LEO Network

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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

New and viable, previously unknown freshwater pearl mussel population found in the Ivalojoki River
A significant, previously unknown population of freshwater pearl mussel was found in the Ivalojoki watershed in Finnish Lapland. The cooperative Lumimuutos discovered it during restoration work in the Sámi homeland in summer 2025; authorities are withholding the exact location.
Inari, Lapland, Finland
Lapin Kansa

Sled dogs got loose and killed seven reindeer in Alta
Five sled dogs escaped near Jotka in Alta and chased a reindeer herd for up to two hours, leaving seven reindeer dead before owners and a herder regained control. Police have been notified, and the herder seeks an amicable settlement with the dog owners for losses and roundup costs.
Alta, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK

Airline: Kaldoaivi accident caused by wind gust; captain got life jackets to everyone
Arctic AirService says a strong wind gust in the Kaldoaivi wilderness caused its floatplane to tip over while taxiing on a lake. The captain evacuated everyone, provided life jackets, and the group swam to shore; one person was checked at Kirkenes hospital.
Inari, Lapland, Finland
Lapin Kansa

Bear ravages Robert Severin's sheep flock
A brown bear has killed six sheep at a farm in Lakselv, Porsanger, and the farmer claims authorities are delaying permission to shoot the animal.
Lakselv, Porsanger, Norway
iFinnmark

Slow start – but now pink salmon may come in full force
After a slow start, 66 000 invasive pink salmon have been caught in Troms and Finnmark rivers so far, but volunteers and authorities warn a larger run may still be on its way.
Troms and Finnmark, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

Five government agencies were involved while bear and eagle attacked the reindeer herd
In Karasjok this spring, bears, lynx and a golden eagle attacked an enclosed reindeer herd, killing around 100 animals, while five state agencies coordinated the response and initially denied a permit for lethal control.
Karasjok, Troms and Finnmark, Norway
NRK Sápmi

World’s northernmost observation of Horned Lark: This is a world sensation
An ornithologist at Alta Airport in Finnmark, Norway identified a Horned Lark by its song, marking the northernmost ever record of the species, hailed as a global sensation.
Alta, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
Altaposten

Found larvae in the throat of dead moose calf in Karasjok
A dead moose calf in Karasjok was found with moose botfly larvae in its throat, marking a potentially first reported occurrence of this parasite in inner Finnmark, Norway, raising concerns about its impact on local wildlife.
Karasjok, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
NRK

Unseasonably warm autumn not delaying birds' departure
Temperature records continued to be broken this week in Utsjoki, Finland's northernmost municipality. Despite thie, the autumn migration of birds is proceeding at a fairly standard pace, according to Birdlife Finland.
Utsjoki, Lapland, Finland
News

Several hundred reindeer drowned in Porsanger
Several hundred reindeer drowned in Porsanger during their migration from summer to winter pastures, causing significant loss for the district and prompting the local government to offer crisis support to affected reindeer owners.
Skáiddejávri in Porsanger, Norway
NRK

Heatwave hit Europe’s Arctic coast
Few places in Europe were warmer than the Finnmark region on Tuesday. Nyrud in the Pasvik valley measured a peak at 25.3 degrees Celsius (77 F), actually higher than the Mediterranean coast of Spain and Italy.The normal chilly winds along the coast of Finnmark in Norway and Kola Peninsula in Russia were replaced by very warm air.
Lakselv, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

Challenging pastures for reindeer: Difficult conditions in Nordland and Troms, grazing crisis in Indre Finnmark
Changing weather with a lot of snow, rain and strong frost with icing, has made it difficult for the reindeer to reach lichen and moss on the ground in Nordland.
Indre Finnmark, Troms og Finnmark Fylke, Norway

25-30 reindeer drowned in the river today
25-30 reindeer drowned in the Kautokeino River today after a herd of reindeer passed through the ice. The accident happened when the herd of reindeer was crossing the fragile ice on the river. This is the third similar incident in the area in a couple of weeks. Yesterday, three reindeer went through the ice. They were all rescued alive. This article is also available in the Sami language at this
Heammogietti, Kautokeino, Troms og Finnmark fylke, Norway

Such was the temperature in July
It's been a hot July. In fact, it was the 10th warmest in 120 years.
Lakselv, Troms og Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Finland braces for renewed warm, dry spell as Lapland sees record temperatures
Lapland was Finland's hottest region on Monday with a measuring station in the village of Utsjoki recording 33.5 degrees celsius. A high-pressure front dominating Central and Eastern Europe is behind the drought and high temperature readings.
Utsjoki, Lapland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Gold Jackal seen for the first time in Norway
It is common to be found in Myanmar and in Southeastern Europe. Now the gold jackal is captured on film in Finnmark.
Ildskog, Porsanger, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Cloudberry bogs are collapsing - climate change is to blame
In Finnmark and parts of Troms, good and favorite berry bogs have cracked and disappeared. The reason is warmer and more humid climate. "Almost impossible to reverse," says a bog researcher.
Karasjok, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Major flooding in Finnmark: Red danger warning in several municipalities
The great flood has come to Finnmark. Since Sunday evening, several homes have been evacuated and a primary school in Alta has been closed. On Monday morning, the E6 stretch of Lakselv-Karasjok was also closed.
Finnmark
Ida Louise Rostad Journalist Eirik Sørenmo Påsche Journalist Mariam Eltervåg Cissé Journalist Frida Ravna Rømo Journalist Erik Andreassen Journalist Linda Pedersen Journalist Torgeir Varsi Fotograf

Snow crisis in Finnmark – Per John filmed herd of 36 moose
Extreme amounts of snow in Finnmark presents major challenges for grazing animals. Per John Anti met a herd of 36 moose that had gathered.
Karasjok, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
Nationen

Fresh bear tracks in popular hiking area
"It is unusual for bears with youngsters to wake up so early and it is difficult to say why these have come out. The bears may have been disturbed by humans or other animals."
Dákteroavvi, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Record Christmas snow cover in Lapland
Powder on the ground is nearly one meter deep in some parts of Finland's northernmost region.
Inari, Lapland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Record Arctic heat drives reindeer into cool tunnels
The region is so hot that it has experienced 12 "tropical" nights with evening temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius so far this year, according to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
Finnmark, Norway
The Local

Why It's 90 Degrees in the Arctic Circle
The town of Lakselv, Norway, located near the Banak Peninsula and more than 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle in far northern Europe, recorded a temperature of 91 degrees on Wednesday and a high of at least 90 degrees twice this week. That's roughly 30 degrees above average for this region of the world.
Lakselv Sentrum, Finnmark, Norway
The Weather Channel

Dozens of dead moose discovered in Lapland, tests reveal they starved to death
Dozens of moose carcasses were discovered last spring in a Lapland national park, and Finland animal disease watchdog Evira has since determined that the animals died of malnutrition. The reason why they were unable to find sustenance is a mystery, as the area had relatively normal temperatures and snowfall last winter.
Yle Uutiset

Summer surprise: Snow in Lapland prompts ski resort to reopen
The skiing season ended in Northern Lapland in mid-May, but the weather there is still so cold and snowfall so frequent that the Saariselkä resort will temporarily reopen its slopes, which are currently up to a metre deep in snow.

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