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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

Back-to-back blizzards hit region with high winds and snow
The weekend was marked by cold sunny days and stunning aurora displays at night, but then the weather took another turn. By Tuesday morning, an east wind was howling and blowing snow sideways. The week started looking like a repeat of the last.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Crazy weather this winter
Nuuk, Sermersooq, Greenland

Dead fish and bad air from algae bloom
There are miles of dead fish washing up on the beach. That's not all. Just breathing the air can be harmful.
Fort Myers, Florida, United States

Avian flu reappears in Cambodia, UN health agency warns
Cambodian authorities reported two cases of avian flu, including an 11-year-old girl who died of the virus, the UN health agency said on Sunday.
Cambodia
UN News

Alaska tourism threatened as iconic glaciers melt away
As the world’s glaciers retreat, so does the outlook for the Alaska tourism sector. But the pace of that retreat is still in human hands.
Cooper Landing, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Open Water at Moose Creek
Open water in February.
Buffalo Soapstone, Alaska, United States

Health alert issued following red tide in multiple areas of coastal Collier County
A red tide bloom was found in multiple areas of coastal Collier County. Individuals with chronic respiratory problems should be cautious and stay away from this location, as red tide can affect breathing. Residents near the beaches are encouraged to close windows and run the air conditioners.
Fort Myers, Florida, United States
NBC2 News

Unstable snowpack causes heightened avalanche risk in Turnagain Pass this winter
The reason for the uptick in human-triggered avalanches this winter: persistent weak layers in the snowpack.
Turnagain Pass, Alaska
Alaska Public Media

A million households have lost power so far as major winter storm blasts the U.S.
A major winter storm is continuing to bring heavy snow, blizzard conditions and significant ice from California to the Northeast on Thursday.
United States
Alaska Public Media

Lack of snow, warmer weather creating shorter snowmobile season in New Hampshire
It has been a rough winter season for many outdoor activities in New Hampshire, but a below-average snowpack is hitting the snowmobile industry especially hard.
North Conway, New Hampshire, United States
WMUR

French tourist came to Yukon for a 'real Canadian winter,' and fell through the ice
A French tourist in Whitehorse somehow defied the odds last week when she fell through thin ice into a lake, several times, and still managed to pull herself out of the water to safety, unharmed.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
CBC

Avian Influenza Detected In Deceased Bobcat
Wildlife disease specialists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recently received confirmation that an adult bobcat died from the Eurasian strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. This is the first detection of the virus in a wild mammal in the state.Notwithstanding this detection, infection of wild mammals with avian influenza viruses appears to be relatively rare.
Escalon, California, United States
Escalon Times

Water shortage hits Adilabad district amid soaring temperatures
Rural areas here have begun facing water scarcity much before the onset of summer. Villagers are going long distances by bullock carts to collect water in plastic drums. Day temperature is already high.
Ādilābād, Telangana, India
Deccan Chronicle

1 person killed in South Anchorage roof collapse
The roof collapsed at a South Anchorage gym during a fitness competition. The Anchorage Office of Emergency Management cautioned residents that the city has had near-record snow conditions this winter, and residents should consider the snow load on their roofs. Officials also warned that property owners should exercise extreme caution if removing snow from their roofs themselves.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Public warned not to touch sick or dead wild birds to prevent bird flu spread
Avian influenza found in Black-headed seagulls in Limerick.
Limerick, Ireland
The Irish Times

Survived traveling 200 meters in an ice slush flood
"Just when I get into the machine, I just manage to sit in the seat and then the body of the excavator fills with slush and presses me against the window and then presses the whole machine off the road into the valley."
Bakfjorden, Måsøy, Troms and Finnmark County, Norway
RÚV

Water Shortage Protest Turns Deadly in Ethiopia’s South
A protest over water shortages in the southern Ethiopian town of Welkite turned deadly when, witnesses say, security forces opened fire on protesters, killing at least two people.
ወልቂጤ / Welkite, Southern Nations, Ethiopia
VOA

Fish arriving in revitalized stream in View Royal, B.C.
New fish have been spotted in a recently revitalized section of Craigflower Creek in View Royal, B.C., thanks to a development site with an environmental focus.
View Royal, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Island

Sinking in
The community of Aklavik, N.W.T., persevered when devastating floods led the government to attempt to relocate it. Now it faces another existential crisis as climate change thaws the permafrost, forever changing the community’s landscape and wildlife.
Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Palmer Library suffers roof collapse
The library in Palmer partially collapsed on Wednesday evening near closing time.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Community heartbroken after attempts to save stranded whales prove in vain
A massive rescue effort took place on Tuesday afternoon that lasted until sunset after five whales were discovered marooned on the shores of the west coast beach. The whales were discovered dead the morning after massive efforts by locals to save them.
Ahipara, Northland Region, New Zealand
NZ Herald

