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

River Changing - Chistochina Low and Slow
Chistochina River change
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Low Waters For Fish in Kodiak
Pink salmon die-off, and low water levels at Antone Larsen Creek
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Seabird Deaths
Sea bird deaths
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Dead Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
A dead juvenile female humpback whale near Dolgoi Island
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Unusual Mussel (Mytilus californianus) Species
Unusual Mussel Species
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

More Murre Deaths (Uria aalge)
Dead murres on beach
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States
Caroline Van Hemert, Barbara Bodenstein, Christopher Anahonak

Unusual sighting: mule deer in Interior Alaska
FAIRBANKS — Michael Houx was driving Tuesday evening between Eielson Air Force Base and Salcha when he saw an animal that he at first thought was a caribou.
Salcha, Alaska, United States
FairbanksDaily News-Miner

Western Arctic caribou migration returns to traditional route past Northwest villages
With caribou herds in decline and migration patterns swaying in recent years, news that caribou are following a more traditional migration route near Kivalina and Noatak caused a buzz this fall.
Northwest Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Arribo de langostas en la playa de Puerto de Progreso, Yucatán
Chelem, Yucatán, Mexico

Murre die-off reported around Kodiak
Kodiak Island residents have been reporting a large number of common murres washing up dead on local beaches.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

'Did I really see a mola mola down there?'
Scientists and fishermen have reported more unusual species in Alaska waters, including the subtropical mola mola, or ocean sunfish. It's likely because of warming sea surface temperatures.
Gulf of Alaska, United States
KTOO Public Media

Low Beaver (Castor canadensis) Activity
Beaver activity declining in Campbell Lake area
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

It's a different ocean right now: First great whites, now hammerhead sharks spotted in Orange County waters
Malibu Beach, California, United States
Orange County Register

Why More Hammerhead Sharks Are Popping Up Off Southern California Coast
Huntington Beach, California, United States
CBSLA.com

Polystyrene Debris
Polystyrene debris on beaches
McDonald Spit, Alaska, United States

Unusual Flora - Yellowdot Saxifrage (Saxifrage bronchialis)
Unusual Flora
Nelson Island, Alaska, United States
Ben Balivet, Gino Graziano, Matt Carlson

Predaceous Diving Beetle (Cybister fimbriolatus)
Unusual beetle
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Global Warming Pushes Maple Trees, Syrup to the Brink
The polar bear is a powerful symbol of the effects of climate change in the Arctic.  Here in New England, our symbol may soon be the sugar maple tree.
Durham, New Hampshire, United States
National Geographic

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

Lake Washington is at its lowest in nearly three decades
Washington State's historic drought is pushing Lakes Washington and Union below the normal annual 20-foot mark for the first time in 28 years, and officials anticipate another foot drop.
Kirkland, Washington, United States
Kirkland Reporter

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.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

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
Nome, Alaska, United States
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.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

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
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Dead Birds On McDonald's Spit
Dead birds on beach
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Diseased Salmon
Torneälven, Lainioälven

Plant Has Red Gall
Unusual plant has red buds
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

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
Anchorage Daily News

Dead Birds - Seagulls and Magpies
Dead seagulls and magpies
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

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.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

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
CBC News

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

Smokey Air
Smokey air
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

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
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

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
CBC News

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.
Anchorage Daily News

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.
Anchorage Daily News

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
CBC News

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

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

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

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.

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.

Deformed Blackfish
2/27/15 Deformed blackfish - Tooksook Bay, Alaska, USA
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Dead Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus)
A highly decomposed whale carcass was identified as a gray whale.
St. Paul, Alaska, United States

Dead Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
This is one in a string of dead whale sightings that have been designated as the [2015 Gulf of Alaska Large Whale Unusual Mortality Event From May to mid-August, 30 large whales were reported including 11 fin whales, 14 humpback whales, 1 gray whale and 4 other unidentified large cetaceans.
St. Paul, Alaska, United States

No Sea Ice
South winds blew out most of the sea ice. Going to be bad ice if it refreezes for spring hunt.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

February Bees
We have bees in February
Arlene Gunderson, Amy Mack, Ian Williams

Wet Snowgo Race
Warm weather has made for unsafe traveling conditions, including a snowmachine race.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Lighting Strikes
Nome experienced 2 lightning strikes and thunder Monday morning during a snow squall.A
Nome, Alaska, United States

Needle Fish Die-off
2/20/15 Needle fish die-off - Kongiganak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

DOT says weather likely caused rockslide that closed Seward Highway
DOT spokesperson Shannon McCarthy said the weather this week -- alternately freezing and thawing -- was likely the culprit.
Seward Highway  Alaska, USA

High PSP in Clams
High PSP level in Sand Point, Alaska

Lantern Fish (Stenobrachius leucopsarus)
2/15/15 Lantern fish - Haines, Alaska, USA
Haines, Alaska, United States

Deformed Whitefish (C. nelsonii)
Nice looking whitefish, but had a bulged out eyeball on one side of head.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

Victoria Harbour 2: Contaminants in Sediment and Mussels
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Early Plants
1/27/15 Early plants - Klawock, Alaska, USA
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Early earthworm
Earthworm found while cleaning yard
Haines, Alaska, USA

PSP High in Clams
The paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) results for Sand Point, Alaska (butter clams collected 1/5/2015) had PSP toxin levels of 112 micrograms/100 grams.

Squirrel Parka Tail Plants Early
Squirrel parka tail plants early
Togiak, Alaska, United States
Brian Abraham, Aeshia Upton, Gino Graziano

The Last Skiers
The physical poetry of skiing well can make you feel like a spiritual being. It feels like meaning. That's why we teach our kids to ski. Not because we want
Girdwood, Alaska, United States
The Anchorage Press

Record High Temperatures
1-9-15 Record high temperatures - Bethel, Alaska, USA
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Thousands of small seabirds wash up on West Coast in die-off mystery
Scientists are trying to determine why thousands of tiny seabirds called Cassin's auklets have washed up on the West Coast, all the way from B.C. to California.
Long Beach, Pacific Rim National Park

Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Pine grosbeak
Nome, Alaska, United States

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