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

Early Bloom of Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis Highbush) Bushes
Early bloom of salmonberry bushes.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

No Permanent Winter Ice and Early Break Up For Nome
Nome, Alaska, United States

Band-tailed Pigeon - Lower Mainland BC
South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Early leafing of trees this spring
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

Dry winter and low water table in Southern Alberta
Okotoks, Alberta, Canada

Record High Temperatures for April 18, 2016
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Early Kuskokwim River Breakup at Chuathbaluk
We have had an extremely warm winter, and the river had many open holes that never froze completely.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Psoroptic Mange (Psoroptis ovis) in Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
South Okanagan Similkameen
Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

Lynx Spotted in Kamloops Suburbs
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Early Spring / Early Waterfowl
Early spring and early waterfowl
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Early Birch (Betula neoalaskana) Sap
The birch trees are producing sap earlier. (baseline post)
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Mosquitoes (Culicidae) Hatch
First mosquito (and bite) of year.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

A large wet snow avalanche cycle in West Greenland quantified using remote sensing and in situ observations
On 11 April 2016 we observed high slushflow and wet snow avalanche activity at the environmental monitoring station Kobbefjord in West Greenland.
Nuuk, Sermersooq, Greenland
Natural Hazards
Jakob Abermann, Markus Eckerstorfer, Eirik Malnes, Birger Ulf Hansen

Flora Blooming Early in the Valley
Birch leaves bud early.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

From winter to summer: Where is the spring in Toronto?
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

White Nose Syndrome (WNS) Bats
Not in Alaska yet - Help with Surveillance Requested.
Seattle, Washington, United States
Bailey Richards, Karen Blejwas, Marian Snively

Lack of ice allows dredging to start early
Previously, the dredging started around May and ran through October, but the past three winters it has started earlier and run longer.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Dead Murres At Boat Harbor
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Second year of unusual seasonal temperatures: affects black bears and native plant growth?
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Unusually High March Temperatures
Unseasonably warm in Arctic.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Beaver (Castor canadensis) Activity Near Community
Beaver activity impacting water level
Chignik Lake, Alaska, United States

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Bloomers
More early bloomers in Southcentral Alaska.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) with Elongated Bill
A mysterious condition continues to inflict some Alaska birds

March Rainbow
Have you ever heard of such a thing? In Anchorage?

Volcano Spewing Ash and Lava
Pavlov Volcano provides spring show and showers
Mount Pavolf, Alaska, United States

Volcanic Ash Fall
Ash from Mount Pavlof Lands in Nelson Lagoon
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Dead Birds On Spit Beach
Residents concern over die-offs persist
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Hummingbird Sightings on the Sunshine Coast
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Dandelions (Taraxacum) in Bloom
First dandelions of spring
King Cove, Alaska, United States

First Mosquitoe (Culicidae) of Spring
An early season?
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Fish and Game look to round up invasive starlings
The Department of Fish and Game plans to trap a flock of birds not native to Alaska that is trying to move in. The agency says starlings could cause big problems for humans and other birds native to the area. They want to get rid of the flock before their numbers grow.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

March Pollen and Active Honey Bees (Apis)
Warm temperatures drive emergence of early willow buds, pollen and honey bee activity.

50°F in March!
Unseasonably warm in Chistochina.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) in Full Bloom
Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) are in full bloom on Baranof Island.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Early Willow (Salix scouleriana) Bloom
Early Pussy Willows in Denali Park.
Denali Park, Alaska, United States

Wolf reports (Canis Lupus) on Nelson Island
An unusual visitor, or new neighbor?
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Coyotes are everywhere, even in Alaska
Department biologists do not keep track of coyote numbers, but Fairbanks-area trapper Randy Zarnke said coyotes began showing up on his trapline trails three or four years ago.
College, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Early Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) and Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Bloom
Early blooming salmonberry (*was'x'aan tléiGu* and blueberry (*naanyaa kanat'aayi* - Tlingit language) blossoms.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Jerry Hupp, LoriAnne Barnett, Sudie Hargis

Fuel tanker plunges through ice road in N.W.T., ice road
An ice road near Deline, N.W.T. is closed after a fuel tanker plunged through on Saturday.
Déliné, Northwest Territory, Canada
CBC News

Another Dead Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
Second sea otter stranding in one week.
Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Lack of snow shortens Iditarod start
Persistent warm temperatures the last few weeks have melted much of the snow, including stockpiles the city tried to set aside.
Alaska Public Media

Living in Ice Land
Winter transformed from time of snow to time of ice.

