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

Woman dies from new, rare tick-borne virus
'No one had ever heard of it': Woman dies from rare tick-borne virus.
Miramiguoa State Park, Missouri, United States
KWWL

Fight fire with fire: How First Nations practice of burning the land helps prevent megafires
The grandchildren of Annie Kruger remember her lighting an Export A Green cigarette, throwing on her logger's jacket and heading out to set fires near Penticton, B.C. — part of an ancient tradition of using flames to clear brush, renew growth and create natural fireguards.
Okanagan Region, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

Potentially fatal death cap mushrooms spotted in Victoria neighbourhood
Island Health confirms the fungus, known scientifically as Amanita phalloides, has already flowered in Uplands this July.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Island

Ticks Gorge on Squirrel
These ticks may have been an example of one native species in Alaska.
Bryers Lake State Recreation Area, Alaska , United States

'We never had fires like this for many years': Old Crow residents nervous about nearby fires
26 fires are burning in the Old Crow district but Yukon Wildland Fire says the community is not at risk
Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada
CBC News

Early Flowering of Chinese Magnolia (soulangiana)
Flowering is occurring months early.
Maleny, Queensland, Australia

Ten Alaskans were sickened by raw or undercooked walrus. A parasite was in the meat, CDC says.
Alaskans from St. Lawrence Island were hospitalized with the food-borne parasite trichinella, which used to more typically infect pork. The CDC and state public health officials issued warnings.
Gambell, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Newly found disease could threaten Southeast Alaska spruce
A fungus that’s damaged trees in Southcentral and Interior Alaska has been discovered for the first time in Southeast. But there’s a chance its spread could be stopped.
Shrine of St. Terese, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Where are Koliganek's king salmon?
More than 2.5 million sockeye have returned to spawn in the Nushagak River this year, one of the highest counts on record. They have filled pools and creeks, jumping and swimming their way to their spawning grounds.
Koliganek, Alaska, United States
KDLG

Mysterious bird deaths in Helsinki
Why are barnacle geese and seagulls dying by the dozens in Helsinki and not Turku? The birds have been dying in droves off the coast of Helsinki, and in the islands off coastal cities nearby as far out as Inkoo in the west and Porvoo in the east. The phenomenon was first reported on Thursday by Helsingin Sanomat.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle Uutiset

As low Nushagak River restricts barge travel, New Stuyahok limits heating fuel
Koliganek and New Stuyahok are still waiting on their first barge of the year. Heating fuel use for residents and businesses in New Stuyahok is limited.
New Stuyahok, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Smoke from northeast Alaska fires drifts into Fairbanks
Smoke from a handful of fires in northeast Alaska and across the border in Canada drifted south to Fairbanks on Tuesday and is expected to linger through Wednesday night.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

As sea ice gets scarcer, polar bear attacks on people become more frequent
More polar bears on land have been encountering more people in the Arctic, a perfect storm of dangerous conditions, one scientist says.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

The Arctic is full of mercury, and scientists think they know how it's getting there
The remote Arctic tundra may seem like the last place on Earth human pollution should be causing a problem — yet it’s filled with mercury contamination.
Toolik Field Station, Alaska, United States
The Washington Post

These birds are trapped between predators and rising sea levels
Which is worse: getting eaten, or drowning? Read on.
Georgia salt marshes
Popular Science

Gansevoort man died after contracting rare tick virus
The state Department of Health announced Wednesday that a Saratoga County resident died in recent months after contracting a rare tick-borne illness known as Powassan Virus.
Gansevoort, New York, United States
Glens Falls Post-Star

The San Francisco Bay Area Faces Sea Level Rise and Chronic Inundation
Sea level rise will affect the Bay Area. A new study by UCS projects when will flooding happen regularly, and what areas will affect to help communities prepare for the changes to come.
Milpitas, California, United States
Union of Concerned Scientists

B.C. wildfires’ impact on animals ‘to be horrific’: wildlife rehab facility
A major wildlife rehabilitation facility is bracing for the devastating impact of the B.C. wildfires on birds and mammals.
Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Yellowknife fire ban extends to Yellowknife River, Fred Henne parks
A fire ban, announced yesterday, includes two territorial parks, the GNWT confirmed.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

Dazed and Confused Pilot Whales
Pilot whales are abyssal creatures, usually spending their lives far away from land. It is not known for sure why the whales drift ashore but they might be confused when they encounter shallows on their swims.
Rif, West, Iceland
Iceland Review

No weather relief in sight
As wildfires continue to rage in B.C., there's no rain relief in sight
Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

State of emergency continues as fire near Fort Good Hope, N.W.T. grows to over 8,000 hectares
A wildfire burning near Fort Good Hope, N.W.T. has increased in size to over 8,000 hectares and is moving closer to the community.
Sahtu Region, Northwest Territory, Canada

Emptied tide pools tell the story of Kachemak Bay’s disrupted ecosystem
Beach walks this summer find many familiar creatures absent. This changing natural world demands attention and caring.
Bear Cove, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Gas pipelines supplying Europe 'in real danger from exploding tundra' - top scientist
Pipes are built over bulging and unstable Arctic pingos prone to violent eruptions caused by 'thawing methane gas', as seen twice on the Yamal peninsula this year.
Yamal Region, Russia
The Siberian Times

L'agrile du frêne (Agrilus planipennis) détecté à Québec
Emerald Ash Borer Detected in Quebec City - a larva was found under the bark of one of the 400 branches taken from municipal ash trees in 2017. "
Québec, Quebec, Canada

Family watches in horror as cabin is swept away by river in Alaska
A family in Alaska watched in horror as their beloved cabin (pictured) that was built in the 1940s was swept away by the Matanuska River over the Fourth of July weekend.
Matanusak River, Alaska, United States
Mail Online

California fires spread quickly, evacuation orders lifted in other parts of West
In other parts of the West, evacuation orders were lifted in Colorado and Montana towns threatened by wildfires
Santa Barbara County
CBS News

Canada's British Columbia battles wildfires
British Columbia has declared a state of emergency and thousands have been evacuated.
100 Mile House
BBC News

It's All a Month Early
A number of plants are growing oddly "out of season".
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States

Possible new invasive species discovered in Juneau
There’s a new, probably non-native, invasive species in town, just discovered in late June. It’s a disease-causing fungus (*Gemmamyces piceae*) that afflicts spruce buds, often killing them altogether but sometimes just causing deformed buds and twigs.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Caterpillars taking Anvil Mountain, inch by inch?
A biologist peers into his collection jar to find an example of the green caterpillars that have been dining on willow bushes, making brown batches on the landscape in and about Nome.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

A trillion-ton iceberg the size of Delaware is about to break off Antarctica
Scientists are divided about the impact of climate change on this particular break in Antarctica's ice shelf.
Weddell Sea, Antarctica
ChicagoTribune.com

18 temperature records smashed
Temperature records were broken around the province with Vernon breaking an 111-year-old record
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Caterpillar (Orthosia hibisci) Infestation Causes Defoliation
The village of Anvik along the west bank of the Yukon River has an increase in defoliation associated with caterpillar numbers.
Anvik, Alaska, United States
Derek Sikes, Alberta Walker, Jessie Moan

Wildfires burning across northern Alaska
Of the 89 wildfires burning across Alaska right now, several are in the northern part of the state, either in the Arctic or near its southern boundary.
Campbell River Fire, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

‘Biblical’ plague of flies descends on Dublin 4
Locals blame Poolbeg incinerator for infestation in Sandymount and Ringsend
Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
The Irish Times

What Kind of Beetle is This?
Unknown Beetle
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States

M 5.8 Earthquake
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, responsible for monitoring, reporting, and researching earthquakes and earthquake hazards
Montana Mountains NW of Helena
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

Scientists find strange sea creatures in Alaska for the first time
Pyrosomes were first seen on the Oregon coast in 2014 and every year since. Recently they have been reported in Washington, BC and Alaska. These weird organisms that resemble large pink thimbles, could signal really big changes in the marine ecosystem.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
CBS News

Methane explodes under Yamal tundra, creates another sinkhole
Locals say they saw flames and smoke as a major bubble of methane blasted below the surface and created another sinkhole in the Russian Arctic peninsula.
Yamal Peninsula, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Lake Ontario levels are falling – but damage costs are rising
Taxpayers are staring at a $4.5-million-plus bill to repair everything from eroded trails to disappearing beaches to flooding streets.
Bayfront Park, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
TheSpec.com

A New Trend On The Great Plains: More Wildfires
Wildfires burned through thousands of acres of Great Plains farm and ranch land in the 1980s. Today, wildfires are likely to char millions of acres. The
Pine Ridge, Nebraska, United States
KUNC

Scientist says hatchery strays could threaten wild fish populations
Large numbers of salmon straying from hatcheries in Southeast Alaska, as well as a low river flow, helped create lethal environments for wild salmon, according to a new report.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

What Is This Cotton-like Bug?