California's snowpack is melting faster than ever before, leaving less available water
For decades, Californians have depended on the reliable appearance of spring and summer snowmelt to provide nearly a third of the state's supply of water. But as the state gets drier, and as wildfires climb to ever-higher elevations, that precious snow is melting faster and earlier than in years past — even in the middle of winter.
South Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Spokesman.com

Anchorage has seen almost double its usual snowfall since December
Just this month, more than 23 inches of snow have fallen in Anchorage, 17.5 inches above normal. A weekend storm clogged Anchorage streets, creating hazardous road conditions. The Anchorage School District closed school buildings and canceled after-school activities, calling a remote learning day.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Pilots reported mysterious lights 'dancing' over Yellowknife last month
An airline crew flying into Yellowknife a few weeks ago reported seeing some unidentified high-altitude lights near the airport — apparently leaving both the crew on board and air traffic controllers on the ground perplexed.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

U.S. downs another aerial 'object' over Lake Huron as search continues for wreckage in Yukon
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the search for an object downed over the Yukon yesterday is ongoing, while several U.S. representatives say that country's military has destroyed another object over Lake Huron.
Yukon, Canada

Snares set to catch problem wolves in Fort Good Hope after 2 dogs killed
Two dogs have died from wolf attacks, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) — and community members say the number could be higher. Westwick said wolf aggression toward dogs is most likely during the breeding season between December and February, and during the denning period from April to May.
Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories, Canada

Avian Influenza, 'Bird Flu, linked to deaths of black bear and mountain lion in Colorado
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as the bird flu, has now been linked to other animals across the state.
Gunnison, Colorado, United States
KRDO

After China balloon scare, Air Force shoots down object flying above Alaska’s North Slope
Object shot down by US Air Force, ordered by Biden, over North slope of Alaska.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Cleanup continues at Kodiak spaceport after January rocket crash
ABL Space Systems is still investigating the crash, but says the rocket rose more than 700 feet before its engines shut down 11 seconds after launch.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Snowpack below normal
A dry January across most of Idaho left the Panhandle with below-normal snowpack and increased drought worries."Notably, the Coeur d’Alene-St. Joe basins received only 38% of normal precipitation for January," according to the Idaho Water Supply Report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service released Tuesday. Nine snow monitoring sites in the Panhandle recorded their driest or second-driest January, the report said.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
Coeur d'Alene Press

Building blown out to sea
The storm ravaged much of the coast. In several parts of the country, the forces of nature have done damage and loose objects have flown through in the air.
Tromsø, Troms, Norway
NRK

Alaska SeaLife Center admits first fur seal patient in 6 years
The female seal pup — estimated to be around six months old — was seen swimming “erratically” near the shore in Sitka last month, according to a press release from the center. Worried Sitka residents then reported the pup to the center’s 24-hour stranding hotline.
Seward, Alaska, United States

At least 24 dead in Chile as wildfires spread, driving many to flee for safety
Firefighters battled dozens of raging wildfires in Chile on Sunday, seeking to gain control of one of the country’s worst natural disasters in years as the death toll rose to at least 24 with nearly 1,000 more injured.
Santa Juana, Biobío, Chile
Reuters

Invasive goldfish seen swimming under ice at Okanagan pond
Goldfish have a special ability to live under extreme conditions, making them prolific invaders of natural habitats. They are tolerant to low oxygen conditions and can survive water temperatures well below freezing, said the Invasive Species Council of B.C. on their website.
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Port Alberni Valley News

Whale washed ashore in Kauai dies with fishing nets and plastic bags in stomach
A whale that washed ashore in the island of Kauai over the weekend likely died in part because it ate large volumes of fishing traps, fishing nets, plastic bags and other marine debris, scientists said Thursday, highlighting the threat to wildlife from the millions of tons of plastic that ends up in oceans every year.
Hanamā‘ulu, Hawaii, United States
mauinews.com

Coastal Rivers Lacking Steelhead
After the January storms provided the flushing and scouring our coastal rivers desperately needed, anglers were thinking and hoping the winter steelhead would be there. Up and down the coast, well known steelhead rivers are not seeing the numbers we're accustomed to. This same scenario happened a couple years ago, but the fish finally showed up. And that will more than likely be the case again this year. But with the calendar now saying February, it's getting a little more nerve racking.
Eureka, California, United States
North Coast Journal

Hawke’s Bay red sea’s final act was to kill sea creatures
Test results show the bloom was almost certainly to blame for mass deaths of kina as well as crayfish, starfish and sea cucumber which washed ashore at Hardinge Rd, including Sandy Beach, and on a small part of Westshore Beach eight days ago.
Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
NZ Herald

Swallows sighted in February
"Swallows usually show up in the spring time or when winter months are over in Alaska."
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Warm in the north and lots of snow
Kirkenes had a record warm moon and Kongsberg has had more than twice as much accumulation as they usually do in January.
Kirkenes, Troms and Finnmark County, Norway
Meteorologisk institutt