Crecimiento del nivel del mar
Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

Seldovia beach erosion and glacial rebound
Rapid changes raise questions.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Still No Sea Ice
Open water interferes with subsistence practices.
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States
Hajo Eicken, Anna R John, Moses Tcheripanoff

Sheen on Water in Shishmaref
Photos and observations of the sheen thought to be caused by a fuel leak in the village of Shishmaref.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Unusual Beetle
5-31-15 Unusual beetle - Goodnews Bay, Alaska, USA
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Velella en Isla San Martín

Spring River Ice Change
Spring river ice change - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Insect Die-off
5.21-15 Insect die-off - Chistochina, Alaska, USA
Chistochina, Alaska, USA

Ruby Tiger (Phragmotobia fuliginosa) Moth
Unusual moth
Kwinhagak, Alaska, USA

Visiting Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)
We have never had cranes stop in here before. Something has changed that these migratory birds are stopping here.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Biologists ponder effects of a warmer ocean as pink salmon fry leave early
Biologists suspect climate change and mild winters may have prompted April's early out migration from Auke Creek.
Auke Bay, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) absent around Isla Todos Santos
Around Isla Todos Santos, a massive Giant Kelp (_Macrocystis pyrifera_) bed die-off was observed, which may be linked to the 2015-2016 El Niño event.
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Low Lake Water
Low lake water on ANTHC campus (Algae)

Moose (Alces alces) with Hair Loss
A moose was seen with some of its fur missing.

Mystery hairless elk leave scientists puzzled
A succession of mystery hairless elk have have been spotted in the village of Neiden close to Norway's far northeastern border with Russia, leaving scientists scratching their heads as to the cause.
Neiden, Norway
The Local

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
Near San Diego, California

Urban Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)
5/2/15 Urban Canada goose - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

The Blob: Why warmer oceans are a big concern
Warm water threatens marine habitats off the coast of BC
Northeast Pacific Ocean
Sooke News Mirror

Late Snow
4/20.15 Late snow - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Lightning and thunder
4/20/14 Thunder and lightening - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

Dead Black-capped (Parus atricapillus) Chickadee
The bird was flying and just dropped dead.
St. Marys, Alaska, United States

Early Waterfowl
4/16/15 Early waterfowl - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Black bear family roaming Anchorage neighborhood
A family of five black bears is roaming an Alaska neighborhood, toppling trash cans as the group rummages for food and scaring some residents who believe the animals are the same ones seen in the area last summer.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Early Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Blossoms
Salmonberry blossom seem a little early this year.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Increase in Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
4/4/15 Increase in pike - Quinhagak, Alaska, USA
Quinhagak, Alaska, USA

The warm ‘blob’ in Canada’s Pacific Ocean
Last year, 2014, was the hottest year ever recorded on Earth. Unlike other worldwide problems from which Canadians might feel relatively safe and isolated, but Canada is actually ground zero of global climate.
Gulf of Alaska / Northeast Pacific
Times Colonist

Hunting restrictions on 2 Alaska caribou herds to take effect this summer
Restrictions on bag limits and season length will start July 1 for both the Western Arctic and Teshekpuk herds, whose numbers are dropping. Restrictions will affect both resident and nonresident hunters.
Northwest Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Low Snow Pack
Normally, we have so many feet of snow throughout the village and the mountains would be packed with snow.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Early Golfing
3/24/15 Early golfing - Palmer, Alaska, USa
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Early Pussy Willows
Early pussy willows - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Early Song Birds
3/18/15 Early songbirds - Haines, Alaska, USA
Haines, Alaska, United States

High PSP in Clams
High PSP in clams - Sand Point, Alaska, USA

Pregnant whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

Tourist Killed by Ice fall, Knik Glacier Alaska
The victim, identified as 28-year-old Alexander Hellweger, was part of a group of eight friends from Italy and Belgium vacationing in Alaska.