Fish & Game: Ticks on the rise in Alaska
They're a parasite many people don't think live in Alaska, but Fish and Game says ticks are here and their numbers are on the rise.
Alaska, United States
KTVA Alaska

Small Ladybug Like Beetle (Chrysomela)
Unidentified beetle near Tongass Highway
Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Coastal Shore Erosion
Coastal erosion occurring near Cape Blossom, outside of Kotzebue, Alaska.
Cape Blossom, NW Alaska, United States

Storm winds knock out power to thousands
High winds blasted across south-western Finland Friday, cutting electricity to customers. The rare June storm peaked on Friday afternoon.
West of Helsinki, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Yukon River chinook run stronger, but not enough for open fishing - Yukon News
‘It’s still only about half of the historical average,’ fisheries official says
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

An Interior wildfire sparks back up
A wildfire north of Delta Junction has reignited. The more than 8,000-acre South Fork Salcha Fire was started by lightning earlier this month in a remote area about 70 miles southeast of Fairbanks.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Mosquitoes from hell: Why you shouldn't go outside unless you're prepared to get eaten alive
April’s high levels of rainfall led to continued flooding across the Greater Toronto Area‘s many beaches, creating a “breeding ground” for mosquitoes and West Nile Virus.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Unidentified Marine Mammal
We could not figure out the what type of sea mammal it is.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Kathy Burek Huntington, Janet Mitchell

Pine foliage disease apparently slowing
A foliage disease epidemic that killed shore pines near 10 Mile and other areas around Haines appears to have subsided, according to a U.S. Forest
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Plant Health and Condition
The leaves, in general, don't look too healthy. They seem to lack vitality and are shriveled in many places.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States
Gino Graziano, Jessie Moan, Wilson Justin

Tales of Lake Iliamna monster resurface with new sightings
On June 19, some kids spotted an unrecognized creature the size of a large whale offshore near the Alaska village of Iliamna. Other accounts followed.
Iliamna Lake, Alaska, United States

Caterpillars Infestation
Infestation of an unknown species of caterpillar.
Grayling, Alaska, United States

Plenty of water? Canadian Arctic communities on the verge of running out
Looking at a map of Arctic Canada, it seems there are literally thousands of lakes and rivers, yet many Arctic communities are facing water shortages or threats of shortages to come.
Iqaluit, capital of Nunavut Territory, will be facing that problem in the very near future.
Andrew Medeiros (PhD)
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
Eye on the Arctic

Aggressive grizzly bear harasses Dempster Highway travellers
Conservation officers believe the same bear was involved in two recent encounters. The most recent involved a motorcyclist forced to back up by the approaching bear.
Dempster Highway (kilometres 230-270), Yukon Territory, Canada

'Hard to believe': Western Arctic community marvels at moose sighting
Community members in Paulatuk, N.W.T., captured rare images this week of two moose wading in the Arctic Ocean.
Paulatuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Algae bloom prompts warning to avoid part of Okanagan Lake
The Okanagan Indian Band is advising residents to not enter or consume water from the north arm of Okanagan Lake until further notice due to a toxic algae bloom.
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

Plague Is Found in New Mexico. Again.
Two people were found to have plague this week. What does the disease look like in the modern world, and why does it keep happening in New Mexico?
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
The New York Times

Tiny California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus)
The smallest California cuke I have found.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

A 'Ghost Shark' Swims into our Imaginations
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute fascinated the world when it released a video of an unusual species of "ghost shark" in its natural, deep-sea habitat off our own Central Coast—the first time the species has ever been seen alive. These recently published observations also established a range extension for the species into the Northern Hemisphere.
Davidson Seamount
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM SHORELINES

Jellied sea creatures confound scientists, fishermen on U.S. Pacific Coast
Drifting throngs of pyrosomes, jelly-like, glowing organisms native to tropical seas have invaded Pacific coastal waters from Southern California to the Gulf of Alaska this year, baffling researchers and frustrating fishing crews.
Baranof Island, Alaska, United States
Reuters

Twenty Humpbacks Spotted in Eyjafjörður
Visitors to Eyjafjörður fjord in North Iceland could be lucky enough to meet with the spectacle of up to 20 humpback whales currently sojourning there.
Eyjafjörður, Iceland
Iceland Review

Large hailstone deluge marks midsummer in Altai, breaking car windows, ruining harvests
Female resident killed in Novosibirsk by falling tree as freak weather continues to grip Siberia.
Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk, Russia
Siberian Times

Fire May Be the Only Remedy for a Plague Killing Deer and Elk
Across a growing swath of North America, these animals are dying from a mysterious disorder called chronic wasting disease. It’s caused not by a virus or bacterium, but a deformed protein called a prion.
Rocky Mountains, United States
The New York Times

4 Dead, Liverless Sharks Wash Ashore in Weird Whodunit
Orca whales appear to be killing great white sharks and eating their livers and, in some cases, their hearts.
Western Cape Province, South Africa
Live Science

Going Buggy Without Bats
East Burke, Vermont, United States

Change in Maple Sugaring
Farmers that "sugar" are frustrated with the short Spring sugaring season and are looking into alternate ways to collect the sap.
East Burke, Vermont, United States

Pipefish (Sygnathinae) Observed
Found Pipefish
Port Graham, Alaska, United States

Decline in Bumble and Honey Bees
This year we have very few apples that are fully pollinated. We are building bee houses next to our garden in hopes that we can bring the bees back and next year.
St Johnsbury, Vermont, United States

Butterfly invasion hits Siberia as Black-veined White goes east
Extinct in the UK, and on the retreat in western Europe and Scandinavia, the species if prolific this summer in Tomsk and Novosibirsk.
Tomsk, Tomsk, Russia
Siberian Times

Unprecedented event: 6 North Atlantic right whales found dead in June
Gulf of Saint Lawrence

New Research Sparks Health Canada Warning Deer Plague Might Infect Humans
Chronic wasting disease long thought not to affect human health.
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
The Tyee

What has happened to our Chugach Dall sheep?
Is climate change reducing the quantity and quality of Alaska's Dall sheep habitat? That's the hypothesis being tested by two researchers.
Nelchina Glacier, Alaska, United States

Where are the kings? Kuskokwim River may see its worst run on record.
Residents who have long depended on chinook salmon to fill drying racks and smokehouses are worried about their food for next winter.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Rat (Rattus norvegicus) at Kodiak Airport
Spotted a rat at the Kodiak Airport while doing intertidal surveys.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

'I had no idea they would add up so quickly': Cockroaches infest Arviat home
Savia Shamee is warning Northerners who travel to pay attention to what they might inadvertently be bringing home.
Arviat, Nunavut, Canada

Phoenix sets heat record for third day in a row
For the third day in a row, Phoenix has broken a daily high temperature record.
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
azcentral.com

Health authorities have found Zika virus mosquitoes in Long Beach, California
Authorities have warned residents to watch out for mosquito bites and clean out pet bowls as the Aedes aegypti species breeds in stagnant water.
Long Beach, California, United States
Newsweek

Sitka considers code changes in landslide zones
The state is currently mapping the potential risk for landslides in Sitka. This time next year, the Sitka Assembly will be presented with a community-wide map. Listen now

