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

Little Ice for Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus) Hunting
Because of the increased travel distance, only families with larger boats were able to participate in the hunt and bring back enough to make the trip cost effective. With a heavier load in the boat, one family ran out of gas trying to get home and had to be rescued.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Janet Mitchell, Anna Godduhn, Richard L Thoman Jr

In a rainforest, Southeast Alaska towns face extreme drought
One of the worst droughts in the nation is in Southeast Alaska. That’s according to federal meteorologists. Ground zero is Wrangell, a city that’s struggled for years to keep up with summer water demand. Wrangell’s water supply comes from two reservoirs. Levels are healthy right now, even overflowing. But the flume that feeds water into them is already dry, thanks to warm dry weather and 50% less snow pack then last year.
Wrangell, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

First red squirrel documented in Nome
When young Jack James looked out the window of his home at Anvil Mountain on June 7, he saw a red squirrel.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Alaska community seeks funds to move homes away from river
AKIAK, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska community with a rapidly eroding riverbank is seeking funding to relocate homes, officials said. Money is available, but Akiak officials will have to go...
Akiak, Alaska, United States
AP NEWS

Another dead grey whale found off B.C. coast
A dead grey whale was found floating in Boundary Bay, near the United States border, this week. It's the sixth grey whale to have been found dead in B.C. waters this year.
Boundary Bay, Canada
CBC

High-flying ladybug swarm shows up on National Weather Service radar
The ladybug bloom appears to be about 80 miles by 80 miles, but the ladybugs aren’t in a concentrated mass that size; they’re spread throughout the sky.
San Bernadino Mountains, California, United States
latimes.com

Lake Erie water level at its all-time high
Lake Erie, the fourth-largest of the five Great Lakes, has broken the water level record set in 1986.
Lake Erie
CBC

Low Tide and No Sea Stars
We did not see a single sea star in the Kachemak-side tide pools, and boulders we visit each year all looked a little vacant, with a lot of empty, critter-free space.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States
Michael Opheim , Kris Holderied, Mike Brubaker

Unusual bald eagles' (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flying behavior?
Two bald eagles observed flying together during breeding season, when eagles may remain closer to the nest.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Beached Grey Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) near Turnagain Arm
Grey whale (*Eschrichtius robustus*) found beached near the Placer River along Turnagain Arm is one of five grey whales reported dead along the Alaska coast during 2019.
Placer Creek

Horror 50C heatwave hits 200 million
Temperatures passed 50 degrees Celsius in northern India as an unrelenting heatwave triggered warnings of water shortages and heatstroke.
Chūru, Rajasthan, India
NewsComAu

Large group of black plant bug nymphs (Irbisia sericans)
A large group of black plant bug nymphs were observed in early June.
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

Thousands in northwest Alberta put on evacuation alert as wildfires grow
An additional 12,000 people in northwest Alberta have been placed on evacuation alert as an out-of-control wildfire in the area grows.
Arcadia, Alberta, Canada
CBC

Fluff Flies Into Russia's Capital
Early summer in Moscow brings an onslaught of allergy-inducing, Instagram-ready fluff from poplar seeds.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
The Moscow Times

Aggressive bear killed southeast of Wrangell
State and federal law enforcement officers killed a brown bear Sunday on the mainland southeast of Wrangell. They believe it was the same bear that was threatening some campers in the area.
Wrangell, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

An unstoppable force: The Pretty Rocks Landslide
There are over one hundred and forty landslides along the Denali Park road, the 92 mile road through Denali National Park and Preserve. None are more threatening than the Pretty Rocks Landslide at Polychrome Pass.
Cantwell, Alaska, United States
YouTube

Black bear behavior raises concerns on Turnagain Arm Trail
Hikers in the Anchorage area are advised to use caution on the Turnagain Arm Trail, following multiple reports of a black bear displaying unusual behavior.
Knik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

If tree pollen has you wheezing, just wait for ragweed 'super bloom'
Dr. Antony Ham Pong, who's been treating allergy patients for about 35 years, warns the combination of a wet spring and heavy snow melt threaten to create a "super bloom of ragweed with lots of pollen."
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Yahoo News

Unusual Yellowknife Weather "Light Sleet"
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Rare white ‘ghost orca’ spotted near Nanaimo
The jury is still out on exactly what the cause is, but the unusually-coloured calf spotted near Nanaimo on Tuesday is already making waves.
Northern Strait of Georgia
Global News

Two whale carcasses wash ashore
The body of a minke whale washed ashore in the Grandi area of Reykjavík yesterday, shortly following the discovery of a dead orca whale near Hólmavík in the Westfjords.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
RÚV

The “8.5 mile” fire destroys a home, spreads to State Forest land
A five-acre fire destroyed one home in Haines and spread to State Forest land Monday night. The National Forest Service is flying in Tuesday evening to aid the local volunteer fire department.
Haines, Alaska, United States

Sleet Storm
Not seen in at least my 15 years in Yellowknife.