Unusually Cold and Snow
5-30-14 Unusually cold and snow - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Over-heated
This sea lion was seen for over an hour floating along the shore and holding one front and one back flipper in the air.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Early Salmonberry (Rubus chamaemorus) Blossoms
5-27-14 Early salmon berry blossoms - Toksook Bay, Alaska, USA
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Growth on Broad Whitefish (C. nelsonii)
Fishing this spring and caught a broad whitefish that had a growth.
Selawik, Alaska. United States

High Spruce Pollen
5-25-14 High spruce pollen McDonald Spit, Alaska, USA

Low Lake Water
Dry conditions in Southcentral Alaska have resulted in low lake levels including here on the ANTHC campus

Pollen Makes for Poor Air Quality
5-19-14 Poor air quality - Anchorage Alaska, USA

Hot, dry weather brings wildfires near Palmer
Unseasonably warm, dry weather in a large section of the state set the stage for a roughly 20-acre wildfire near Palmer and kept authorities across Southcentral and Interior Alaska busy putting out backyard fires despite ongoing warnings against open burning.
Anchorage Daily News

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

Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire and smoke seen from Hatcher Pass, AK
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Laysan albatross chicken die-off linked to Santa Ana winds
Laysan albatross chickens died from causes related to abnormal Santa Ana winds
Campamento Sur, Baja California, Mexico
Daniela Munguía, Julio Montoya, Yutzil Lora Cabrera

Spawning Marine Worms
Spawning marine Pileworms observed along shoreline.
Nikolski, Alaska, United States

High PSP Levels in Clams
4-30-14 High PSP levels in clams - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Dry April triggers fire warnings in Anchorage

Sea Ice Rescue
4-29-14 Sea ice rescue - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Geometridae moth
4-27-14 Geometridae moth - Naknek, Alaska, USA
Naknek, Alaska, United States

Rare Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
4-25-14 Rare brown bear visit - Bethel, Alaska, USA
Bethel, Alaska, Unites States

River Ice Treacherous
4-13-14 River ice treacherous - Bethel, Alaska, USA
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Heavy snow kills at least 15,000 reindeer in northern Siberia
Animals cannot forage for lichen under the snow crust on the Yamal peninsula.
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Bed bugs are calling Alaska home at increasing rates
In Anchorage, the city logged 68 bed bug complaints in 2013, a decrease from the 84 in 2012. There was just one complaint in 2007 and 2008 combined, according to city data.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta caradensis) with Elongated Bill
An intense bundle of energy at your feeder, Red-breasted Nuthatches are tiny, active birds of north woods and western mountains.

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

Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) Sighting
Rare Layson Albatross (*Phoebastria immutabilis*) sighting.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Mountain Snow and Ice Declining
Mount Sanford has been losing its ice cover for decades around its base.
Gakona, Alaska, United States

Advisory - Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Safety
3-5-14 Advisory - beluga safety
Point Hope, Alaska, United States

First Horned Grebes Settle in Reykjavík Pond
Two horned grebes have settled in Reykjavík Pond in the city centre, RÚV reports. It is the first time the species is found nesting at the location. At the turn of the century, the horned grebe population was placed on a watchlist due to its decline, but it seems to have made a recovery since. […]
Hafnarfjordur, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Leopard Slug (Limax maximus)
For a couple years, Sand Point residents have observed an increasing number of the non-native leopard slug.

Another record-setting year for snowfall
For the second year in a row, the Anchorage area set a new snowfall record. This year it wasn’t the amount of fluffy stuff that went down in the history books — last year Anchorage had more than 11 feet — but the days between the first and last snowfall.
The Alaska Star

Poor Sea Ice - Our Sea Garden
The sea is our garden for food and other things.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Longest Snow Season Ever
There were 231 days between the first and last measurable snow fall in the Anchorage region this year. Temperatures have also been significantly below average.