Las Vegas hits 117 degrees, tying a record, as the Southwest bakes
Dozens of flights out of Phoenix, Arizona, have been cancelled because of extreme heat.
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
latimes.com

Killer whales are stalking boats and stealing their fish
Pods of killer whales are stalking the boats of Alaska fishermen and stealing their halibut catches, leaving the men with no fish and thousands of gallons of fuel wasted trying to flee.
It’s not...
Bering Sea
The Verge

Western Greenland could see more flooding like Saturday's tsunami
A 300-metre wide, 1,000-meter high rock slid into the sea causing the initial wave and more of the rock face is unstable.
Nuugaatsiaq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland

'Really odd': 2 fatal maulings in 2 days by Alaska black bears
Experts say brown or grizzly bears attack and kill people far more often in Alaska than black bears. Authorities say black bears killed a 16-year-old runner at Bird Ridge over the weekend and a Pogo Mine contractor Monday.
Pogo Mine, Alaska, United States

Death Valley temperatures may hit 128 on summer's first day. The heat may give you bragging rights. Or it can kill you
You won't need any reminder that it's summer in the national park. The heat wave that's settled over the Southwest has already brought 120-degree readings, which will likely be surpassed this week.
Furnace Creek, California, United States
latimes.com

American Airlines Cancels 38 Phoenix Flights Due to Heat
American Airlines has canceled 38 flights in and out of Phoenix on Tuesday afternoon because of extreme heat.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona, United States
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Extreme heat keeping Kings River at flood levels
Because this extreme heat will last for several more days, the floodwaters aren't going away anytime soon. The higher the truck, the better for residents evacuating flooded homes in the River Bend RV Park.
River Bend RV Park, Minkler, California, United States
ABC30 Fresno

Millions of tropical sea creatures invade waters off B.C. coast

Too Much Rain
Summer rain affecting subsistence food preservation.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Polar bear in Nunavik's northernmost community? No, it's a black bear.
Black bears typically stay near the treeline — but what was this guy doing so far up North, away from it?
Salluit, Nunavut, Canada

Natural catastrophe in Greenland caused by tsunami
The town of Nuugaatsiaq on Greenland's west coast was hit by a tsunami on Sunday devastating the town and the people living there. The people were evacuated by helicopters.
Nuugaatsiaq, Qaasuitsup, Greenland
IceNews

Snow cancels Yukon-Alaska bike race for 1,300 riders
For the first time in 25 years, the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay has been cancelled - unexpectedly due to snow, 'black ice and slushy sections.'
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada

Caterpillars invade Great Slave Lake area
The tent caterpillar may be chewing its way through swathes of forest foliage, but there's no danger of harm to trees, says expert.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

As the North Slope of Alaska warms, greenhouse gases have nowhere to go but up
Thanks to warming winters and thawing permafrost, Arctic soil microbes are churning out carbon dioxide well after the end of the growing season ends. This extra source of atmospheric carbon may accelerate a regional warming trend that is already twice as fast as the global average.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Climate.gov

Sitka-based trooper kills brown bear chasing his dog
The 400-pound young boar attacked the 6-month-old puppy Wednesday morning, according to troopers and state biologists.

Spring Peepers Frogs (Pseudacris crucifer) Make Mating Calls in February
Trafalgar, Indiana, United States

At Denali base camp, unseasonable warmth creates dangers for climbers
The fall of a climber into a crevasse highlighted this season's risky combination of crumbling snow bridges and splintered climbing teams.
Kahiltna Glacier, Mount Denali, Alaska, United States

Phytoplankton Have Turned The Bosphorus A Stunning Turquoise
When conditions are right, phytoplankton populations can grow explosively. And the ones blooming in the Black Sea right now are reflective, turning the usually dark water bright and milky.
Karakoy Neighborhood, Istanbul, Turkey
NPR.org

Squid Found in Seldovia Bay
Squid are occasionally found in the area, but not very often.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Bizarre, Glowing Sea Creatures Bloom in the Pacific
Tropical, tube-shaped animals called pyrosomes, known as "fire bodies,"; appear by the millions off the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. No one knows why.
Gulf of Alaska, United States
National Geographic

Tick discovered in Yellowknife, being tested for Lyme disease
It appears ticks have made their way to Yellowknife - one of the blood-thirsty bugs was plucked off a dog over the weekend.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum pluviale) Outbreak in Yellowknife
Jakub Olesinski, Brian Sieben, Moses Tcheripanoff

Iqaluit could start running out of fresh water by 2024
Without action, the supply of fresh water in Iqaluit will begin to dwindle by 2024 due to climate change and increased demand, new research has found.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
ScienceDaily

Climate change researchers cancel expedition after climate change makes conditions too dangerous
A team of scientists had to abandon an expedition from Quebec City to Churchill, Man., on Sunday because of hazardous ice conditions caused by climate change.
Strait of Belle Isle, Newfoundland, Canada

Some Of Our Birches Are Dying

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), Taylor Highway
Bird observed well beyond its typical range.
Columbia Creek Bridge, Taylor Highway, Alaska, United States

Climate change and low water sinks popular Yukon fishing derby
The Kluane Lake Fishing Derby won't happen this Canada Day weekend, because organizers say it's become too hard to launch a boat. The lake's water level has dropped significantly, since a retreating glacier stopped feeding the lake with melt water.
Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

Climate change draws beavers farther north, causing problems for Inuvialuit fishermen
Richard Gruben was planning to hunt wild geese near Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. Instead, the Inuvialuit hunter ended up harvesting an iconic rodent — his first ever.
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territory, Canada

Climate change is catching up with gardeners: just look at the Chelsea flower show
What will British gardens look like in 20 years’ time? Robbie Blackhall-Miles finds some clues at the Chelsea flower show
Chelsea, England, United Kingdom
the Guardian

Musk-ox (Ovibos moschatus) Far Inland
No one in Chuathbaluk has ever seen Musk-ox this far inland before.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Fire Smoke Encroaching into Unalakleet
A haze surrounding the hills had a distinct smell of burned wood.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Late Bloom Of Moss
Late Mossberry (*Empetrum nigru*) Bloom

Dead Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Spit Beach
Dead eagles are becoming more common around Sand Point, with one recently reported on Spit Beach

Study looks at climate change’s effects on Kodiak berries, wildlife
“We really don’t know when the problem started and whether it was a long-term situation this winter, but the bottom line is that it appears that salmonberry and blueberry were affected by the amount of cold and the depth of cold that we had that killed the winter buds and killed the above-ground stems of those plants,” Pyle said.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

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.
Inari, Lapland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Too many pink salmon in Kachemak Bay?
If Alaska expands how many pink salmon its hatcheries — such as the one in Tutka Bay — produce, will there be unintended consequences that harm Kachemak Bay?
Tutka Bay, Alaska, United States

Dramatic Rise in Tick Population
We were picking ticks off the dogs and ourselves and when we got home we found an additional 20 or so ticks on ourselves and each of the dogs.
West Burke, Vermont, United States

Record flooding levels on Okanagan Lake
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

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

Fewer European Earwigs (Forficula auricularia) in Victoria, BC
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Dwindling spring snowpack could be a troubling sign for Alaska wolverines
The elusive animals use snow caves to give birth and nurture their young. Just how much spring snow they need is not yet known.
Northwest Alaska, United States

Risk of profuse blue-green algae blooms in Gulf of Finland
The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) has warned that the Gulf of Finland faces the risk of earlier and larger than usual blue-green algae blooms this summer – weather permitting. The environment agency says high levels of phosphorous have the potential to feed abundant toxic algal growths.
Gulf of Finland, Suoim, Finland

Oceanfloor Craters Hint of Potential Arctic Methane Explosions in the Future
Hundreds of craters caused by methane explosions were discovered underneath Barents sea. Further research finds evidence that the violent explosions could happen again in the future.
Barrents Sea
Tech Times

