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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

Late Freeze-Up on Elim Creek
Observers in Elim, Alaska, report an unusually late freeze-up of local creeks, a trend echoed across the Seward Peninsula and other parts of Alaska, attributed to warmer than normal air temperatures and impacting travel and subsistence activities.
Elim, Alaska, United States

Unusual Bubble (Capsule) in Fish Eggs
These eggs from a trout caught in the Fish River, had unusual milky translucent capsules in it.
White Mountain, Alaska, United States
Jacqualine Schaeffer, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson

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

‘Half of Golovin underwater,’ residents shovel sand out of homes
GOLOVIN RESIDENTS ARE IN CLEANUP MODE as their community works to restore power, phone service and clear debris. After the flood waters receded from the weekend’s severe fall storm, some locals are left with feet of sand in their homes. “At my place we’ve got three feet of sand we’re still shoveling out with the crew here, trying to get the sand out of the living area so we can get the sheetrock to go ahead and dry off,” Alaska Senator Donny Olson of Golovin said.
Golovin, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

Storm destroys Shaktoolik’s berm, its main protection from the sea
Shaktoolik has lost its berm to the storm that’s hammered Western Alaska over the weekend, according to Mayor Lars Sookiayak. The berm was all that protected the small village from the sea. “It really saved us from the first hit that came in this morning,” one resident said.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Cormorants establishing new rookery
The cormorants moved in when the peregrins did not return this year. "We believe (they did not return) because of the bird flu."
Golovin, Alaska, United States
Mike Brook, Gay Sheffield, Toby Anungazuk Jr

Visiting cormorant to White Mountain
A cormorant was observed in White Mountain. See also recent report from Golovin.
White Mountain, Alaska, United States

Extremely windy on the lagoon
Many boats had to be secured & moved this morning. Hoping winds & rain slow down, but in the forecast.
James Benzschawel, Carol Oliver, Anahma Shannon, Richard L Thoman Jr, Racheal Lee, Edward "Ted" Smith, Gay Sheffield

Stickleback fish die-off
There were a plenty of what appeared to be juvenile dead stickle back fish on the top of the embankment of a few ponds.
Elim, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Jayde Ferguson, Brandon Ahmasuk, Leigh Takak, Scott Kent

Growing cases of bird illness in Norton Sound
Over the past five days there have been increasing reports of unusual behavior in a variety of bird species including brant goose, snow goose, white-fronted goose, and Canada goose.
Maija Lukin, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Erin Nelson, Andrew Ramey, Carmen Daggett, Carol Oliver, Mike Brook, Louisa Castrodale, Bill Carter, Susan Georgette, Eric Taylor, Kayla Nay, Angela Matz, Brandon Ahmasuk, Gay Sheffield, Brian Lefferts, Kimberlee Beckmen, Bob Gerlach, Racheal Lee

Fallen Healthy Trees
There are at least 10 or more what appears to be otherwise healthy trees that have just fallen over.
Elim, Alaska, United States
Leigh Takak, Jessie Moan, Elizabeth Graham, Anahma Shannon

Unusual circling behavior in a brant goose near Golovin
Video shows unusual circling behavior of a brant goose filmed by a local hunter near Golovin, Alaska. Although the cause is unknown, this type of behavior is according to USGS, "highly suggestive" of an infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Brian Lefferts, Racheal Lee, Gay Sheffield, Brandon Ahmasuk, Louisa Castrodale, Megan Boldenow, Chris Dankmeyer, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Anahma Shannon, Kimberlee Beckmen, PATRICIA SCHWALENBERG, Michael Bruce, Angela Matz, Mike Brook, Andrew Ramey, Carol Oliver, Bob Gerlach

Unusual behavior in red fox
This fox "was not scared of me" and it continued to repeat this motion as the person (Venessa Koonooka), watched for ~10 minutes.
White Mountain, Alaska, United States
Kimberlee Beckmen, Brandon Ahmasuk, Vanessa Koonooka, Racheal Lee, Angela Matz, Gay Sheffield, Eric Taylor

Swans displaying unusual posture floating in lake
A passenger on a small commercial plane flying between Nome and Golovin reported seeing 5-6 swans all motionless, floating on a pond. The reason of the behavior is unknown.
~ 60 Miles East of Nome Alaska, United States
Louisa Castrodale, Andrew Ramey, Bob Gerlach, Carol Oliver, Michael Bruce, Brandon Ahmasuk, Kimberlee Beckmen, Racheal Lee, Angela Matz, PATRICIA SCHWALENBERG, Gay Sheffield

Early ocean ice break-up
"We used to have snowmobile races on the ocean ice in front of Elim during the first weekend in April but we cannot have any races this year."
Gay Sheffield, Leigh Takak, Matthew Druckenmiller, Anahma Shannon, Richard L Thoman Jr, Mike Brook

Storm related flooding and infrastructure damage
"We lost internet and a power outage effected several residential homes and businesses. Of course there was no way to travel. Thankfully no medical emergencies."
Carol Oliver, Racheal Lee, Edward "Ted" Smith, Anahma Shannon

A Fall Storm in the Summer
Unusual mid summer storm in Golovin and local observations about changes in the salmon harvest.

Sea Life Die-Off Found on Beach
"While on a field trip for work, we stopped at the beach and you can notice hundreds of dead clams and star fish littering the beach."
Carol Oliver, Derek Sikes, Leigh Takak, Gay Sheffield, Racheal Lee

Grasshoppers are Becoming More Common
Warming temperatures may support growing grasshopper populations along the southern Seward Peninsula.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Low Water and Few Fish
Early snowmelt and low precipitation have led to low river water levels on the southern Seward Peninsula. Low water levels may be a contributing factor in observations of poor fishing, and poor fish health, along the western coast of Alaska.