Fluctuating Juneau weather set the stage for an avalanche at Eaglecrest
The upper mountain at Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau was closed on Friday following a large avalanche Thursday morning. No one was hurt.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Houses hit by avalanches after pouring rain in Western Norway
Avalanches hit houses after rain in western Norway in numerous locations.
Nordfjordeid, Stad, Vestlandet, Norway
VG -Verdens Gang
Ingri Bergo, Markus Tobiassen, Synne Eggum Myrvang

Juneau’s Basin Road Trestle closed until further notice after rockfall
A boulder tumbled down the face of Mount Roberts early Wednesday, damaging one side of the Basin Road Trestle’s wooden railing and closing the road. Mattice says slides are more common in the fall, but warm, wet conditions this winter contributed to the rockfall — especially this weekend’s heavy rains.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Swollen limb in caribou
An image of a swollen leg on this caribou raises questions that it may be a case of brucellosis.
Koliganek, Alaska, United States
Constantine Johnson, Melany Eakin, Kimberlee Beckmen

Several new avalanches hit roads in the north – E6 closed
A landslide has closed busy highway 80 between Fauske and Bodø. The Nordland Line has also been affected. The weather has been very bad with large amounts of rainfall in Nordland today. There have been snow and slush avalanches in several places in the county, and a number of road and train sections have been closed due to avalanches.
Finneidfjord, Hemnes, Nordland, Norway
NRK
Mette Kristensen, Barbro Andersen, Emma Fondenes Øvrebø, Andreas Nilsen Trygstad, Ola Helness

Slushy streets in Whitehorse, as warm spell hits the region
Southern Yukon is basking in some unusually mild January weather this week, with temperatures climbing well above the freezing point on Wednesday and expected to stay that way into Thursday.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Cat euthanised after being infected with bird flu, a first in France
Cat tests positive for Brid Flu. The animal lived near a poultry farm in Mauléon, Deux-Sèvres in the west of the country.
Mauléon-Licharre, Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes, France

Mohe: China's northernmost city records coldest day ever
Temperatures in China's northernmost city plunged to minus 53°C (minus 63.4 degrees Fahrenheit) -- its coldest ever recorded.
Mohe, China
CNN Travel

Mat-Su schools closed Tuesday amid Southcentral rain, icy roads
Light rain is expected to fall across much of the region Tuesday, with a storm possibly bringing more rain to Anchorage on Wednesday.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

First known epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in farmed mink
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) is a strain of the avian influenza virus that primarily affects birds, particularly poultry. It has been detected in farmed mink.
Galicia, Spain
News-Medical.net

Denali area gets more than a foot of snow as winter storm hampers travel, visibility
Denali receives a foot of snow in mid-winter storm. Interior areas, including Fairbanks, also received high amounts of snow.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Twenty Rescued from Ski Lift in High Winds
Twenty people were rescued from a chairlift at the Hlíðarfjall ski area outside Akureyri. The lift stalled when the wire was blown off its spool by a strong blast of wind.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland
Iceland Review

Polar bear fatally mauls woman and boy in Northwest Alaska village
A Wales resident shot and killed the bear. With the loss of sea ice and the ocean staying open later in the year, polar bears have been spending more time on land, which increases the chance of human encounters.
Wales, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Train derailed by avalanche debris
Alaska Railroad freight train derailed early Tuesday after plowing into avalanche debris south of Girdwood. The debris spread roughly 300 feet across the tracks.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Avian flu emergency decreed in Honduras
Honduran authorities have declared a 90-day nationwide health alert following an outbreak of avian influenza among pelicans, it was announced in Tegucigalpa. About 40,000 poultry were also evaluated and no signs of the malady were detected, it was also reported.
Atlántida, Honduras
MercoPress

Weekend rains spur flooding; water levels at 25-year highs in some areas
The last time the water levels were this high in some places was in the late 1990s or early 2000s. According to the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), floodwaters will likely spill onto fields and roads in parts of southern and western Finland, but not into buildings.
Finland
News

Insects in January
An unseasonable winter insect sighting in Newhalen.
Newhalen, Alaska, United States

Record-breaking numbers of whales were spotted off Victoria’s coast in 2022
In 2022, a record number of Bigg’s killer whales (orcas) and humpback whales were spotted in the waters surrounding Victoria as well as south along Washington’s border.
Salish Sea
Victoria Buzz

Orca stranding on Florida beach is first on record in U.S. Southeast
For the first time ever recorded, orca washes ashore in Florida.
Palm Coast, Florida, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Fox being tested for rabies after dog attacked in Resolute Bay, Nunavut
Health officials in Nunavut are testing another fox for rabies after the animal attacked a dog in Resolute Bay on Sunday. It's the second such incident in the territory so far this year.
Resolute, Nunavut, Canada

Blue sap on spruce tree
Blue sap was found on a spruce tree.
Koliganek, Alaska, United States
Lars Flora, Gino Graziano, Elizabeth Graham, Constantine Johnson, Robin Mulvey