May Day Trees (Prunus padus) Take Hold at Cheney Lake
The forest on the East side of Cheney Lake is changing and the biggest change is the proliferation of May Day trees.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Beached Whale Off Reykjavík Coast
The exact species is not known. Part of the carcass has ballooned with gas, a common occurrence with beached whales.
Seltjarnarnes, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Spruce pollen blooms look ominous but are nothing to sneeze at
For those who suffer from seasonal allergies, spring means red eyes, mucus and fits of sneezing. This year, the Lynn Canal has seen a remarkable spruce pollen bloom.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Báru kennsl á háhyrning sem rak á land
Samtökin Orca Guardians telja að háhyrningur sem rak á land við Heydalsá á Ströndum sé háhyrningur sem samtökin sáu síðast úti fyrir Grundarfirði í janúar 2016. Samtökin halda úti ljósmyndasafni með yfir 400 háhyrningum við Íslandsstrendur til að þekkja þá í sundur og fylgjast með ferðum þeirra, samsetningu hópa, fæðuvali og stofnstærð.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
RÚV

Dry, windy weather making work tough for firefighters in northern Alberta
Weather conditions continue to challenge firefighters battling the gigantic Chuckegg Creek blaze a few kilometres southwest of High Level, Alberta.
High Level, Alberta, Canada

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) regurgitation full of plastic found in Unalaska
Regurgitation from a bald eagle contains plastic pieces.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Melissa Good, Anna-Katri Kulmala, Veronica Padula

‘Pretty unnerving’: Eroding cliff creeps closer to popular trail at Point Woronzof
City park staff have set up barriers in hopes of encouraging passersby to stay far away. Potential fixes could include putting up a wall and relocating the bike path or road.
Susitna, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Unusual Sighting of an Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)
Historically, pollock are not a commonly observed species in Bristol Bay, but sightings are becoming more common.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Jaclyn Christensen, Elizabeth Siddon, Tom Okey

Wolves (Canis lupus) are coming too close to the towns of Klawock and Craig
Deer populations are fluctuating, but wolf populations have been growing on Price of Wales island since 2014. Wolves are seen more frequently around communities.

Storm Hannah exposes 'sunken kingdom'
It is believed that the area was once-fertile land and a township stretching for 20 miles.
Borth, Wales, United Kingdom
BBC News

Why does it look like it's snowing in Stockholm in late May?
Pia Östensson, a biologist and pollen expert at Stockholm's Natural History museum, explains why there is so much aspen fluff this year and why it is not related to recent wildfires.
Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Major die-off of Common Murres under way along the Mendocino Coast
Starting on Wednesday, May 22, hundreds of Common Murres, an ocean-going bird native to the Pacific Coast from the Channel Islands to the tip of the Aleutians in Alaska, have been reported washed u…
Mendocino, California, United States
Fort Bragg Advocate-News

‘This is it’: Cordova fishermen tell harrowing tales of trip home in waves whipped by unseasonable storm
One boat lost its net while at least two other fishermen say giant waves threatened to capsize their vessels as they tried to reach safe harbor.
Cordova, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Unprecedented erosion in Akiak swallows up to 100 feet of riverbank
Akiak City Administrator David Gilila says the village is in danger of becoming an island in the Kuskokwim River.
Akiak, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Alaska’s third dead gray whale of the year reported on Kodiak coast
The whale is located in an inaccessible place where scientists are unable to take a necropsy.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) dying back in coastal BC and WA
Cape Disappointment, Washington, United States

Researchers seek answers to gray whale deaths after 57 are stranded this year
Gray whales are dying at twice the usual rate as a brutal migration unfolds, with whales washing up on Washington state beaches, apparently starved to death.
Coastal Washington State

Northern Alberta wildfire ranked at highest danger level; conditions expected to worsen
An out-of-control wildfire burning near a town in northwestern Alberta is at the highest possible danger and expected to increase this week.
High Level, Alberta, Canada

Another gray whale found dead in Alaska, this time near Cordova
NOAA is monitoring significant numbers of gray whale deaths this spring along the Pacific coast.
Cordova, Alaska, United States