Spruce Trees Producing Huge Amounts of Cones
Unusually large cone crops may be the result of favorable variations in weather across several years.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Big Winds Blowing in Norton Sound
Local reports on the big storm system hitting northern and western Alaska.
Racheal Lee, Anahma Shannon, Mike Brubaker, Edward "Ted" Smith, Carol Oliver

Erosion of Gravesites along River

Concerned about Safety of Harvested Salmon After Warm Season
Warmer summers in Alaska means that extra precautions are needed to keep fish cool from the time of harvest until it has been processed and put away.
Gay Sheffield, Ted Meyers, Anahma Shannon, Carol Oliver, Louisa Castrodale, Racheal Lee, Jayde Ferguson

Permafrost Thaw and Related Flooding
Concern about permafrost thaw and possible impacts to underground water and wastewater lines.
Racheal Lee, Carol Oliver, David Beveridge, Mike Brubaker, Katie Lund, Bradford Blackstone, Anahma Shannon, John Warren

Unusually High Number of Horseflies (Tabanidae) and Wasps (Vespula)
Unusually high number of horseflies and wasps observed during a year with temperatures and precipitation levels above normal.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States
Sarah Yoder, Rebecca Charles, Derek Sikes

Storm-related Erosion in Shaktoolik
"We were lucky to have the berm in place. The next day, the water levels went down and the erosion was noticeable."
Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States
Anahma Shannon, Racheal Lee, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Richard Buzard, Jolene Auliye, Gay Sheffield, Edward "Ted" Smith

Fish Die-Off Tubutulik River
We observed more than 50 otherwise healthy (not spawned out) dead fish including pink and chum salmon and white fish

Lots of Dead Female Pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Salmon
Warm water near Golovin is hurting pink salmon. Many salmon caught had red speckled dots on flesh, raising concerns about food safety. Female pink salmon were seen dead in the bay.

Warmer waters believed to be main cause for dead pink salmon in Norton Sound
Norton Sound residents have reported salmon die-offs in unusually large numbers during the last week. According to the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC), dead pre-spawned pink salmon were found in multiple river systems over the weekend.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and Other Fish Dying in Warm Water
Gay Sheffield, Chris Dankmeyer, Anahma Shannon, Rebecca Charles, Austin Ahmasuk, Racheal Lee, Jayde Ferguson

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

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.
Anchorage Daily News

Pale Green Waters Spell Danger
When the green water is here, its dangerous to travel straight across the Lagoon to White Mountain. In the past we took the land route, cross on Kitchavik river and on up over land to White Mountain.

Changing winter conditions
This was the warmest autumn on record for western Alaska. Local observer comments on how lack of sea ice is effecting fish and bird behavior.

White Mountain man missing after falling through ice
Stormy weather stalled a search and rescue effort on Monday for a man from White Mountain, whose 4-wheeler broke through thin ice at the edge of Golovin Bay on Sunday.
The Nome Nugget

High winter winds and warm temperatures
We've had so much wind this winter, on the 15th of January, the winds were warm!!!!!!

Late Blooming Flowers
We do not ever recall having flowers blooming this late in the year.

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

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

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

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

Dark Winter Mystery Salmon
Traditional knowledge keepers and ADFG identify as a chum salmon.
Martha Turner, Patricia Yaska, Erica Lujan, Robert Hannon

Winter Storm Brings Surge of Water and Ice
The storm raises local concerns about food security and preparedness for transportation emergencies.
Edward "Ted" Smith, Carol Oliver, Tonya James, Anahma Shannon

Late Freeze-up of Koyuk River
Koyuk River foze solid by Oct-14 by the 28th there was open water.

Sea Ice - No Sea Ice!?
Sea ice is here and then disapears.

So Many Mushrooms
Golovin ponders fungus bloom

Red Grasshopper
A unique insect?

Uncommon Fish (Lota lota) Found In Koyuk River
Fish

Sink Holes next to Main Street
Koyuk, Alaska, USA

Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus)
7-3-14 Kelp greenling - Golovin, Alaska, USA
Golovin, Alaska, USA

Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii Early
Hunters noticed some herring were starting to spawn near Cape Denbigh. The herring scheduled to arrive on May 25th, are over a week early.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Finally Snow in Golovin
There has been a lack of snow in the Golovin area ever since the January 2014 warm spell.

Coyote sighting
1-23-14 Coyote sighting - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Finally snow - then rain
1-20-14 Snow then rain - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Wind Blew Out the Ice
12-19-13 Wind blew out the ice - Elim, Alaska, USA

Storm Surge
Early fall weather conditions brought on an extreme storm surge in a Norton Sound community.

Ice Fishing Hazardous
11-4-13 Ice fishing hazardous - Golovin, Alaska, USA

Warm weather delays subsistence
10-24-13 Warm weather delays subsistence - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Too Wet for Food Preserving
10-15 13 Too wet for food preservation - Elim, Alaska, USA

Muddy River Raises Salmon Concerns
Thawing permafrost and river bank collapsed on the Cheenik Creek.

Low River Level
6-8-13 Low water level - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Low Number of Birds
6-2-13 Low number of birds - Golovin, Alaska, USA

No Snow on the Seward Peninsula
Despite the time of year, there is still no snow on the Seward Peninsula.

Thawing and Eroding Trail
Permafrost thaw is causing trail in Golovin to erode.

Dead Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
At Moses Point, Northeast of Elim, we found a dead beluga whale.

Dead Baby Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas)
Several sightings of dead baby belugas were reported on the shores of the community and in the area over the past few days.

Late Freeze-up
Late freeze-up of sea ice along the shoreline

Sick Ringed Seal

Stranded Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)

Ringed seal

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