Huge amounts of snow in the mountains - It just keeps running down
Last winter there was record low snow. But now there are reports of snow records and amazing skiing conditions on the mountain.
Hemsedal, Buskerud, Norway
VG - Verdens Gang

Highly endangered Saimaa ringed seal pup found dead in fishing net
There was a slight rise in population numbers of the very rare animals last year.
Savonlinna, Southern Savonia, Finland
News

Swans Freeze to Ice During Cold Snap
Residents in Hafnarfjörður, a small town just outside the capital area, have rescued multiple swans that have frozen to the icy surface of Hamarkotslækur creek during a recent spate of desperately cold weather in the country, RÚV reports.
Hafnarfjörður, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Slow start to the N.W.T. winter road season, as delays abound
The opening of the famed Dettah ice road, a six-kilometre route that cuts across Yellowknife Bay, is typically opened on Dec, 24, according to a 20-year average. Yet a week-and-a-half later, there's still no word on when it will be operational.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Snow shortage threatens Alps with wet winter season
The word for it here is Schneemangel or snow shortage. There's a phrase for when the snow is plentiful too - das weisse Gold - white gold. It's a reflection of how many alpine communities depend on winter sports for their livelihoods. World Cup skiers will race on artificial snow this Saturday as the Alps see record high temperatures.
Adelboden, Bern, Switzerland
BBC News

Alaska’s Arctic Waterways Are Turning a Foreboding Orange
Increase in sediments such as iron could change quality of water sources for local communities such as Kobuk and Kivalina. The impact on animals and plants are unknown and researchers are aware of potential changes in the food web in the future.
Brooks Range, Alaska, United States
WIRED

End of year brings record rains to Unalaska
A typical December brings about 6 inches of rain to Unalaska. But the island has already received more than 10 inches this month. Michael Lawson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said an atmospheric river above the Eastern Aleutians acted as a funnel to allow warm and rainy weather to move from the south to the north, directly across the region.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
KUCB - Unalaska

Bats plunge to ground in cold; saved by incubators, fluids
Some 1,600 bats found a temporary home this week in the attic of a Houston Humane Society director, but it wasn’t because they made it their roost. It was a temporary recovery space for the flying mammals after they lost their grip and plunged to the pavement after going into hypothermic shock during the city’s recent cold snap .
Houston, Texas, United States
AP NEWS

Strong winds from weekend continue into Monday morning
Roads remain dangerous, and power outages persist into Sunday evening in parts of Anchorage and the Matanuska and Susitna valleys.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Snow buildup on Anchorage roads leaves drivers with fewer lanes and longer commutes
Road crews say they’re still working to fully carve out the streets and haul snow away, after the city was hit with a trio of major storms this month. Some of Anchorage’s roads are maintained by the state of Alaska, and others by the city.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Canada's bee colonies see worst loss in 20 years, explosion of mites blamed
Nearly half of Canada's honeybee colonies didn't survive the winter, the largest rate of colony loss in the country in the last 20 years, according to preliminary data. The president of the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists calls the finding "pretty disturbing."
Canada

Minke whale pod sighted
A rare sighting is possible indicator of prey abundance.
Kasaan, Alaska, United States

2 cases of avian influenza flu confirmed in N.W.T. ravens
The new cases bring the total count to three cases of Avian flu in the territory. The two ravens were found dead just a few days apart, on Oct. 26 and Oct. 28.
Dehcho, Northwest Territories, Canada

'This is real:' Historic bird flu believed to be killing record number of iconic species in Colorado
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than 53 million birds across the U.S. have died from highly pathogenic avian influenza. The CDC’s count of 4,000-plus infected is far from reliable. The disease contracting to people is believed to be extremely rare.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Colorado Springs Gazette

Anchorage and Mat-Su schools closed after 3rd major snowstorm hits the region
Anchorage and Mat-Su Borough schools and state offices are closed Thursday as a third major winter storm this month coated the area with snow overnight Wednesday. “In the past 11 days, we’ve had 41.1 inches of snow which is a lot for Anchorage,” Baines said.
Chris Klint, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Musk ox attacks and injures pet dog
Last week a musk ox gored a 10-year-old Malamute outside of his family’s man camp near the Old Glacier Creek Road. A visiting veterinarian cared for the injured dog commenting on more frequent conflict between musk ox and dogs and an increase in musk ox population.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

87,000 cod escaped from farms - one of the largest escapes in a long time
Approximately 87,000 farmed cod escaped from Gadus Group's aquaculture facility, raising concerns about potential impacts on wild fish populations and prompting investigations into the incident.
Norway
NRK

Nome’s Curtis Worland died after musk ox attack
Alaska State Troopers said on Tuesday that Curtis Worland, a Court Service Officer for the Nome AST post, was killed by a musk ox in the afternoon.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

In Photos: Moscow Sets 60-Year Precipitation Record
See photo gallery.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
The Moscow Times

Winter storm causes travel chaos in southern Finland
Strong winds and heavy snowfall have led to flights being delayed, trains being cancelled, and motorists told to avoid unnecessary journeys.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
News

Warm weather woes wreak havoc in Nome
A week of several freeze and thaw cycles left Nome and the region with puddles on ice and scenes that look more like breakup in spring rather than the customary snowy landscape of December. The rain on ice interrupted normal life in Nome.