High Water in Spring Leads to Riverbank Erosion
Above average snowfall at the headwaters of the Kuskokwim, and early break up, led to higher than average river flows past Aniak. The river banks are eroding, threatening community infrastructure.
Akiak, Alaska, United States
Richard L Thoman Jr, Max Neale, Elizabeth Buckingham, Ted Williams, Crane Johnson

Facing catastrophic climate change, they still can’t quit Big Oil
The varnished wooden cross stands amid a cluster of grave markers tilted at odd angles in the cemetery, because the ground beneath them is sinking. Rising temperatures are thawing the once-frozen earth, forming pools of water that run through the graveyard.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States
Washington Post

Rare bird spotted in Finland for the first time
The Pallas's reed bunting has been sighted fewer than 10 times in Europe.
Kirkkonummi, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Washington governor declares drought emergency in almost half of state
The state's water worries mirror those in B.C. Record-breaking temperatures earlier this month and a below average snowpack have led to a faster snow melt in this province.
Washington, USA

Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) Feeding in Haro Strait
Haro Strait, Canada
Theo Okolowicz, Phoebe Okey-Dobie, Tom Okey

First Mosquito (Culicidae) Sighted
First mosquito sighting in Kotzebue.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Rare thunderstorm in Anchorage causes first lightning-related power outages in years
Lightning is unusual in a city that, according to the National Weather Service, sees fewer than two thunderstorms a year. It was the first time the power company had seen a lightning-related power outage in 15 years.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Seal pups and walrus calves found stranded on regional beaches
Near Nome, reports of seal pups and walrus calves hauled out on beaches are piling up at an unprecedented rate.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Big Sky Thunder
Thunderstorms are rare in Anchorage due to its proximity to the coast and protection by the Chugach Mountains from moist air traveling up from Southeast. Thursdays storm produced lightening that struck a power line and caused an outage, and produced nickel-sized hail in Eagle River.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Another gray whale has been found dead in Turnagain Arm
A pilot first spotted the whale last week. What caused the whale’s death isn’t yet known.

Steelhead Numbers Are Up in the Carmel River
Conservationists are rejoicing this spring over Steelhead Trout numbers in the Carmel River. "The count is up," said Haley Ohms a project scientist with University of California Santa Cruz.
Los Padres Dam, Carmel River, California
KSBW

Red Velvet Mite (Family Trombidiidae) Found Near Potters Marsh
Unfamiliar insect found near Potters Marsh, identified as a red velvet mite (family *Trombidiidae*).

Extreme weather sparks large die off of Cedar on Vancouver Island
A growing die off of native Western Red Cedar trees is becoming visible right across East Vancouver Island now. Experts say its a symptom of climate change and as Skye Ryan reports, its changing the forests we've come to know across this region.
East Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Second whale found dead in Turnagain Arm within 2 weeks
A second whale has been found dead floating in the middle of Turnagain Arm, just two weeks after a juvenile humpback whale was found dead on the Arm after stranding itself twice.
Turnagain Arm, Alaska, United States
Anchorage KTUU News

Napakiak Erosion Worsens After Spring Storms
Napakiak doesn’t have a boat landing anymore. Storms over the past week ate huge chunks from the Kuskokwim riverbank close to the city school and fuel
Napakiak, Alaska, United States

Shiner Surfperch (Cymatogaster aggregata) in Southcentral Alaska
This catch in a Tatitlek herring net places a school of shiner surfperch about 700 km north of their normal range.
Tatitlek, Alaska, United States

Climate change effects obvious on Cowichan River, wildfire season
The Cowichan River is lower than it was in August last year, after the long extreme heat and drought. There might not be enough water in the river for newly-hatched salmon to swim to the ocean.
Cowichan River, British Columbia, Canada
Cowichan Valley Citizen

Grey whales stranded in Boundary Bay freed, headed for deeper water
A pair of grey whales that found themselves beached Friday in Boundary Bay have begun to make their way out to deeper water.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Southcentral Alaska’s spruce bark beetle infestation is spreading in Anchorage. There’s only one defense.
The worst-hit areas appear to be established neighborhoods with older spruce trees, especially in Turnagain and Spenard.