Idaho mosquitoes test positive for West Nile
BANNOCK COUNTY -- Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus have been discovered in eastern Idaho, health officials warned Friday.
Brannock County, Idaho, United States
KTVB

Warmer Kodiak seasons mean more fruit
The last few years of warm weather means that more apples and even pears have popped up around town.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
KMXT - Kodiak

Drying Ponds and Buttercups
I went to gather some yesterday and there was no water to speak of; in a pond that's has been filled with water my whole life.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Mosquito capable of spreading Zika found in Southern Nevada
County health officials have detected a species of mosquito responsible for spreading Zika and other viruses for the first time in Southern Nevada.
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Las Vegas Review-Journal

West Nile Virus: Mosquitoes In Madison, Antioch Test Positive
The Health Department says two batches of mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus, but no human cases have been reported.
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
East Nashville, TN Patch

Tent caterpillars take over Dundurn-area yard
Tammi Hanowskirsquo's yard is carpeted in forest tent caterpillars.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Saskatoon

Finland endures coldest May in nearly half a century
As many people resident in Finland already know, May was an exceptionally cold month. According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute FMI, the last time May daytime temperatures were this low was in 1969.
Paimio, Southwest Finland, Finland

Mule Deer Found Dead Raises Questions
Winter tick has been found in over 50 percent of the mule deer examined by wildlife officials in the Whitehorse area and is also found on moose, caribou, and elk in the Yukon
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Fish and Wildlife News

Unknown Butterfly (Polygonia gracilis)
Unknown butterfly observed in southwest Alaska.
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Quitsano Narrows, British Columbia

Deadly lightning kills more than 300 reindeer in Norway
More than 300 wild reindeer have been killed by lightning in central Norway.
Hardangervidda mountain plateau, Norway

Dead Whale on Beach
Dead whale with interesting dolphin-like face.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Exotic ticks appear to be establishing themselves in Alaska
Researchers are finding ticks in Alaska that haven't historically been here. Some hitchhiked from the Lower 48—but others seem to have settled in.
Anchorage Daily News

Jellyfish Getting Bigger
Getting bigger each sighting.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Slime Mold (Myxomycetes) on Lawn
Wet causes unusual growth.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Dead Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) in Boat Harbor
Dead sea lion found in boat harbor, cause of death unknown.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Very Vary Berry Land
An abundant harvest of various berries this year.
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Aguila solitaria (Buteogallus solitarius) avistada fuera de su rango de distribución en Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Isla Pájaros

High waves damage shoreline, road and community freezer in Grise Fiord
Some unusually high waves hit Grise Fiord, Nunavut, early Saturday morning, damaging the community's shoreline, part of a road and the community freezer.
Gise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada

Large school of post-larval California anchovy (Engraulis mordax)
Trincomali Channel, Valdes Island

Fraser River sockeye salmon at lowest numbers since records began in 1893
“The exact reasons why the return fell at the lower end of the forecast range are unknown at this time, but poorer than average marine survival is a leading candidate.”
Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada
Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

M/V Crystal Serenity Cruise Ship
Visits Port of Nome before voyage through Northwest Passage.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Lots of Lake Weeds
A problem for outboards.
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States

Ushak Lake Wildfire
Residents puzzled about origins of underground fire.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

River Erosion
River erosion along the Yukon River near..?
Yukon River, Alaska, United States

Shearwater (genus Ardenna) Die-off
Large shearwater die-off at a Pilot Point beach.
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States
Robb Kaler, Kathy Kuletz, Julia Parrish, Gregory Kingsley

Experts warn of threat of born-again smallpox from old Siberian graveyards
There was a town where up to 40% of the population died. Naturally, the bodies were buried under the upper layer of permafrost soil, on the bank of the Kolyma River. Now, a little more than 100 years later, Kolyma's floodwaters have started eroding the banks.'
Zashiversk
Siberia Times

So Many Mushrooms
Golovin ponders fungus bloom
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Unusual 'Sea Butterflies' (thecosomes) On Beach
Washing ashore from Kachemak Bay
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

Huge Thaw Crater
Downriver from Arctic Village
East Fork Chandalar River, Northeast Interior, Alaska, United States
Carter Brubaker, Vladimir Romanovsky, Ray Hander, Richard L Thoman Jr, Janet Jorgenson

Invasive Plant - Split Lip Hempnettle (Galeopsis bifida)
Taking over my yard
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States

Blue-green Algae in Fraser Lake
There is unusual abundances of blue-green algae on West end of Fraser Lake.
Fraser Lake, BC, Canada

Swift Response to Red Tide Keeps Jaltemba Bay Safe
In recent years, the presence of red tide algae in the Mexican Pacific Ocean has occurred from Manzanillo Bay, Colima, all along the western Mexican coast to the Bay of Mazatlan, Nayarit, and as far north as Ensenada, La Paz, Baja California. Fortunately, although Jaltemba Bay did have some of the toxic algae, the civic leaders and government were immediately in action.
Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, Mexico
Sol Mexico News

Shift of Diverse Subtidal Community to Sea Cucumber (Holothuroidea) Barrens
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada

DEC looks into whether drums in village's drinking water lake pose any hazards
State and North Slope Borough officials say Point Lay’s drinking water lake was wiped out by the nearby Kokolik River, which flooded and eroded the lake banks.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Spruce Tree (Picea glauca) Tips Reflect Long Growing Season
This is the second year we have noticed that the spruce tips are very long, in fact longer than I have ever seen.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

The Alaskan Highway Is Literally Melting
A critical artery is threatened by thawing permafrost.
Tok, Alaska, United States
Bloomberg.com

Siberian Heatwave Sparks Anthrax Outbreak, Killing A Child And Thousands Of Reindeer
Russian officials have said the death of a 12-year-old boy, a member of a reindeer-herding family from the Yamal tundra 1,300 miles north of Moscow, was the first fatality in Siberia linked to the pathogen since 1941. Twenty others have been diagnosed with anthrax.
HuffPost

An Anthrax Outbreak in Siberia Kills a 12-Year-Old Boy and Sickens Eight
Thawing ground that revealed an infected reindeer carcass is believed to have resulted in a case of anthrax that killed a 12-year-boy and sickened eight others.
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
The Atlantic

Anthrax outbreak triggered by climate change kills boy in Arctic Circle
Seventy-two nomadic herders, including 41 children, were hospitalised in far north Russia after the region began experiencing abnormally high temperatures
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
the Guardian

Unusual Fish - Whitespotted greenling (Hexagrammos stelleri)
Unknown fish caught this summer in Togiak Bay.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Great Berry Picking
Abundant berry harvest this year in southcentral Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Diseased Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)
Disease thought to be caused by mold or an infestation of aphids observed on Bird Ridge along the Seward Highway.
Indian, Alaska, United States

Rains Cause 1000 Year Flood
Six inches of rain fell in a three hour period.
Ellicott City, Maryland, United States

Decadal shift in Lion's Mane Jellies (Cyanea capillata) on Nova Scotia's North Shore
Caribou Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada

Heat wave sparks anthrax outbreak - Yamal
Nenets District, Russia

Juneau scientist helps discover new whale species
Mysterious beaked whale washed up on Pribilof Islands is 1 of only 8 known specimens • Michelle Ridgway, St. George community collect crucial tissue samples leading to discovery
Saint George, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Matanuska River erosion prompts warning to Butte residents
Portions of the Matanuska River’s banks near Butte were “beginning to show signs of breeching” Sunday night, leading Mat-Su Borough officials to ask that area residents prepare for potential evacuations.
Butte, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Red Grasshopper
A unique insect?
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Green Algae In Lake
Unknown species of green algae in a lake near Kongiganak.
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Unusual Wasp (Dolichovespula maculata)
Interesting wasp is black with neon stripes
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Araña grande al norte de Ensenada, México
Ampliación Balcones de la Presa, Baja California, Mexico
Martin Severo Ubina Audelo, Margarita Delgadillo A., Luis Navarro Verduzco

Rain helps effort to contain McHugh Creek fire
Wet weather has brought much-needed relief to the ongoing effort to control the McHugh Creek fire in southeast Anchorage. Listen now

