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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

Polar bear killed after 6 visits to Grise Fiord
A polar bear repeatedly entered Grise Fiord over four days, including after Halloween. After non-lethal deterrents failed, a local hunter shot and harvested the bear on Monday night.
Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Earthquake outside Kiruna: “The whole cabin shook for 15 seconds”
A minor earthquake occurred roughly 20 km north of Kiruna, Sweden, on Monday night, according to the Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN). Residents in places including Kurravaara and Käyrävuopio reported strong shaking lasting about 15 seconds; authorities say it was not related to the mine.
Kiruna, Norrbotten County, Sweden
NSD (Norrländska Socialdemokraten)

‘Explosion’ of invasive European green crabs reported in Southeast Alaska
The Metlakatla Indian Community, which has been at the forefront in the effort to control the invaders, has trapped more than 40,000 of them this year.
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Rare seven-arm octopus caught in Skagerrak
A rare Haliphron atlanticus (seven-arm octopus) was caught by shrimp fishers in western Skagerrak at about 200 m depth and sent to the Tjärnö Marine Laboratory for study.
Skagerrak, Västra Götaland County, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Power back on for parts of Ulukhaktok, N.W.T., after strong winds brought down power lines
Strong winds and blizzard conditions in Ulukhaktok, N.W.T., knocked down power lines Saturday, causing a community-wide outage. NTPC partially restored power early Sunday, with crews arriving later to assess and repair damage; warming shelters opened at the school and health centre.
Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

‘All’ the cod is in the Loppa Sea: Took the entire quota in three days
Exceptionally large cod catches off Loppa and Hasvik, Finnmark, are allowing many small and mid-size boats to fill their quotas within days, and a record year in turnover is expected. Local leaders say boats from across Norway have flocked to the area, with landings markedly higher than last year.
Loppa and Hasvik, Finnmark, Norway
NRK

Nearly all domestic flights canceled
Most domestic flights in Iceland were canceled due to weather, affecting about 700 passengers. Icelandair cited strong winds aloft causing turbulence and icing; only early flights to Akureyri and Bíldudalur operated, with conditions expected to improve by tonight or tomorrow.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Vísir

Mourning Dove––an unusual visitor from the south
A mourning dove—rare for Alaska’s Seward Peninsula—was spotted in Nome shortly after strong fall storms, likely having been displaced during migration. The bird has continued foraging locally, marking an unusual range occurrence for the region.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Extreme drought expands in southern Maine, despite recent rain
Despite late-October rain, extreme drought has expanded across southern and coastal Maine, now covering nearly 43% of the state, including Portland. The National Weather Service says another foot of precipitation is needed before soils freeze to substantially ease conditions.
Portland, Maine, United States
The Portland Press Herald

20°C below zero: Likely the coldest ever on this date
Iceland experienced intense cold overnight, with -19.8°C recorded at Sandskeið around 6 a.m., and meteorologist Einar Sveinbjörnsson says it is likely the coldest 30 October on record. Reykjavík dropped to just over -8°C, and an Icelandic Met Office table showed -20.2°C at Setur south of Hofsjökull overnight.
Sandskeið, Southern Region, Iceland
mbl.is

Wolf scare in the village – hunters keep their dogs at home
A wolf-like animal was filmed near Jarhois in Pajala, and a reindeer was found killed the next day in nearby Kardis, prompting local hunters to keep their dogs at home during moose hunting. The sightings have raised concern in the community close to the Övertorneå border.
Kardis, Pajala, Sweden
NSD (Norrländska Socialdemokraten)

Thousands of farmed salmon perish in massive die off near Tofino
A harmful plankton bloom and poor water conditions caused large mortalities at three Cermaq salmon farms in northern Clayoquot Sound near Tofino, with up to 185,000 fish lost at one site. DFO says disease was ruled out; critics warn the die-off could affect wild salmon and the marine environment.
Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Severe ice conditions complicate navigation in the Anadyr estuary
Thick, continuous ice up to 30–40 cm hindered docking of the cargo ship FESCO Moneron at the Port of Anadyr, with successful mooring only on a second attempt. Ice navigation has been declared since October 18, restricting entry to vessels of at least Ice 2 class.
Anadyr, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
IA Chukotka

Invasive emerald ash borer forces North Yarmouth to remove ash trees from park
North Yarmouth, Maine removed about 80 ash trees from Baston Park after an emerald ash borer infestation was detected. The wood will be processed by the Cumberland Wood Bank for local heating under state-advised precautions.
North Yarmouth, Cumberland County, Maine, United States
The Portland Press Herald

Greatest snow depth measured in Reykjavík in October
Reykjavík recorded 27 cm of snow at 9:00 on October 28, likely the deepest October snow on record, surpassing the previous 15 cm set in 1921. Heavy snowfall and poor visibility were forecast on the Suðurnes/Reykjanesbraut corridor with 50–75 mm precipitation expected.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Vísir