Walrus herds pass Nome Headed North
The appearance of walrus on the ice off Nome added some excitement to the onset of spring.
Nome, Alaska, United States
The Nome Nugget

Dead and dying salal plants ‘everywhere’ along the coast
Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
My Campbell River Now

Record number of shearwater birds taken into care after getting lost on journey north
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
ABC Radio

This rare duck from Asia is causing a stir among birders. How it got to Anchorage is a mystery.
It’s the first reported sighting of the falcated duck on mainland Alaska, Fish and Game says.
Knik, Alaska, United States

Black skies over Siberia as wildfires rage around the world’s oldest lake
Cries to urgently call state of emergency in Irkutsk region as it chokes in smoke.
Irkutsk, Irkutsk, Russia
Siberian Times

Underweight bearded seal pup found near Shaktoolik is now recovering at the Alaska SeaLife Center
The rehabilitation center in Seward doesn’t usually get bearded seals, which live much farther north.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States

In Utqiaġvik, temperatures are warmer, and the ice is changing. What does that mean for whalers?
“I think it was a little more stable, and there was a little bit more assurance that the ice you were on was not going to disintegrate on you that easy,” said whaling captain Gordon Brower.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Bad spring for bumblebees
Queens are usually out and about at this time of year feeding up on nectar and preparing to nest for the summer. Things are disappointingly quiet this spring, and last summer’s endless rain is the likely reason.
Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
RÚV

Disappearance of Tundra Ponds
Kettle ponds in Denali National Park contain less water this spring than in previous years, due to low snowfall and permafrost thaw. Shrubs are replacing grasses as the lakes dry.
McKinley Park, Alaska, United States
Scott Richardson, Katie Spellman, Richard L Thoman Jr

B.C.'s salal shrubs are dying and extreme weather could be the culprit
One of B.C.'s most abundant plants is in trouble: patches of hardy salal plants are turning up brown, crispy and dying.
coastal British Columbia, Canada

Unexploded military ordnance complicates effort to suppress 6,600-acre wildfire near Delta Junction
Federal fire bosses are plotting a strategy to battle an unusually large early season wildland fire once it leaves military lands.
Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

Body of Ambler snowmachiner recovered from Kobuk River
Alvin Williams was reported missing on May 2. His body was found Sunday, troopers said.
Ambler, Alaska, United States

Juvenile Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) Hauled Out
A species rarely seen in the Seward area.
Seward, Alaska, United States

Inside one man’s quest to photograph the elusive ‘Iliamna Lake monster’
“Something” big has shredded fishing gear and long been spotted in the lake. Bruce Wright plans to use a deepwater camera to find it.
Iliamna, Alaska, United States

Salal plant dying across Vancouver Island
Hikers across Vancouver Island say they've been finding entire forests with dying salal. No one knows why it's dying but the ramifications could be serious.
Menzies Mountain, Vancouver Island, Canada
CHEK

Town in Mongolia closed for quarantine after Bubonic plague claimed two lives
The Mongolian Ministry of Health confirmed two people died from plague after consuming raw meat and internal organs of a marmot.
Өлгий, Bayan-Ölgiy, Mongolia
Siberian Times

Strange Growth in Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
An unusual growth was found in a snow goose (*Anser caerulescens*) while it was being butchered. The growth may be related to a previous injury or illness that the bird healed from.
Stebbins, Alaska, United States
Jerry Hupp, Mike Brubaker, Kathy Burek Huntington, Harold Okitkun, Todd O'Hara

Hunters stranded on sandbar after falling through Yukon River ice in Western Alaska
The cold and wet hunters built a fire to keep warm until Alaska Army National Guard rescuers arrived hours later.
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

Natuashish photographer captures 3 polar bears and a surprise walrus
After scoping out the coast for a month, photographer Mark Nui was rewarded when he spotted three polar bears and a walrus. .
'
LEO Member Eric Oliver writes, "walrus are rare these days in Labrador.."
Natuashish 2, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

A humpback whale died in Turnagain Arm. Here’s what might have happened.
It’s rare to see humpbacks in Turnagain Arm, known for its swift tides and shallow waters.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Fire season kicks off with over a dozen fires statewide
The Alaska Division of Forestry is warning Alaskans in the Southcentral region of the state about high fire danger.
Ninilchik, Alaska, United States

Rat infestation plagues Toronto neighbourhood
Her right hand protected by an old plastic bag, Donna Devlin carefully reaches into a shallow sewer basin in her driveway, and drags out a dead rat the size of her forearm. It's the latest casualty in a war that Devlin and her neighbours say they've been fighting, on and off, for two decades.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Brush fire warnings in effect across Finland this week
A fire chief in the south-west said firefighters were called to several fires a day in recent days, saying that all were caused by people who ignored warnings.
Mynämäki, Southwest Finland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Outdoor air quality at seasonal low
Spring blossoms, dusty streets, distant fires and a lack of rain combine to create hazardous respiratory conditions.
Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) dying, tops showing dry brown leaves
Salal bushes observed to be very dry and dying in British Columbia.
Burnaby Mountain, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Water levels of Ottawa River highest on record in most areas
Ottawa River water levels in the city are all now higher then they were in 2017, which is the record-setting benchmark the city has been using throughout the flooding.
Ottawa River, Canada
Global News