High Lake Temperatures
Warm temperatures come early this year.
Spring Park, Minnesota, United States

Tidlig Molte
Vadsø, Finnmark Fylke, Norway

Early Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus)
Early Salmonberries (Rubus chamaemorus)
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Unusual Spider (Araneus marmoreus)?
Unusual Spider?
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Very Cold In Zambia
Farmer's concerned about crops.
Lusaka, Zambia, Southern Africa

Halocline Makes Water Look Oily
saltwater - freshwater "halocline" an interesting natural phenomena
Whittier, Alaska, United States

Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium) Ripe Early!
Blueberries are ripe early!
Nome, Alaska, United States

Warm Sea Surface Temperatures in Great Bear Sea
Ocean Falls to Bella Bella, British Columbia

Tall Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Live Oaks (Quercus virginiana) Stranded and Killed by Shoreline Erosion
Nags Head Woods Preserve, North Carolina, United States

Early and Abundant Salmonberries (Rubus chamaemorus)
Early and abundant salmonberries (Rubus chamaemorus)

Early Mushrooms
Weeks earlier than normal.
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) are Ripe
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Early Hay (Avena sativa) Cuttings
Early hay crop harvest
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Year of the Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Big Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium), Lots of Them
Plants
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) In Cottonwood Tree
Dove in Cottonwood Tree
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Jaclyn Christensen, Beth Paluso, Julia Parrish

Dead Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Marine Mammal
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Loads of Yellow Jackets / Wasps (Vespidae)
Loads of Yellow Jackets (Vespidae)

Uncommon Fish (Lota lota) Found In Koyuk River
Fish
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Changing Habits/Habitat of Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli)
Land Mammal
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Unknown Bug (Ichneumonidae)
Unknown bug
Tatitlek, Alaska, United States

2 Your Health: What to do if you get Swimmer's Itch
When temperatures are warm enough, it's a time many Alaskans take their families out swimming. Sometimes the fun comes along with an annoying rash known as 'Swimmer's Itch.'
KTUU

Scientists have unlocked 1 secret to Arctic ground squirrels deep-freeze - and that could be a big deal for humans.
An enzyme protects squirrels during and after hibernation, and something similar could help people whose hearts shut down, a new study finds.
Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Early Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) Bloom
Early fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) bloom

Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Filled with Pus
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Leopard or Giant Garden Slug (Limax maximus) Found
Leopard Slug Found
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Caterpillar Infestation
Caterpillar infestation in Village
Holy Cross, Alaska, United States

California anchovy (Engraulis mordax) schools
Turnstall Bay, Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

Fritillary (Boloria alaskensis) Butterfly
Unusual Butterfly(?)

Quite Early for Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus)
In Southcentral Alaska

Yellow Fungus (Phragmidium) on Wild Rose and other Plants

Crack in the Tundra
Possibly an effect of thawing permafrost.
Kipnuk, Alaska, United States

Dolphins in Salish Sea signal warming worries
Times Colonist

Toxic algae blamed for die-off at 2 salmon farms in Clayoquot Sound
Millar Channel, British Columbia, Canada

Thunder Storms
Thunder Storms (?)
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States

March Flies (Bibionidae) All Over Sand Point
Flies all over Sand Point

Early Breakup Causing Lots of Change
Early breakup brings early arrivals.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Extremely High PSP Levels
Extremely high PSP levels

Ripe Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium) In June!
Ripe blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium) in early June?
Fort Wrangel, Alaska, United States

Dump Fire Raises Wildfire Concerns
Dump and hill fire
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Unusual Ladybug (Calvia quatuordecimguttata)?
First time we have seen so many ladybugs on our island.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Bluff Erosion
Bluff/cliff side erosion along the Ningikfak River.
Chevak, Alaska, United States

Recreational Razor Clam Fishery Closed in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties
Klamath, California, United States

Rats Run Rampant in Kodiak this Season
Kayla Desroches/KMXT It looks like it’ll be a ratty season for Kodiak. The rodents are running rampant this year, at least according to one local pest cont
KMXT 100.1 FM

Rare 'gentle giant' shark spotted off West Coast
Bella Bella, british columbia

Unknown Purple Plant
Unknown purple plant species.
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States

Early Ripe Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium)

Very Early Crow Berries (Empetrum nigrum)
Very early berries this year.

Sinking Islands and Lost Harvest and Hunger
Climate change is effecting the people of the Solomon Islands in many ways. Sea level rise is a major driver.

Black or perhapsTail-dropper Slug
Invasive Black Slug
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Melting permafrost is turbocharging global warming
It’s a vicious cycle: As the weather warms, the Earth’s permafrost is melting, releasing greenhouse gases that are going to make the planet even hotter.
Central - Interior, Alaska, United States
Newsweek

Eight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata) Moth or Langston's Forester (Alypia langtoni)
An Eight-spotted Langson's (Fabricius, 1775) or Langson's Forester Couper observed lower Kenai Peninsula of Alaska.
Jakolof Bay, Alaska, USA

Early Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Large Goldfish (Carassius auratus) populations in two stormponds
Okotoks, Alberta, Canada

Dead Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Sea lion washes ashore in Nanwalek.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Odd Marine Debris
Unusual debris found on beach
Shismaref, Alaska, United States
Sharon Nayokpuk, Gay Sheffield, Peter Murphy, Ali Hamade

Poor Bird Fledgling
Poor seabird chick fledging rates
St. George, Alaska, United States

Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) Die-off, Jakolof Creek
Drought and high temperatures have dried the creek and caused thousands of pink salmon and Dolly Varden to die before they could spawn. The event raises questions about vulnerability of area salmon streams to climate change, and for local residents food security.
Jakolof Creek, Alaska, United States
Michael Opheim , Stephen Payton, Ryan Brubaker

Summer of Slime (Freshwater Algae)
Low water, warm temperatures and our seasonal waterfowl population are factors we think are contributing to the unprecedented algae and weed growth in the lake at the the Alaska Native Health Campus.

Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Sighted
A salmon troller saw a leatherback turtle in the summer of 2015.
Southeast Region, Alaska, United States

Dead Seabirds
Dead seabirds found in Goodnews Bay.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States
Alice Julius, Arlene Shimanek, Barbara Bodenstein

Slimy Beach
Slimy Algae on beach
Port Lions, Alaska, United States

Unusual Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Behavior
Majority of the red salmon went up the middle of the Klutina River and tended to weigh a pound or less.
Copper Center, Alaska, United States

Strange Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
Strange chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
Koyukuk, Alaska, Unites States
Ali Hamade, Jayde Ferguson, April Williams

Low Seal Numbers
Low seal numbers
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Dead Birds - Murres (Uria aalge)
Murre deaths reported along the shore of Nanwalek.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Whales Are Dying Off North America’s West Coast
West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada
VICE News

Soupfin Shark (Galeorhinus galeus) Strandings
Near Pesuta Shipwreck, Tlell, Haida Gwaii

Low Water In Area Rivers
Low water on area rivers
Jacob Martin, Scott Kent, David Streubel, Ed Washburn, Michael Sloan

Stinking mats of seaweed piling up on Caribbean beaches
Some tourists have canceled summer trips and lawmakers on Tobago have termed the sargassum invasion a “natural disaster.”
Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Miami Herald

Caribbean-bound tourists cancel holidays due to foul-smelling seaweed
Algal blooms threaten the economies of the globe’s most tourism dependent nations, scuttle holidays plans and give climate scientists more to worry about
Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
the Guardian

Increased Algal Activity in West Bragg Creek Pond
West Bragg Creek Pond, Alberta, Canada

Hot Weather for Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus)
Hot weather for wood frogs.

