guardians telja að háhyrningur sem rak á land við Heydalsá á Ströndum sé háhyrningur sem samtökin sáu síðast úti fyrir Grundarfirði í janúar 2016. Samtökin halda úti ljósmyndasafni með yfir 400 háhyrningum við Íslandsstrendur til að þekkja þá í sundur og fylgjast með ferðum þeirra, samsetningu hópa, fæðuvali og stofnstærð.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

Alaska’s third dead gray whale of the year reported on Kodiak coast
The whale is located in an inaccessible place where scientists are unable to take a necropsy.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Researchers seek answers to gray whale deaths after 57 are stranded this year
Gray whales are dying at twice the usual rate as a brutal migration unfolds, with whales washing up on Washington state beaches, apparently starved to death.
Coastal Washington State

Another gray whale found dead in Alaska, this time near Cordova
NOAA is monitoring significant numbers of gray whale deaths this spring along the Pacific coast.
Cordova, Alaska, United States

Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) Feeding in Haro Strait
Haro Strait, Canada
Theo Okolowicz, Phoebe Okey-Dobie, Tom Okey

Seal pups and walrus calves found stranded on regional beaches
Near Nome, reports of seal pups and walrus calves hauled out on beaches are piling up at an unprecedented rate.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Another gray whale has been found dead in Turnagain Arm
A pilot first spotted the whale last week. What caused the whale’s death isn’t yet known.

Second whale found dead in Turnagain Arm within 2 weeks
A second whale has been found dead floating in the middle of Turnagain Arm, just two weeks after a juvenile humpback whale was found dead on the Arm after stranding itself twice.
Turnagain Arm, Alaska, United States
Anchorage KTUU News

Grey whales stranded in Boundary Bay freed, headed for deeper water
A pair of grey whales that found themselves beached Friday in Boundary Bay have begun to make their way out to deeper water.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Walrus herds pass Nome Headed North
The appearance of walrus on the ice off Nome added some excitement to the onset of spring.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Underweight bearded seal pup found near Shaktoolik is now recovering at the Alaska SeaLife Center
The rehabilitation center in Seward doesn’t usually get bearded seals, which live much farther north.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States

In Utqiaġvik, temperatures are warmer, and the ice is changing. What does that mean for whalers?
“I think it was a little more stable, and there was a little bit more assurance that the ice you were on was not going to disintegrate on you that easy,” said whaling captain Gordon Brower.

Juvenile Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) Hauled Out
A species rarely seen in the Seward area.
Seward, Alaska, United States

Natuashish photographer captures 3 polar bears and a surprise walrus
After scoping out the coast for a month, photographer Mark Nui was rewarded when he spotted three polar bears and a walrus. .
'
LEO Member Eric Oliver writes, "walrus are rare these days in Labrador.."
Natuashish 2, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

A humpback whale died in Turnagain Arm. Here’s what might have happened.
It’s rare to see humpbacks in Turnagain Arm, known for its swift tides and shallow waters.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Weak ice hampers spring count of endangered Saimaa ringed seal
Sixty-three endangered Saimaa ringed seal pups were found during the early spring count carried out by forestry workers and volunteers.
Suomenniemi, Southern Savonia, Finland

Frantic bid to save Umka the lost and forlorn polar bear who travelled 700 km in the wrong direction on ice floe
Lame, exhausted and confused, the young male polar bear is far from his natural habitat to the north.
Tilichiki, Kamtsjatka, Russia

Dead grey whale towed to Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney for necropsy
A dead male grey whale that was found floating between Sidney Island and James Island on Thursday has been towed to Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney for a necropsy.
Sidney Channel, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Southeast Alaska researchers get rare opportunity to study a sperm whale
The species has been spotted in the Inside Passage before. But sightings are infrequent. A whale found recently near Juneau is thought to have died from a vessel strike.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Whale Fatality Likely Caused By Boat Propeller
A sperm whale (*Physeter macrocephalus*) found beached on the east side of Lynn Canal had trauma consistent with being hit by a boat propeller.
Southeast Alaska

Odd condition of Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)
"Looked normal at first then we started to butcher it found some unusual stuff on the insides."
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States

Two dead gray whales in San Francisco Bay spur investigation
The Marine Mammal Center and California Academy of Sciences are reporting cause of death for one.
Tiburon, California, United States
Marin Independent Journal

The first case of a walrus dying of bird flu registered on Svalbard
“Last year we got several reports from tourists and scientists that they saw around six walruses dead here on the west side of Svalbard. Unfortunately, we couldn’t sample them as the dead walruses drifted away by the time we got to the place. But it’s not normal to get so many reported dead walruses in such a small area," said Christian Lydersen, senior scientist at the Norwegian Polar Institute. Now samples (collected by a Station Manager in July 2023) have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
The Independent Barents Observer

Support

Observation Template