Mottled Sea Star (Evasterias troscheli) Die-off Juneau
Approximately 700 dead mottled sea stars (*Evasterias troscheli*) found with appendages intact, which indicate that mortality event may be related to stormy weather.
DuPont beach Juneau, Alaska, United States

Cyclone Kenneth 'wiped out villages'
A UN official says it looks from the air like parts of Mozambique were "run over by a bulldozer".
Mocímboa, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
BBC News

Weak ice hampers spring count of endangered Saimaa ringed seal
Sixty-three endangered Saimaa ringed seal pups were found during the early spring count carried out by forestry workers and volunteers.
Suomenniemi, Southern Savonia, Finland

More evacuations as fires flare up
The wind is causing trouble in some of the areas affected by wildfires and now more people are having to evacuate their homes.
Tjällmo, Östergötland, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Wind Carries European Birch Pollen to Iceland
Pollen from birch trees was carried along with dust from the Sahara Desert on strong winds that originated in Eastern Europe.
Garðabær, Capital Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Dalmatian pelicans that took a wrong turn to freezing Siberia in winter released back to wild
Each stunning giant bird was ringed to help scientists trace their migration routes.
Aleysk, Altai Krai, Russia
Siberia Times

Siberia Rushes to Extinguish Fast-Spreading Wildfires
Gallery | The fires, which were swept in from Mongolia by high winds, have caused almost $9.4 million in damage.
Zabaikalsky Region, Russian Federation
The Moscow Times

Tens of thousands of animals burned alive in raging wildfires in TransBaikal region
The cost of the recent fires has been revealed as Vladimir Putin today visited TransBaikal to assess the damage en route to a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in Vladivostok
Агинский сельсовет, Саянский район, Красноярский край, Russia
Siberia Times

Proliferation of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Landfill
Rabies has been identified by the State of Alaska as being endemic (regularly found) in the fox population in this area.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Early Spring Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) Arrival
Meadow Lakes, Alaska, United States

Seaweed invading Essequibo, Demerara, Berbice rivers
Aerial shots of what appeared to be remnants of an oil spill in the Essequibo River has turned out to be huge beds of sargassum seaweed which is now a
Parika, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana
Stabroek News

April Snowfall Road Carnage
Seasonal swings set drivers up for bad trip.

Watch: Rescuers save dog as ice cover thins rapidly across Finland
Forecasts indicate that ice cover will thin by dozens of centimetres all the way up to Lapland.
Kirkkonummi, Uusimaa, Finland

State of emergency after dozens of houses destroyed in fearsome wildfires in TransBaikal region
At least 90 left homeless in one village after raging infernos, say reports.
Chita, Transbaikal Territory, Russia
Siberia Times

Trees Broken, Uprooted, Toppled by Wind
the Beaufort Picnic Area appears to consist of stream-origin alluvial cobbles, pebbles, and perhaps sand, and so not well consolidated, thus perhaps making these trees relatively vulnerable to wind. The snapped-off trees, however, indicate the unusually high intensity of this particular windstorm.
Beaufort Picnic Area, Cameron Lake, British Columbia

Frantic bid to save Umka the lost and forlorn polar bear who travelled 700 km in the wrong direction on ice floe
Lame, exhausted and confused, the young male polar bear is far from his natural habitat to the north.
Tilichiki, Kamtsjatka, Russia

No Chestnut Trees, No Honey — Beekeeping at Risk in Russia's South
A sharp decline in chestnut trees caused by a parasitic fungus in Russia's southern Krasnodar region is threatening the area's honey production, according to local beekeepers and scientists.
Krasnodar, Krasnodarskiy, Russia
The Moscow Times

Early Trumpeter (Cygnus buccinator) Swans on Cheney Lake
I rarely see trumpeter swans on the lake, and I don't ever remember seeing them so early.