Anchorage digs out of more than a foot of wet, heavy snow
All schools in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough are closed Wednesday due to slick roads across the region, as snowfall continues. “This is the heaviest snowfall the Anchorage area has seen in over 20 years,” said state Department of Transportation spokesman Justin Shelby. “Our crews are keeping up as best they can.”
Chris Klint, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Utqiagvik reaches record high 40˚F in December
The lack of winter sea ice is keeping temperatures warm. Climatologist Rick Thoman says it's a "very clear climate change signal."
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Thousands of Endangered Seals Wash Up Dead on Russia's Caspian Shore
At least 2,500 dead Caspian seals have been found on the shores of Russia’s Caspian Sea coast, local authorities said Sunday.
Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia
The Moscow Times

No sea ice in Grantley Harbor
December should have sea ice development in Norton Sound. But no sign of ice yet this year. Several storms have moved northward across the western Bering Sea and brought strong winds and bouts of above freezing weather to the Teller area and all of the Bering Strait region.
Teller, Alaska, United States
Richard L Thoman Jr, Kendra Lee, Anahma Shannon, Austin Ahmasuk, Kitrea P Takata-Glushkoff, Hajo Eicken

‘This is totally unusual’: Highly pathogenic bird flu still spreading in Alaska, state veterinarian says
More than 1,000 domestic poultry and hundreds of wild birds have died or needed to be euthanized in the state since early spring. Since the first case of a deadly strain of avian flu was detected in Alaska in May, more than 1,000 domestic poultry and hundreds of wild birds have died or needed to be euthanized.
Anchorage Daily News

Peru bird flu: Thousands of pelicans found dead
An avian influenza outbreak is to blame for the deaths of more than 13,000 birds, many of them pelicans. More than 5,500 pelicans have died in Peru in recent weeks due to an outbreak of bird flu. Several beaches are littered with the carcasses of the dead animals and some have also been found in protected areas.
Lima, Lima Province, Peru
BBC News

Yellowknife struggling to clear above average snowfall
YELLOWKNIFE - Residents and city staff in the Northwest Territories capital are struggling to keep up with an onslaught of snow.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
thestar.com

Two die shoveling snow; those with cardiac risks advised to 'just let your driveway fill up with snow'
An "extreme" lake-effect storm that dumped 77 inches in Orchard Park has left the Buffalo metro area, but forecasters from the National Weather Service warn that blowing snow on Sunday could make travel difficult.The storm turned deadly for a couple of men who died of heart attacks while clearing snow. "It can be very, very dangerous for some individuals, people who have high blood pressure, people who have any type of cardiac history, to go out and shovel the snow, especially right now, because the snow is so heavy," said Burstein.
Orchard Park, New York, United States
Buffalo News

Flowers bloom again in an unusually warm November
Kale is sprouting even though it's mid-November.  Eucalyptus, rock rose, and Lenten roses don’t seem to be in the mood for winter, as they still wear their summer colors of green and red. It has been warm over almost all of the country, and never in the history of the capital has been a hotter November than this year.
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland
RÚV

Glacier Bay bear cub diagnosed with bird flu in rare case
A black bear cub in Southeast Alaska was sick last month with bird flu, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The cub found in Bartlett Cove, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, is only the second instance of highly pathogenic avian influenza being diagnosed in a bear amid an ongoing outbreak. Health officials say risk to mammals, including people, remains low.
Glacier Bay, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Landslide Disrupts Traffic in North East
Authorities state that although landslides are not common in this area, avalanches are. An approximately 50 to 70m stretch of road is affected, covered in about one metre of mud and debris.
Grenivík, Northeast, Iceland
Iceland Review

Invertebrates recover at Miller Creek
Just over a year ago, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game applied the pesticide rotenone to two lakes and a stream in the remote Miller Creek drainage on the northern Kenai Peninsula to eradicate the last known population of invasive northern pike on the Kenai Peninsula.
Soldotna, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Lack of rainfall cause for up to three weeks of delay for salmon spawning this season
In early October Vancouver Island reached a drought Level 4 which impacted wildlife across the coast. After a mass salmon die off in Bella Bella, concern grew regarding drought and a delayed salmon spawning season. Currently east Vancouver Island is at a drought level of 3, which means adverse impacts are possible, while west Vancouver Island is at a drought level of 2 with less likely impacts. Dave Rolson, Tseshaht First Nation’s fisheries manager, said, “Timing is everything, really, when it comes to fish and when it comes to environmental conditions.”
Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada

NOAA trawl survey: Cold pool returns in the Bering Sea
The Bering Sea’s cold pool, a critical part of the seafloor ecosystem, had shrunk to a worrying degree in recent years, but it is continuing to slowly return, according to the latest results of NOAA’s bottom trawl survey. Saffron cod, also called tomcod, seems to be bouncing back after a few bad years, and Arctic cod and blue king crab numbers were also better.
Bering Sea

Rough legged hawk gets help from a Gambell friend
A rough legged hawk got a second lease on life when a Gambell woman and her mother happened upon the injured bird while riding their ATV, coming to its aid and then sending it to a bird sanctuary in Anchorage, where the animal will be nursed to health to be released back into the wild.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

Mouse Infestation “Unlike Anything” Exterminator Has Seen
In an interview with RÚV, a seasoned exterminator has stated that Iceland is currently experiencing a mouse infestation the likes of which he’s never seen. He encourages people to take the necessary precautions. A 43-year career in extermination Despite their small stature, mice can be an outsized pest for homeowners.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

Western Arctic Caribou Herd shrank more in 2022, hurting Northwest Arctic subsistence hunters
Biologists struggle to single out a leading cause of the caribou population’s decline. Increased wolf predation, changed migration patterns and climate warming affecting food sources can all influence the herd. “It’s going to be another rough winter again this year without caribou,” Selawik resident Norma Ballot said.
Selawik, Alaska, United States

Harbor seal with patchy fur
Harbor seal looking sick with patches of fur missing.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Bryan Reed, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Barbara Mahoney, Jaclyn Christensen, Kimberlee Beckmen, Gay Sheffield, Gabe Dunham

Arctic Fox in Galena?
Cell phone video was taken by one resident, and the fox appears to be an Arctic fox, which is not known in this region.
Galena, Alaska, United States

"Should have received four tons of plums"
Norwegian fruit farmers are seeking compensation for poor harvests due to extreme weather conditions, with over 1,000 farmers applying for compensation this year, compared to under 500 last year, as cold weather destroyed crops in the west and north, while drought hit the east and inland areas.
Linge farm, Valldal, Fjord community, Vestland

Late Alaska Winter
October flew by leaving us with a couple of light snowfalls. November came around with something slightly more impressive, but it wasn't the same. Mid December decided to make up for all of the snowfalls that we missed all at once, it seems like.
Richard L Thoman Jr, Mike Brook, Mackenzie Lord

Thawing causing cemetery to sink
Permafrost thaw in Noatak is causing the condition of the grave site to degrade. A trench has formed and crosses are tipping over.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Jeffrey Luther, Joanna Barton, Vladimir Romanovsky, Tom Wolforth

Huge sunfish makes rare appearance in cold north Vancouver Island waters
The Mola tecta, a semi-tropical sunfish, had been misidentified until seven years ago and is rarely seen in the northern hemisphere.
Cormorant Island, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

In the village of Nutepelmen, a bathhouse was closed due to the collapse of the shore
The issue of moving the public bath to a new place is decided in the village of Nutepelmen of the Egvekinot urban district. Part of the shore, on which the modular structure now stands, was washed away by waves. The social institution was closed for an indefinite period, reports IA "Chukotka".
Nutepelmen, Chukotka, Russia
Chukotka

New peril for gray whale survival? Predatory orcas spotted in Baja calving lagoon
One pod showed up in January and was videotaped fatally attacking two resident bottle-nosed dolphins. They may have also killed a gray whale calf, although a body was never found. Predatory orcas have breached a gray whale safe space in Baja California. Could this spell disaster for a species already struggling for survival?
Campo Pachico, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Los Angeles Times

Backyard flock in Wake County tests positive for HPAI
A backyard chicken flock in Wake County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI). The positive sample was identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh.
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Third Detection of CWD Confirmed in North Carolina Deer Herd
A third deer in North Carolina has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Officials with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reported the deer was hunter-harvested in Surry County this archery season approximately 10 miles from the two previous positive detections in Yadkin County.
Dobson, North Carolina, United States
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

Kodiak brown bear cub dies of bird flu
It’s one of only four mammals in Alaska to contract the virus, and the first brown bear to be found with the disease.
Pasagshak State Recreation Site, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States

Washington wildfire caused by pyrotechnic, police seek tips
Officials say a wildfire in Southwest Washington that ballooned Sunday, causing regional air quality issues, may have been started by a firework or firearm.
Camas, Washington, United States
The Seattle Times

Ringed seal with poor hair growth
First report of a seal with poor hair growth this year in Norton Sound region.
Safety Sound, Alaska
Barbara Mahoney, Jaclyn Christensen, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Gay Sheffield

14 pelicans are dead at the Phoenix Zoo after contracting bird flu
The pelicans contracted highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, at the Phoenix Zoo, leaving 14 dead. Several began showing signs on Oct. 15.
Tempe Junction, Arizona, United States
Arizona Republic