Åza from Falun infected with cowpox by her cat: “Thought it was a pimple”
A woman in Falun, Dalarna, became infected with cowpox after her cat fell ill and was euthanized—reportedly the first known case in Dalarna. She was on sick leave for a month and is sharing her story to warn others about this rare zoonotic infection.
Falun, Dalarna, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Steinar had enough: This year there’s no hope of winter
Late October in Hammerfest and surrounding Finnmark communities remains snowless, with locals saying it’s easier to find lingonberries than ski tracks. The article highlights unusually delayed winter conditions compared to last year.
Hammerfest, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Low water makes fall travel on the Mackenzie River hazardous for hunters
Prolonged drought has driven Mackenzie River levels near Fort Simpson, N.W.T., to historic lows, turning a community boat launch into a sandbar and making fall hunting by river hazardous. A territorial hydrologist cites climate change, El Niño, and upstream dams as contributors, while local leaders urge stronger action and monitoring.
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

‘Mellanlummer’ discovered in Västernorrland – rare plant found by botanists
The rare clubmoss known in Swedish as “mellanlummer” has been recorded for the first time in Västernorrland, in forests near Viksjö. Botanists link the find to SCA’s prescribed burns that open and rejuvenate the forest.
Viksjö, Västernorrland, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Cool Critters: Large, striking sea duck makes a splash near Pasco
A rare inland sighting of a white-winged scoter was recorded along the Columbia River near Pasco, Washington, with a birder photographing the sea duck at McNary National Wildlife Refuge on Oct. 26. Biologists say a recent storm may have blown the typically coastal species off course.
Pasco, Washington, United States
The Spokesman-Review

Advocates call for safer waters as B.C. island mourns the loss of Wisp the humpback whale
A 4-year-old humpback whale named Wisp washed up on Keats Island, B.C., after a suspected collision with a tour vessel, prompting advocates to call for stronger protections and safer boating practices. Authorities and locals are urging measures to reduce ship strikes in the area.
Keats Island, British Columbia, Canada
CTVNews

Residents in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., urged to take precautions after 3 wolf sightings
Three wolves have been frequenting Fort McPherson, N.W.T.; one was shot this week and two remain. Authorities urge residents to leash and vaccinate dogs, avoid leaving food outside, and note rabies risks; traps have been set for the remaining wolves.
Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

Flower mortality on vegetable crops
Unusual flower mortality on vegetable crops may suggests a potential decline in pollinator populations, as indicated by fewer insect collisions with car windshields.
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
MARYNA KAZAK, Katie Spellman, David Oswald

An extended fall reveals the existence of hair ice in Interior Alaska
Photos from Fairbanks show delicate “hair ice” forming on dead wood during an extended snow-free cold spell. Researchers link the phenomenon to the fungus Exidiopsis effusa, which enables hairlike ice strands to grow in humid, slightly subfreezing conditions.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Norton Sound issues alert as dust troubles Nome air quality
Norton Sound Health Corporation issued an air quality alert for Nome after PM10 levels exceeded 301 (hazardous) on Oct. 23. Officials cite recent freeze–thaw cycles and dry conditions for the unusual late-October dust; residents are advised to limit outdoor exposure and use N95 masks.
Nome, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Maine issues new do-not-eat advisory as wildlife tests positive for PFAS in Waldo County
Maine has issued a do-not-eat advisory for white-tailed deer and wild turkeys in parts of Knox, Thorndike and Unity after tests found elevated PFAS in muscle tissue. The advisory expands earlier restrictions tied to contamination from sludge-applied farm fields.
Waldo County, Maine, United States
The Portland Press Herald

Mass fish die-off in renowned salmon river: ‘Never seen anything like it’
Hundreds of Atlantic salmon and sea trout have died in the Gaula River in Midtre Gauldal, Trøndelag. Researchers suspect a severe outbreak of egg-spore water mold (Saprolegnia) and are investigating the scale and causes.
Midtre Gauldal, Trøndelag, Norway
NRK
Trond Odin Myhre Johansen; Jøte Toftaker

Bats in Strendur
A resident in Strendur, Faroe Islands, filmed bats in her yard—an uncommon sight in the Faroes. The bat was seen over about four days before disappearing.
Strendur, Eysturoy, Faroe Islands
Dimma

Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Hits Khuvsgul Aimag
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Tsetserleg soum in Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia, at 5:14 p.m. on October 21, 2025. The epicenter was southeast of Tsetserleg and near the borders of Tsagaan-Uul (Khövsgöl) and Tosontsengel (Zavkhan).
Tsetserleg, Khuvsgul, Mongolia
MONTSAME News Agency

Confirmed: New wolf territory in Uppland has several pups
Authorities confirm a new wolf territory called Lapphällarna between western Uppland and eastern Västmanland in Sweden, where several pups have been born. The County Administrative Board provided imagery and details in an SVT video report.
Uppland and Västmanland, Sweden

Extreme drought conditions leave N.L. homesteader adapting to a lower water supply
A homesteader near Mobile on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula is hauling water from a pond as extreme drought leaves his well near empty. He’s seeing impacts on livestock and bees, and calls for government support to build community resilience.
Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Locals describe ‘river running down the roads’ as heavy rain hits parts of Ireland
Intense rainfall triggered surface-water flooding in Newcastle, County Down, where locals used shovels and sandbags to protect homes as roads closed. Authorities deployed over 900 sandbags; further unsettled weather is forecast nationwide.
Newcastle, County Down, United Kingdom
The Irish Times

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