Volcanic Ash Fall
5-21-13 Volcanic ash fall - Sand Point, Alaska, USA

Flooding Kobuk River
5-30-13 Flooding Kobuk River - Kobuk, Alaska, USA
Kobuk, Alaska, United States

Late Winter Storm
We are having an unseasonable snow storm in southcentral Alaska.

Spruce Aphid (Elatobium abietinum) Infestation
5-15-13 Spruce aphid infestation Kake, Alaska, USA
Kake, Alaska, United States

Unusual Moose Sighting
It's not common to see animals of any kind, including moose, in the community of Pitkas Point.
Pitkas Point, Alaska, USA

PSP Levels Rising
5-1-13 PSP levels rising - Old Harbor, Alaska, USA
Old Harbor, Alaska, United States

Cold Arrival for Canada Geese
4-23-13 Cold arrival for Canada geese - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Wolf (Canis lupus) Roaming City
4-22-13 wolf roaming city - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Unseasonable Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
4-21-13 Unseasonable chum salmon - St. Mary's, Alaska, USA
St. Marys, Alaska, United States

Early Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
4-21-13 Early brown bear - Pedro Bay, Alaska, USA
Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States

Sick Spotted Seal (Phoca largha)
Local hunter reported that he had caught a spotted seal that he thought was sick.
Eek, Alaska, United States

Herders caught between cashmere and climate change
Batogoo Dorj is a nomad in southern Mongolia’s Bayankhongor Region who makes his living raising cashmere goats. Each spring, Dorj can shear about 300 grams of the valuable, downy wool from each of his 350 goats. Those voracious and sharp-hoofed animals are contributing to the desertification and climate change that is reducing Mongolia’s available grazing land.
Баянхонгор, Bayanhongor, Mongolia
The UB Post

Bloom Turns Beach Orange
A mystery bloom brightens up local beach.
Annette Islands, Alaska, United States

Could Alaska's mystery seal illness be Arctic sunburn?
An Alaska scientist challenges the so-called “unexplained” lesions and deaths observed among Arctic sea life in 2011 and 2012.
Arctic Coast of Alaska

Buggy ptarmigan
3-13-13 Buggy ptarmigan - Noatak, Alaska, USA
Noatak, Alaska, USA

Storm Disrupts Transportation
Severe storms wreak havoc to a Bering Sea community; the following weather conditions contributed to flooding, disrupting transportation routes, electrical transformers and seepage into local water wells.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Changing Sea Ice
3-5-13 Changing sea ice - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Unusual Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus)
5-29-12 Unusual bearded seal - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

In Nicoya Gulf, the deadly red tide lingers
Since early February, the gulf, and beaches and islands surrounding it, have been in the throes of one of the worst blooms of red tide in recent years.
Paquera, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate

Buckland River Floods Dumpsite
5-23-12 Buckland River floods dumpsite - Buckland, Alaska, USA.
Buckland, Alaska, USA

Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida) with Sores
Ringed seal with sores found in Shishmaref.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Invasive snakehead fish found in B.C. park lagoon
Voracious predator could be big threat to native aquatic populations
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Globe and Mail

Wolves and Bear around the Dump
Wolves and bears rummaging around the dump.
King Cove, Alaska, USA

River Bank Erosion
Erosion on the banks of the Koyukuk River is increasing in the community of Evansville and Bettles.
Evansville, Alaska, United States

Windfall trees an obstacle
Wind fall trees an obstacle
Gakona, Alaska, United States

Kuskokwim River flooding
Kuskokwim River flooding causes concern in community
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, USA

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Brown marmorated stink bug
Corlene Rose, Honey Lou Wilson, Mike Rasy

Deer with Hair Loss
Sitka black-tailed deer (*Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis*) seen with large amount of hair loss.
Hollis, Alaska, Unites States