How far has the Mendenhall Glacier retreated in the last 12 months?
Juneau resident James Wycoff noticed on his regular walks to Nugget Falls that the face of the glacier seemed to be retreating faster this year than he’s ever seen before. The Mendenhall Glacier’s terminus retreated more than 800 feet.
Mendenhall Glacier
KTOO

Glacial flooding continues in the Grímsvötn area
The flooding started yesterday in the Grímsvötn volcano area. The water flow at the source of the discharge reaches 300 cubic metres per second. The jökulhlaup is expected to last about 24 hours, which is how long the water takes to get to the Gígjukvísl canal on Road 1.
RÚV

Town covered by sand from storm
After severe flooding from Storm Merbok, the waters have recided leaving the town digging out a giant sand box.
Golovin, Alaska, United States
Jacquelyn Overbeck, Carol Oliver, Nic Kinsman, James Benzschawel

Yukon smashed 8 high temperature records this past weekend
The Yukon saw an unusually warm Thanksgiving weekend — there were multiple record highs set throughout the territory. Local weather watcher says a high pressure ridge creating warm and dry conditions was the cause.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

People followed instructions during the storm
Weather warnings for northern gales and heavy rainfall that swept through the country yesterday expired last night. The weather was accompanied by heavy precipitation, snow or sleet, and widespread winter conditions on the roads.
Vík í Mýrdal, South, Iceland

Castner Glacier Half-Collapsed
Hikers should be cautious when hiking the Castner Glacier trail since chunks of ice may fall and the streams and rivers are very fast.
Castner Glacier Ice Cave

A strong storm damaged the embankment in Pevek and left Rytkuchi without light
Part of the village of Rytkuchi remained without electricity for several hours. And in the northernmost city of Russia, strong waves destroyed part of the embankment. The cause was a storm operating on the territory of the city district of Pevek, reports IA "Chukotka".
Pevek, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Prochukotku

September storm leaves behind treasured beach finds
The remnants of Typhoon Merbok not only battered Alaska’s west coast in September, the storm also left behind a few treasures in its wake.
Chevak, Alaska, United States
KYUK

After September storm, Newtok residents are desperate to relocate
Melting permafrost and severe erosion have plagued the community for decades. The most recent storm brought waves so fierce, the water claimed roughly half of the 80 or so remaining feet of land that stands between the back end of the school and the edge of the Ningliq river.
Newtok, Alaska, United States
KYUK

Winds down but high water just starting as ‘exceptionally strong storm’ batters Northwest Alaska
Forecasters say they are expecting significant coastal erosion from Utqiagvik to Unalakleet from the second severe-weather event to hit the region in three weeks.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Slide buries highway, strands residents
Two heavy rainstorms caused flooding and landslides in the upper valley last week, damaging infrastructure and leaving two residents temporarily trapped in their vehicle.
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Saxitoxin detected in regional clam
By Diana Haecker
Savoonga, Alaska, United States

False long-horned beetle (Stenotrachelus aeneus)
Black insect never seen by a Yupiit of Andreafski Tribal member at his home in St. Mary's.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States
Bambi Alexie, Derek Sikes, Charles Prince, Elizabeth Graham, Eric Alstrom

Sea otter lunch for bald eagle
Two dead otters (one recent) on Kasitsna Bay side. We also found another one yesterday on the Kachemak side.
McDonald Spit, Alaska, United States
Angela Doroff, Michael Opheim , Barbara Mahoney, Rose Masui, Mike Brubaker, Kris Holderied, Stephen Payton

Dead sea otter
Walked two miles of spit and did not see any others.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States
Barbara Mahoney, Stephen Payton, Mike Brubaker, Michael Opheim , Kris Holderied

Wild Rose October Bloom
We typically see them blooming in June and most of them have been without blooms for months.
Galena, Alaska, United States

Salmon struggle to spawn amid record-setting drought
Record-setting drought conditions have left many of B.C’s streams and waterways too low for salmon to swim up to spawn. Heiltsuk First Nation leaders say hundreds of fish were found rotting in a creek in Bella Bella, B.C., usually teeming by fall with migrating pink and chum salmon.