Abundant Japanese Wireweed (Sargassum muticum)
A species of invasive seaweed is becoming very abundant and displacing native species.
Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada

Novel Bat (Myotis lucifugus) Sighting
Bats sighted in Goodnews
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Dead Birds (Cepphus columba) In Harbor
Dead birds in harbor

Dead Birds On McDonald's Spit
Dead birds on beach

Diseased Salmon
Torneälven, Lainioälven

Plant Has Red Gall
Unusual plant has red buds

Swimming Moose (Alces alces) Dies
Swimming moose dies
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States

Extreme rain
About 30 people were evacuated from an Anchorage apartment building following flash flooding that stranded cars and shut down some Anchorage streets Saturday night.
Anchorage Alaska

Dead Birds - Seagulls and Magpies
Dead seagulls and magpies

Bullfrogs threaten B.C. ecosystems
While their kin are declining worldwide, Canada’s largest amphibian, the bullfrog, is multiplying out of control in British Columbia — with some human help
Southwestern British Columbia
Canadian Geographic

Dead Birds - Seagulls, Puffins, Murres
Dead seagulls, puffins, murres
King Cove, Alaska, United States

So Many Pinks (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)!
Amazing run of pink salmon.

Arribazon atípica de sargazo
Andrés Quintana Roo, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Erosion Threatens Boardwalk
River erosion damaging pedestrian walkway
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States

Unusual Mouse Species
Unusual mouse species

Low Water at Mouth of Klamath River
Causing muted tidal influence
Klamath, California, United States
Micah Gibson, Mike Brubaker, Paul Van Mechelen, Joe Hostler

Where are all the jellyfish on Melmerby beach?
Little Habour, Nova Scotia, Canada

Iqaluit gets a month's worth of rain in 9 days
Environment Canada has confirmed what residents in Nunavut's capital know all too well - it has been a cold, dreary start to summer on southern Baffin Island.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Starfish Wasting Disease
Near MacDonald Spit, southern end of the Kenai Peninsula.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Smokey Air
Smokey air

Smokey Air
Hazy fourth of July...
Wales, Alaska, United States

Starfish Wasting Disease
A starfish that did not appear healthy.
Kake, Alaska, United States

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) an Unusual Catch
Sablefish an unusual catch
Seldovia, Alaska United States

Infected salmon just another problem for Yukon subsistence fishermen
Yukon subsistence fishermen face challenges with gear restrictions, closures, and reports of salmon potentially infected with ichthyophonus, impacting their summer fishing activities.
Yukon River, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Unusual Swallow Species
Unusual swallow species
Noorvik, Alaska, United States

Jellyfish Bloom
Jellyfish bloom

Death Toll From Heat Wave in Karachi, Pakistan, Hits 1,000
Searing temperatures, which have been as high as 113 degrees, were below 100 on Thursday, but a sense of panic and crisis persisted in the city.
Karachi, Sind, Pakistan
New York Times

Wind, rains cool Pakistan heat wave that killed at least 838
Wind from the sea and pre-monsoon rains cooled southern Pakistan on Wednesday, likely marking the end of a scorching heat wave that killed at least 838 people, authorities said.
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Invasive weed makes its way into world's largest floatplane base
Elodea, an aggressive invasive plant, was discovered this month in the lake used by hundreds of floatplanes, raising fears that it will be spread to multiple sites within flying reach.

Invasive Russian Boar
Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

Climate change brings new insect arrivals to Finland
New insect species typically arrive in Finland via Russia’s Karelian Isthmus. Entomologists say that the number of species in the
Savonranta, Southern Savonia, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

Wildfire smoke Alert
Air Quality will vary between Good and Unhealthy depending on wind flow and proximity to the fire.-Southcentral areas near–Willow, Wasilla, Palmer, Butte, Anchorage, and south over the Kenai Peninsula to include Cooper Landing, Kenai Keys and Skilak Lake areas.

Sighting of White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
White-winged crossbill
Diomede, Alaska, Unites States

Deformed Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
Deformed halibut (Hippoglossus stenoloepis)
Cape Vancouver, Alaska, United States

Lightening and Wildfire
There were lightning strike-caused fires at Paul's Creek and Coffee Creek north of King Salmon, AK.
King Salmon, Alaska, United States

Drought
6/17/15 Drought - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Big Mama and the return of the humpback whales to the Salish Sea
Not a single humpback whale was seen in the Salish Sea for nearly a hundred years
Salish Sea
Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

Smokey Air
Smokey air as a result of wildfires to the north and south of Anchorage.

Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) Reeled-in
Unusual fish catch
Kake, Alaska, United States

Wildfire
Sockeye wildfire at mile post 77 of the George Parks Highway near Willow.
Willow, Alaska, United States

Jeff Lowenfels: A bumper crop of spruce cones
There seems to be an unbelievable bumper crop of spruce cones both in trees and on lawns this spring. Their abundance has been quite a topic of conversation, at least in my circles. It is coneucopia!

Rotten Smell and Mushy Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
Mushy meat texture, and rotten smell found in sockeye salmon and pacific halibut.
Meshik River, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, United States

Mysterious Sheep Death Investigated
Sheep, primarily ewes and their lambs, have died in great numbers this past lambing-season. The cause has yet to be determined, and farms all around Iceland appear to be affected.
Búðardalur, West, Iceland
Iceland Review

Abandono de nidos de Pelícano cafe
Isla Coronado, Baja California, Mexico
Yutzil Lora Cabrera, Jesus Miguel Corrales Sauceda

Ocean 'blob' brings bad fish food to B.C. waters
The so-called 'warm blob' of water in the North Pacific has brought unusual plankton, which lack the nutrients wild salmon and other marine animals count on.
Northeast Pacific Ocean

Whitehorse cougar evidence excites Yukon biologist
Environment Yukon's carnivore biologist is enthused about cougar sightings near Whitehorse, as tracks suggest the big cats are breeding in the territory.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Dead Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
Dead gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) reported off the Alaska Peninsula
King Cove, Alaska, United States
Kate Wynne, Lauren Divine, Cosette Nielsen

Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara)
Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Scientists may have solved 2011’s mysterious marine die-off along the Pacific coast
Scientists first caught on to the strange event when they found thousands of purple sea urchins and other organisms dead in their laboratory tanks.
Northern Pacific Coast
Washington Post

Sink Holes next to Main Street
Koyuk, Alaska, USA

Berry Harvest Change
Crooked Island, 25 Miles south of Togiak. Remnants of blackberries.
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Die-off
Chum salmon die-off in the Kobuk River.
Ambler, Alaska, United States
Virginia Commack, Susan Georgette, Jayde Ferguson

Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena)

Abundant Bees
08-17-14 Abundant bees - Eagle River, Alaska, USA
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Funnel Cloud
A funnel cloud was sighted minutes after it passed us.
Nightmute, Alaska, United States

Abundance of Fireweed (Chamerion agustifolium) on Popof Island
Abundance of Fireweed on Popof Island

Rare and friendly sea otter spotted in waters off Saanich
[VIDEOS & PHOTOS] A rare and entertaining sea otter spotted along the shores of Saanich this week has locals thrilled, but wildlife experts warn to keep a distance.
Ten Mile Point, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

Thousands of Caterpillars
8-10-14 Thousands of caterpillars - Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, USA
Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, United States

Northern Sea Nettle Jellyfish Die-Off
Northern sea nettle jellyfish die-off

BC Peace River Region - 2014 Drought
Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada

Northern Grasshoppers
The northern grasshoppers never been observer here before.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Unusual Spider
8-1-14 Unusual spider - Wales, Alaska, USA
Wales, Alaska, United States

Crab larvae wash ashore
7-29-14 Crab larvae wash ashore - Port Graham, Alaska, USA
Port Graham, Alaska

Longhorn Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus) Observed in Late July
A photo of a black unknown insect taken in late July.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Fuzzy Black Caterpillars
7-28-14 Furry black caterpillars - Nondalton Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska

Summer Snow
7-27-14 Summer snow - Wasilla, Alaska, USA
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Longhorn Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus)
Could invasive insect be an indicator of changing weather patterns?