Seal with Hair Loss
Seal with hair loss observed in Bering Strait region
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm
4-25-12 Unseasonably warm - Evansville, Alaska, USA
Evansville, Alaska, United States

Anchorage, Alaska sets new snow record
To say Alaska has been snowy this winter is an understatement. Anchorage broke a 57 year old snowfall record Saturday when a storm produced 4.3 inches of snow on Saturday, April 7, 2012.
EarthSky

Fur loss, oozing sores observed in Arctic Alaska polar bears
Polar bear researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey are only halfway into their annual survey in Alaska and they've already come across nine bears – six in Barrow and 3 in Kaktovik – with signs of alopecia and skin lesions. The muzzle, face, eyes, ears and neck appear most affected, according to a bulletin published Friday by the agency.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

Fur loss, oozing sores observed in Arctic Alaska polar bears
The Far North's iconic polar bear appears to have joined the list of Arctic species afflicted with a mystery illness that causes hair loss, lesions and oozing sores. Six in Barrow and three in Kaktovik.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Falling ice traps driver, closes highway
A woman was trapped in a pickup on the Seward Highway on Friday after falling ice crushed the vehicle just south of Anchorage.

3,000 dolphins found dead on the coast of Peru
According to a report from Peru 21, local fishermen in Lambayeque, north Peru, were first to notice the inexplicable rise in dead dolphin appearing on shore -- averaging roughly 30 per day.
Peru
TreeHugger

Polar bears with skin illness
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Aleutian Avalanche
3-20-12 Aleutian avalanche - Akutan, Alaska, USA
Akutan, Alaska, United States

Unusually large ice formation next to highway
The ice formation along the Seward Highway grabbed my interest because it stood out and was rather unusual.
LEO Network

Ice formation on cliffs
3-17-12 Ice formation on cliffs - Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Barnacles Declining
3-9-12 Barnacles declining - Nanwalek, Alaska, USA
Nanwalek, Alaska, USA

Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus)
Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom

Bugs on Geese
Beetles seen moving around on geese
Wainwright, Alaska, United States
Jessie Moan, Linda Agnasagga, Heather Dingman

Seal Pup Found near Port Heiden
Unknown seal pup found near Port Heiden.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Pesky insects should not pose a problem to homeowners until late summer
Newark, Delaware, United States
UDaily

Alaska musk oxen found frozen in ice
Thirty-two musk oxen carcasses were found March 15 by scientists who had been studying them. The animals were dead and entombed in ice. The belief is that the musk oxen either drowned during a February thaw or became trapped in water and died after it froze.

Powerful Quake and Tsunami Devastate Northern Japan
Japan was filled with scenes of desperation a day after an 8.9-magnitude quake, as survivors called for help and rescuers looked for people buried in rubble.
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
The New York Times

Dead seals mystery not solved by scientists' tests
Scientists say they've been unable to solve the mystery of dead seals that washed ashore in Labrador between December and January.
CBC News

Squid invasion hitting Oregon coast and scientists are concerned, but could there be a silver lining?
Newport, Oregon, United States
OregonLive.com

Brown Pelicans In BC Waters
Two Brown Pelicans were spotted off the Discovery Islands near Victoria on May 12. This species of pelican is familiar to anyone who has travelled to the beaches of Mexico, Caribbean or southern USA.
Discovery Island, Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Invasion of the Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
In the past four years or so, a new species of bird has arrived in British Columbia. The Eurasian collared dove is an attractive bird sporting pale grey plumage with a thin black ‘collar’ of feathers around its hind neck.
British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Pike wiped out in Cheney Lake; stand by for return of trout
Anchorage anglers got good news this week when Fish and Game reported that pesticide applied to Cheney Lake last October in an effort to wipe out invasive northern pike appears to have worked.

Tent Caterpillar Infestation
At one point our entire red brick house was covered in the black caterpillars trying to reach the adjacent forest. The silk web-like nests began to appear on our trees in May and within weeks, the forests foliage was decimated.
Woodford, Ontario

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