Severe Erosion in Newtok
A site visit to Newtok on September 30, shows severe erosion from impacts of storm (typhoon Merbok). The images show both severe permafrost melt and river erosion.
Newtok, Alaska, United States

Lots of dead krill washed up on Sarichef Island
Die-offs of krill are in some cases associated with hypoxia (low oxygen) excess sediment suspended in the water column and changes in water temperature. There were recent reports of high levels of Alexandrium in water samples in the areas, and Norton Sound Health Corporation is performing some testing of krill samples (see below). There was also an unprecedented storm event only a week ago, unusual for the storm surge and early season.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Brandon Ahmasuk, Dean Stockwell, Racheal Lee, Jacqualine Schaeffer, Anahma Shannon, Sadie McGill, Emma Pate

Fish die off near Kotzebue
Ali Ralson was riding her 4 Wheeler towards Cape Blossom and came upon a beach full of fish. It appears that most of the fish are stickleback although there may be other species involved too. This would suggest an environmental issue that would impact multiple fish species rather than a pathogen. One potential cause could be harmful algal toxins.
Cape Blossom
Gay Sheffield, Carmen Daggett, Joanna Barton, Ted Meyers, Jacqualine Schaeffer, Jayde Ferguson, Dean Stockwell, Bruce Wright

City set to begin cleanup after landslide
The City and Borough of Juneau on Tuesday began the multi-day process of cleaning up after a Monday night landslide in the area of Gastineau Avenue.The landslide damaged three homes and displaced residents, but there were no injuries reported.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Aquaculture: Oyster and mussel growers on Prince Edward Island calculating losses from Fiona
James Power doesn’t have a final tally yet on how much post tropical storm Fiona cost Raspberry Point Oysters Ltd., but the damages are likely to be in the ...
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Mystery leaks hit Russian undersea gas pipelines to Europe
European countries on Tuesday raced to investigate unexplained leaks in two Russian gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea near Sweden and Denmark, infrastructure at the heart of an energy crisis since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Baltic Sea
CNN

An Influx in Taraxacum Officinale or the Common Dandelion in Iqaluit, Nunavut
Over the past five years, there has been a steady increase in the number of dandelions spread throughout the surrounding area of Iqaluit.
Crystal Two, Nunavut, Canada

Yukon's North Klondike Highway opens to single lane traffic after crews clear landslide debris
Yukon's North Klondike Highway is open to single lane of traffic after multiple landslides closed the road in two sections for days.

Unalakleet’s boil water notice extended as work on main water line continues
The City of Unalakleet now has a working generator to power its local water plant, but the community plans to be on a boil water notice for an extended period of time.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Fiona updates: Much of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island without power as Fiona hits Canada
Fiona, now a post-tropical cyclone, made landfall in Canada Saturday morning. Some two-thirds of Nova Scotia and all of Prince Edward Island are without power.
Nova Scotia, Canada
ABC News

Chevak rallies to repair storm-damaged subsistence gear
During a community meeting, Chevak residents said better emergency planning should be a long-term priority. For now, though, assessing damage is the focus.
Chevak, Alaska, United States
Emily Schwing, special to Alaska Public Media

Kivalina neighbors banded together to save a house from falling into the sea amid last week’s storm
Kivalina has long dealt with climate change-driven erosion. While the village didn’t feel the effects of heavy flooding, residents are wary of a future with heavy autumn storms.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Kavitha George, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage

Unregulated ships cruise over speed agreements
“Our shipping monitors clocked another cruise ship going at excessive speed near Pond Inlet,” posted Baffinland Iron Mines on their Twitter account Sept. 22. While the maximum speed was agreed at nine knots in some passages used by the cruise ships, one ship in particular, The Hanseatic from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, was clocked at almost 16 knots, nearly twice the velocity. It’s the second time this month the cruise line has been clocked in excess of the speed limit agreement.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
NUNAVUT NEWS
Felix Charron-Leclerc - Local Journalism Initiative reporter

After decades of dwindling runs, sockeye salmon return to Yukon fishing village in droves
The number of sockeye returning to Klukshu, Yukon, to spawn began to drop off in the 1990s. This year, hundreds of the bright red fish line the small creek that winds through the village. Neither the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations nor Fisheries and Oceans Canada are sure why the fish have returned after decades of steady decline.
Klukshu, Yukon, Canada

Alaska's newest lakes are belching methane
Permafrost is ground that stays frozen year round; the permafrost in interior Alaska also has massive wedges of actual ice locked within the frozen ground. When that ice melts, the ground surface collapses and forms a sinkhole that can fill with water. Thus, a thermokarst lake is born. At first glance, Big Trail looks like any lake. But look closer and there's something disturbing the surface: bubbles.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Phys.org

‘Some of them just disappeared’: Essential pieces of life in Nome were lost in the storm
Nome's landscape is physically altered, with raw material scattered wildly, the coastline reconfigured, and camps that anchored generations of subsistence either flattened or gone.
KTOO

As the storm raged, a mad rush to keep the power on in Hooper Bay
The storm could have threatened the town’s winter subsistence stock if not for the work of local power plant operators.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Beaver Burrows in Nuna River Bank
"I had never seen burrows like this, and they were everywhere on the Nuna. What seemed to be elaborate tunnel systems dug where there was apparently no permafrost, and sometimes the burrows led up to the bench behind."
West Branch Nuna River

‘Stebbins is resilient,’ Eastern Norton Sound communities recovering from storm damage
Several communities in the Norton Sound are struggling with contaminated drinking water days after the significant September storm hit the region.
Stebbins, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

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