Early Bees and Butterflies
The sun when direct was intense, definitely not April and not May...more like the month of June.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

No Sardine Fishing Off California This Year Due to Steep Population Decline
Wildlife officials say populations of the silvery Pacific sardine have plummeted over the past decade.
California's Coastal Ocean
KQED

Unique in palaeontology: Liquid blood found inside a prehistoric 42,000 year old foal
Permafrost preserved the ‘oldest blood in the world’ boosting hopes of bringing extinct species back to life.
Ese-Khayya, Sakha, Russia

Erosion in Cook Inlet Damaging Old Growth Trees
Both sides of Cook Inlet are eroding near Tyonek. The erosion is reaching old and new growth trees, and causing more debris to fall in to the Inlet, which easily get caught in set nets.
Tyonek, Alaska, United States

Nenana Ice Classic tripod falls; earliest date on record
In the earliest breakup since the contest began in 1917, the Nenana Ice Classic Tripod fell early this morning.
Nenana, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

950,000 litres of Iqaluit's raw sewage leaking into Frobisher Bay per day
Blockage at the city's main lift station has forced sewage to overflow into the bay, so it doesn't back into people's homes.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Record-high bird count at Yukon's Swan Haven over weekend
One wildlife expert says seeing more than 2,000 trumpeter swans at the sanctuary is unusual, but on Saturday there were nearly 3,000 counted.

Rain storm and high winds bring down trees, wires in Massachusetts
Trees and wires came down early Monday morning as rain poured down and wind whipped across Massachusetts, the National Weather Service said.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
BostonGlobe.com

2 adults, child die after crashing through ice
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Noatak, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

Pace of Bering Sea changes startle scientists
Frigid north winds blow down from the Arctic Ocean, freeze saltwater and push sea ice south. The ice normally prevents waves from forming and locks onto beaches, walling off villages. But not this year.
Kotlik, Alaska, United States
PBS NewsHour

Pike (Esox Lucius) Caught with Pug Head Deformity to Mouth/Jaw
Northern Pike (*Esox Lucius*) caught with "pug head" jaw deformity, usually associated with cold water temperatures during incubation.
Kotlik, Alaska, United States
Harold Okitkun, Jayde Ferguson, Elizabeth Lindley

Early Robin (Turdus migratorius) Sighting in Fairbanks
This morning I heard and saw a robin in Fairbanks right near the fairgrounds. I have lived in Fairbanks for more than 30 years and have never seen a robin this early!
College, Alaska, United States

Death toll from devastating Cyclone Idai rises above 1,000
The death toll from a storm that crashed into southeast Africa last month has risen above 1,000, with more than 4,000 cases of cholera reported among survivors in Mozambique, the hardest-hit country.
Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi
AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

Shiveluch volcano (Kamchatka) Eruption
Shiveluch volcano (Kamchatka) in Kamchata is erupting. Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 33000 ft (10100 m) altitude or flight level 330 and is moving at 55 kts in S direction.
Volcano Discovery

Spruce bark beetle damage shuts down 2 popular Alaska campgrounds
The closures of the campgrounds, facing the threat of falling trees, likely will last through summer, the state parks division said.
Fishhook, Alaska, United States

Puffin changes on Arctic island
The season’s first puffins arrived on Grímsey island—the only part of Iceland to cross the Arctic Circle—a few days ago and the birds are generally arriving in Iceland significantly earlier each year than they used to.
Grímsey, Northeast, Iceland

Thin ice and deep slush making for unsafe conditions in Iqaluit, warn hunters
Popular hunting spots, such as Frobisher's Farthest, Pink Lady Island and Ward Inlet should be avoided, says the chair of the Amaruq Hunters and Trappers Association.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Signs of spring: Record high (so far), grass fires, flood warning
The warmest springtime temperature of the year so far is 14.1 degrees Celsius, and fires are popping up around the country.
Kirkkonummi, Uusimaa, Finland

Dead grey whale towed to Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney for necropsy
A dead male grey whale that was found floating between Sidney Island and James Island on Thursday has been towed to Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney for a necropsy.
Sidney Channel, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Large earthquake strikes in remote part of northwest Alaska
The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope
Shungnak, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder
Alaska Media, LLC., Steve Keller designer and application developer

Southeast Alaska researchers get rare opportunity to study a sperm whale
The species has been spotted in the Inside Passage before. But sightings are infrequent. A whale found recently near Juneau is thought to have died from a vessel strike.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Where's the beef? Drought-parched Botswana struggles to keep cattle...
Longer and harsher droughts are driving a growing share of Botswana's traditional cattlemen to give up their animals
Borakalalo, North West, South Africa
Thomson Reuters

The dusty season has arrived early. Here are some things that might surprise you.
Why air quality is worse at different times of day and how you might be violating city code with your leaf blower.