Koyukok River Erosion
7-15-14 River erosion - Evansville, Alaska, USA
Evansville, Alaska, United States

Yellow Flowers Genus Arnica
7-14-14 Yellow flowers genus Arnica - Togiak, Alaska, USA
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Abundant Bees and Berries
7-14-14 Abundant bees & berries - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Arctic Loon?
The bird is not commonly seen in the Teller area.
Teller, Alaska, United States

Dead Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
7-10-14 Stranded sea otter - McDonald Spit, Alaska, USA
Seldovia, Alaska, USA

Early Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Early blueberries in Jakolof Bay, Alaska

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus) Larvae
Unusual insect observation approximately 2 1/2 inches in length and moved slowly, but had long strides.

Mystery Mite
Mystery mite

Bugs Swarm at 2017 Mount Marathon Race
The 2017 Mount Marathon races were run under cloudy skies and damp conditions. A man swats at bugs that swarmed at the top of Mount Marathon during the race Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in Seward.
Seward, Alaska, United States

Interesting moth
Interesting moth - One Tree Island, near Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

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

Warm spring results in high gas prices

Bright Green Bug
7-1-14 Bright green bug - Kongignak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Atka Mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) in Set-net Gear
Unknown fish species caught in set-net gear

Moth invasions cause widespread damage in the sub-arctic birch forest
In just seven years, as much as one-third of the mountain-birch forest in the North Calotte region was severely defoliated by two moth species. Researchers now have a better understanding of what happened.
North Calotte Region, Northern Fennoscandia
ScienceNordic

New Beaked Whale Species (Berardius)
New beaked whale species: Berardius
Saint George, Alaska, United States
Karin Holser, Joshua Prokopiof, Hertha Kashaverof, Aaron Merculief

Dead Spotted (Phoca largha) and Ringed (Pusa hispida) Seals
We are spotting dead baby 'spotted' and 'ringed' seals washing up on the beach with no signs of lesions or signs of gun shots.
Wales, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Olivia Lee, Robert Tokeinna, Hajo Eicken

Sick Cod
6-12-14 Sick Cod - Tununak, Alaska, USA
Tununak, Alaska, United States

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Caterpillar (Aglais milberti) Infestation
Milbert's tortoiseshell caterpillar infestation
Chalkyitsik, Alaska, United States
Tricia Wurtz, Jessie Moan, La'ona DeWilde

Thawing ATV Trail
Thawing all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trail.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

Abundant Herring Roe
Abundant herring roe, most ever seen during the low tide - Toksook Bay, Alaska, USA

Gravesite Erosion
Permafrost thaw and storms are drivers.
Teller, Alaska, United States
Jennifer Demir, Ryan Brubaker, Racheal Lee, Anahma Shannon, Mike Brubaker, Kendra Lee, Tom Wolforth

Pavlof Volcano Ash
Volcanic eruption in the Aleutian's.

Pavlof Volcano Eruption
6-2-14 Mt Pavlov volcano eruption - King Cove, Alaska, USA

Extreme Shore Erosion
Loss of shoreline and subsistence camps.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Salmon Die-off
Thousands of varied salmon species reported dead at Klawock River.
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Spotted Tussock (Lophocampa maculata) Moth Caterpillars
8-20-13 Arctiid moth caterpillars, Kake, Alaska, USA
Kake, Alaska, United States

Unknown Caterpillar
Unknown caterpillar observed
Naknek, Alaska, United States

Growth in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
8-12-13 Growth in coho salmon - Hydaburg, Alaska, USA
Hydaburg, Alaska, United States

Long-horned Beetle (Monochamus scutellatus)
8-11-13 Long horned beetle - Pitkas Point, Alaska, USA
Pitkas Point, Alaska, United States

Muddy River Raises Salmon Concerns
Thawing permafrost and river bank collapsed on the Cheenik Creek.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) Butterfly Caterpillar
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) butterfly caterpillar

Abundant Salmon Berries (Vaccinium ovalifolium)
The past couple of years there haven't been a lot to pick.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus)
Predaceous diving beetle
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Dozens of dead caribou found on remote Nunavut island
When a scientist went to an uninhabited island in Nunavut to set up a research station he stumbled across something else: dozens of dead caribou.
Prince Charles Island, Nunavut, Canada

Extreme heat wave shrinks Sweden's tallest peak by 13 feet in a month
Kebnekaise mountain in Sweden will no longer be the tallest in the country as the glacier on its highest peak melts rapidly in an unprecedented heat wave.
Kebnekaise Mountain Peak, Sweden
NBC News

Alaska heat wave: Anchorage sets record for most consecutive 70-degree days
On Monday, Anchorage reached the 70-degree threshold for a record 14th straight day, breaking 2004's record of 13.
Washington Post

Tadpole Shrimp at Swimming Hole
7-26-13 Tadpole shrimp at swimming hole
Russian Mission, Alaska, United States

Invasive Fall Dandelion
7-25-13 Invasive dandelion - Levelock, Alaska, USA
Levelock, Alaska, Unites States

More Salmonberries (Rubus chamaemorus)
7-24-13 More salmon berries - Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Horntail wood wasp
7-23-13 Horntail wood wasp - Selawik, Alaska,
Selawik, Alaska, USA

Heat illness
7-22-13 Heat illness - Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, USA

Tiger Moth (Arctia caja)
7-21-13 Tiger moth - St. Mary's, Alaska, USA
St. Mary's Alaska, United States

Lots of Mosquitoes (Culicidae)
Mosquito populations are way up in Southcentral Alaska this year. Extremely high numbers are also reported from interior Alaska.
Interior of Alaska, United States

Crane Fly (Tipula oleraceaa) Adult Sighted
Crane fly adult
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Red Phytoplankton Bloom
7-11-13 Red phytoplankton bloom - Jakolof Bay, Alaska, USA
Jakalof Bay, Alaska, United States
Kris Holderied, Dean Stockwell, Mike Brubaker

Road Washout
There were extreme rain events in September of 2012 that caused landslides, erosion and ultimately blockage of a culvert over Jakolof Creek.
Jakolof River, Alaska, United States

Risky Ice Conditions for Whaling
6-26-13 Risky ice conditions for whaling - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiagvik, Alaska, United States

Unusual Lightning
Residents were amazed to see lightning actually arching down to the ground.
Atqasuk, Alaska, United States

Extreme Temperatures
6-19-13 Extreme temperature Bethel, Alaska, USA
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Extreme Heat
6-18-13 Extreme heat - Koyukuk, Alaska, USA
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Mosquito invasion in Southcentral Alaska leads to run on supplies
Each spring, it seems, the air of Alaska is filled with the buzz of mosquitoes and the whines of people declaring that this is undoubtedly the worst bug season they've ever experienced. This year they may have a case.

Bald Eagle with Facial Abnormality
6-6-13 Bald eagle with facial abnormality. King Salmon, Alaska, USA
King Salmon, Alaska, United States

Ice dam break suspected as cause of Rabbit Creek flooding
Rabbit Creek jumped its banks Friday morning on the Anchorage Hillside, washing over a bridge and prompting police to knock on doors asking people inside to evacuate.

Heatwave has toddlers falling from windows
The Anchorage Police Department is warning parents to be cautious after three separate incidents in a week involving toddler-aged children falling out of windows opened in the warm weather.

High pollen levels
High spruce pollen levels causing eye, respiratory irrigation and nose bleeds.

Strange bug
6-10-13 Strange bug - Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Anchorage, Alaska, USA

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

Risky Ice for Whaling
6-5-13 Risky ice for whaling - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiagvik, Alaska, United States

Erosion Disrupts Swallows
6-3-13 Erosion disrupts swallows - Evansville, Alaska, USA
Evansville, Alaska, United States

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

Invasive Crawfish on Nose Creek
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

Rusty Tussock Moth Caterpillar
Potential problem for local trees, berry bushes and other plants.
King Salmon, Alaska, United States

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

Lynx in high Arctic
8-24-12 Lynx in high Arctic - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Our concern has to do with the impact and number of dead whales that might have on our subsistence lifestyle. It is unusual to find so many dead whales.
Old Harbor, Alaska, United States

Brace yourselves, winter is coming
This summer has been one of the rainiest Ulaanbaatar has ever experienced, leaving behind puddles of water that result in cracked and deteriorated roads.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The UB Post

Birch trees and bird vetch prompt slew of questions in Interior Alaska
There has been an outbreak in Fairbanks of the amber-marked birch leaf miner (Profenusa thomsoni), an insect that came to North America in the early 1900s and arrived in Fairbanks by about 2002.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Steven Seefeldt / Cooperative Extension Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

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.
Elim, Alaska, United States

High Water on the Kobuk River
A normal daily river level here is about 46', so we are nearly eight (8') feet above normal.
Kiana, Alaska, United States

Extreme High Water on Noatak River
Extremely high water on the Noatak
Noatak, Alaska, United States

Extreme Rain and Flooding
It has been raining nonstop the entire month of August

Bird experts aflutter over drop in rufous hummingbird numbers
The number of rufous hummingbirds visiting southern Vancouver Island over the summer is dropping and the cause may be climate change, says a local bird expert.
Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

Latest IHN outbreak forces cull at Millar Channel fish farm
Update: Aug. 16. Mainstream Canada has announced that the Millar Channel fish farm is now empty. The fish, infected with the IHN virus,were taken to a rendering facility. Mainstream Canada is developing a plan for cleaning and disinfecting the farm site, as per the requirements of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. “This is an unfortunate incident, but we are pleased with how smoothly the depopulation procedure went considering the situation,” said Fernando Villarroel, Mainstream Canada’s managing director.
Millar Channel, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Best sockeye return in 100 years
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea is crowing about the opportunities with the 2010 return of sockeye to the Fraser river, calling it a  banner year for Fraser River sockeye salmon. This year's return is currently set at just over 25 million fish, one of the highest returns in the last hundred years. Several fishery openings for Fraser River sockeye have already occurred in 2010 and more are planned, she said.
Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Dead Grey Whale
8-7-12 Dead grey whale - Nome, Alaska, USA

Tundra Slipping Below Sea Level
Melting permafrost causing tundra to slip below sea level in northern Alaska.
North Slope, Alaska, United States

N.W.T. bison anthrax outbreak largest ever in territory
So far approximately 340 bison have died from an anthrax outbreak in the Fort Providence area of the N.W.T.
Fort Providence, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC

Dead Whale
Two dead marine mammals--a fur seal and a whale.
St. George, Alaska, United States

Sucker Fish (Catostomus catostomus)
First time seeing a sucker fish in the Lower Yukon River.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Eroding Bluff Threatens Road
Eroding bluff threatens community transportation access.
Chevak, Alaska, USA

Sunken Vessel Spill
Sunken vessel leads to petroleum spill.

Great Gardening
7-19-12 Great gardening - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Unusual eel-like fish
7-12-12 Eel-like fish - Kivalina, Alaska, USA

Parasite causing problems for B.C. salmon farmers
Some B.C.-farmed salmon is reaching store shelves with a parasite that can liquefy the fish’s flesh into an unappetizing goop.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CTVNews

Barnacle decline
7-3-12 Barnacle decline - McDonald Spit, Alaska, USA
McDonald Spit, Alaska, USA

Longnose Skate (Raja rihina)
An unusual skeleton of a fish was found on the tide line in Kasitsna Bay.
Kasitsna Bay, Alaska, United States

Non-stinging Wasp (Cynipoidea) Larva
Non-sting wasp (cynipoidea) larva
Slana, Alaska, United States

Three dead whales
6-22-12 Three dead whales - Old Harbor, Alaska, USA
Old Harbor, Alaska, USA

Petroleum Smell in Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
6-20-12 Petroleum smell in chum salmon - Chevak, Alaska, USA
Chevak, Alaska, United States

Pacific sleeper shark
6-20-12 Pacific sleeper shark - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, USA

Heat wave across Interior
6-17-12 Heat wave across Interior - Galena, Alaska, USA
Galena, Alaska, United States

Changing Plant Conditions
More leaf miners this year, less blue berry blossoms, but more cranberry.
Evansville, Alaska, United States

Ice Departure Delayed
Sea ice conditions making it difficult for community to harvest seasonal fish.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Weird Orange Bug
6-12-12 Weird orange bug - Pilot Point, Alaska, USA
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States

Ice Seal Mortality
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Ringed Seal Mortality
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Orange gunk found near remote Alaska village identified
Scientists have identified an orange-colored gunk that appeared along the shore of a remote Alaska village as millions of microscopic eggs filled with fatty droplets.
msnbc.com

Ringed Seal Mortality
Wainwright, Alaska, United States

Caterpillars gang up on berry bushes, native trees
The outlook for blueberries in Southcentral Alaska this year is bleak, scientists say. The reason: Two species of moth have damaged berry patches, as well as native deciduous trees, from the southern Kenai Peninsula to Mat-Su.

Stranded ringed seals
Gambell, Alaska, United States

Uruguay trying to determine the death cause of 600 Magellan penguins
Authorities in Uruguay say they have found about 600 dead penguins washed up on the Atlantic coast since Saturday. Experts are trying to determine what has killed the sea birds.
Piriápolis, Maldonado, Uruguay
MercoPress

Ringed seals
Lorino, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Wildfires burn in the Cariboo
Alexandria, British Columbia, Canada

Matanuska River erosion threatens more homes
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Swollen with recent rains, the Matanuska River has launched another erosive assault on properties along its banks. But unlike previous years, when the river attacked properties downstream,
Matanuska River, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Permafrost Thaw Threatens Ice Cellars
Arctic food storage system at risk.
Point Hope, Alaska, United States
Jacob Bell, Ryan Brubaker, Mike Brubaker

Erosion to Dump and Water Plant
Noatak, Alaska, United States

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) off Southern Vancouver Island, Canada
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada

Giant squid caught in West Seattle
Seacrest Boathouse Pier, West Seattle, Washington, United States
King 5 News

Jumbo squid invade San Diego shores, spook divers
La Jolla, California, United States
The Christian Science Monitor

ALASKA: A havoc-wreaking beetle loose in the forest
STERLING, Alaska — Spent today tramping around the boggy depths of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which is about a three-hour drive south of Anchorage. Berg The group went there to see h…
Sterling, Alaska, United States
SciGuy

Unusual species of kelp (Aureophycus) identified
Twenty-five students in the Pribilof Island Marine Science Camp have discovered the second-known population of a new species.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) in Interior Alaska
Mountain lion sighting on the Chandalar River
Venetie, Alaska, United States

Alaska salmon may bear scars of global warming
With a sickening thud, another hefty and handsome salmon lands in the waste barrel, headed for the dogs .
Tanana, Alaska, United States
latimes.com

Dead penguins and oil covered found on Uruguayan beaches
Dozens of dead penguins and others alive but with traces of oil appeared over the weekend along the east of Uruguay according to a marine life conservation non government organization.
El Delta del Río de la Plata
MercoPress

Tornado spotted in south Iceland
A tornado, which is a very rare sight in Iceland, was spotted on Skeidarársandur plane of sand in south Iceland of Friday. The tornado touched the ground for about five minutes and whirled up sand and dust.
Kirkjubaejarklaustur, South, Iceland

Crayfish - Invaders from the Bayou
Of all of the aquatic animals that could be collected in a gillnet on the Kenai River, crawfish are some of the least likely. Why? Because they do not naturally occur in the Kenai River or any other river in Alaska. Unfortunately, crawfish have been collected from the lower Kenai River twice in the last four years, and both times they were leftovers from someone’s dinner.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Alaska Fish and Wildlife News

Mule deer, mountain lion sightings in Alaska
Interior residents are reporting varieties of wildlife that are new to the region, including mule deer, mountain lions and whitetail deer.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
JuneauEmpire.com

Worst grasshopper infestation ever on tap for Prairies
Prairie farmers are facing a grasshopper infestation the likes of which might never have been seen in Western Canada. The last kick from a drought that devastated crops last year.
Saskatchewan, Canada
CBC

Warmer Climate Linked To Earlier Frog Calling
Ithaca, New York, United States
Science Daily

American moose (Alces a. americanus) North of Historical Range

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