Booming Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Population
"It’s a bit because people are feeding them, and they’re getting into the dumpster now too. But I’ve never seen them like this before."
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Whale Fatality Likely Caused By Boat Propeller
A sperm whale (*Physeter macrocephalus*) found beached on the east side of Lynn Canal had trauma consistent with being hit by a boat propeller.
Southeast Alaska

Record Temps in Goldstream
Warm temperatures are rapidly melting snow and creating ice, which creates difficult conditions for dog mushers. Migratory birds are arriving early, and a mosquito emerged months early. Small owls dead around the Goldstream Valley that looked unusually thin.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Unusually heavy pollen season getting underway in Finland
Alder catkins (the pollen-rich flowers on alder trees) haven't reached their peak yet, but there are a lot of them. There can be four to five million pollen particles in a single catkin.
Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland

First Puffins of the Year Arrive in Iceland
Svafar Gylfason spotted the year’s first puffin while fishing at sea near Grímsey island, North Iceland last weekend. He says the beloved bird’s appearance is a week earlier than it’s been in the past.
Grimsey, Northeast Iceland
Iceland Review

2 dead near Bethel when four-wheelers fall through river ice amid warnings to stay off
The tragedy came after several days of dire warnings about the dangers of river travel due to an unusually early warm-up. Search and rescuers crawled onto weak ice, open water all around, to help retrieve the survivors.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

'Stay off the ice' BSAR warns as two die from four-wheelers falling through ice
Two four-wheelers carrying five men leaving Bethel broke through needle ice on the upper end of Church Slough on Sunday night. Two of the men died, while three others were treated for hypothermia in Bethel.
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Warmest March
Warm air temperatures have melted the snow, leaving the soil without the insulation that snowcover usually provides.
Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, United States

The Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) are Courting
Spring has come about a month early. Is the mating season for our state bird, the Willow Ptarmigan, early as well?

Snow is going Fast at Glen Alps
The snow cover in Anchorage and the Chugach is disappearing very quickly. Go out and get it while you can!

Pussy Willows (genus Salix) Make Early Showing
Warmer than normal temperatures in Anchorage may be causing willows (genus *Salix*) to bud early.

Odd condition of Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)
"Looked normal at first then we started to butcher it found some unusual stuff on the insides."
Kwigillingok, Alaska, United States

Tornado confirmed in El Paso County
Officials have confirmed a tornado touched down Friday afternoon in Eastern El Paso County. It was spotted on Curtis Road between Highway 24 and Highway 94.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
KOAA.com

Marine Tar (Oil Residue) On Beaches
The western coast line of India is prone to oil pollution. Marine tar deposition is heaviest during early monsoons or monsoons months.
Arambol, Goa, India

Changing face of the Arctic: one significant island vanishes from the map but a dozen appear
Scientists confirm loss of ‘Pearl’ island, while schoolchildren using satellite maps identify one of the new icy Russian isles.
Graham Bell Island

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) Converging on North Slope
There seems to be a large red fox population in the region around Nuiqsut, Alaska. When I last traveled there for work, I counted 5 red fox during a 1.5 hour-long car ride.
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States
Elizabeth Lindley, Karsten Hueffer, Abby Nelson

Willows (genus Salix) Budding in March
Willows budding about a month early 30 miles above the Arctic Circle.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Intrusion of Beach Stones and Saltwater into the Coastal Forest
French Beach Provincial Park

Snowmachiner watches wild dogs take down musk ox in Western Alaska
Patrick Jones, wildlife biologist for the state Department of Fish and Game, said he has heard of dogs killing moose, caribou and a days-old musk ox calf, but nothing like this attack.
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

A nightmare trip, how drivers handled the mud on the Mackenzie Valley winter road
One of the main winter highways in the Northwest Territories turned into a swamp this week following unseasonably high temperatures.
Mackenzie Valley

Alyeska Resort closes mountain operations amid ‘severe weather’
Avalanche monitors say danger remains high in Turnagain Pass, Girdwood and Portage.
Girdwood, Alaska, United States

Plover, Bearer of Spring, Has Arrived
A golden plover, traditionally believed to announce the arrival of spring in Iceland, was spotted in Stokkseyri on March 28, a little later than usual. They spends the winter as far south as North Africa, returning north to breed.
Stokkseyri, South Iceland

Second Day of Spring
Weather is relatively consistent around this time of year, but this season, storms have come in quickly.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Road to NWT’s diamond mines closes in the heat
The winter resupply road between Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories' three working diamond mines has succumbed to this week's warm weather.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
Cabin Radio

Strong winds may have been a factor in avalanche that killed skier in Kenai Mountains, report says
Jeffrey Cheng, 33, died in the slide. One of his friends managed to hold on to a tree as waves of avalanche debris washed over his head. The third member of their group wasn’t caught.
Moose Pass, Alaska, United States

Drought nearly eradicated due to the bomb cyclone
Huge snow over the past few months has provided incredible relief to the drought situation that has plagued Colorado throughout the last year.
Colorado, United States
KOAA.com

Northern Canada: mild temperatures cause winter road closure in Northwest Territories
Deteriorating conditions on the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road have prompted the Northwest Territories government to close the winter highway for the season.
Mackenzie Valley Winter Road
Eye on the Arctic

For first time since records began, NWT hits 20C in March
The NWT broke a symbolic temperature barrier as a heatwave continued. There were warnings over ice roads and spoiled meat, and questions about climate change.
Northwest Territories, Canada
Cabin Radio

Still-closed winter road to Wekweeti has community frustrated, says chief
A late start means the community of just over 130 must rely more heavily on air transport, which adds to the cost of goods brought in town.
Wekweètì, Northwest Territories, Canada

A meteor blew up over the Bering Sea with the power of 10 atomic bombs. Almost no one noticed.
Scientists only recently pinpointed the December blast -- the third-largest known meteor explosion -- by triangulating readings from infrasound stations.

Mild spell forces temporary daytime closure of Yellowknife's Snowking castle
Despite daytime closures, evening events expected to happen on schedule this week.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Record High Temperature For Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

'Spring heat wave': record temperatures in Canada's central Arctic
In Yellowknife, the territorial capital, temperatures climbed above zero over the weekend, breaking a record high on Sunday with a temperature of 3 C.
Eye on the Arctic

Two dead and one missing amid ‘historic’ flooding across the Midwest
Louisville, Nebraska, United States
Washington Post

Man rescued from ice drifting in Bering Sea describes hours jumping from floe to floe
“It started breaking into pieces beneath us,” said Phillip Rode.

Two dead gray whales in San Francisco Bay spur investigation
The Marine Mammal Center and California Academy of Sciences are reporting cause of death for one.
Tiburon, California, United States
Marin Independent Journal

Pueblo picks up pieces after heavy wind damage
The Pueblo area was spared from the bulk of the winter elements that impacted much of eastern Colorado Wednesday, but residents are still dealing with major damage from heavy winds.
Pueblo, Colorado, United States
KOAA.com

Flash Flood in Sao Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil

Avalanche destroys home in southwestern Colorado, injuring sheriff and his 2 daughters
A sheriff and his two daughters were injured near Lake City in southwestern Colorado after an avalanche destroyed their home Tuesday morning.
Gunnison, Colorado, United States
The Denver Post

A Warming Arctic Hits Iditarod: Open Water Along the Trail Where There’s Normally Ice
Usually, in March, the Bering Sea ice is reaching its thickest extent. But from the beach in Unalakleet, the full horizon is blue ocean water, punctuated infrequently by lone icebergs.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States
KNOM Radio Mission

First Sighting of a Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) at My Feeder
Red-breasted Nuthatch (*Sitta canadensis*) are usually a common visitor to my bird feeder, however this is the first time one has been spotted at the feeder during the 2018-2019 winter.

Traffic jammed in ice as three URAL trucks blocked on winter road
Stuck in ice, two trucks of a local silver mining company got trapped more than a month ago. Drivers have to live nearby as they keep trying to remove their vehicles.
Promyshlennyy, Komi Republic, Russia

Shorefast Ice Breaks Off in Nome
Warm ocean temperatures are keeping ice thin, which become easily moved by the wind. This ice movement separates commercial and subsistence crabbers from their gear, and have led to the loss of both crabbing and mining gear.

It was 37 degrees and raining in Shageluk Friday. Iditarod mushers weren’t very happy.
Some mushers worried what the warm weather would mean for the trail ahead.
Shageluk, Alaska, United States

Avalanche danger extreme in Colorado
An agency in Colorado that tracks avalanches hiked its danger level to "extreme" for a swath of the state, the highest level on its scale.
Vail, Colorado, United States
CNN

Multiple cars buried in avalanche on Highway 91
Crews are working to free multiple cars that are trapped by an avalanche on Highway 91 near Copper Mountain, the Colorado State Patrol has confirmed.
Leadville, Colorado, United States
KMGH

103rd Ice Classic: warm weather, thin ice are hot topics in Nenana
NENANA — Early warm spring weather is adding a lot of excitement to the Nenana Ice Classic this year, resulting in a surge of last-minute ticket sales.
Nenana, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Fire Destroys Homes in Alexandra
Modderfontein, Gauteng, South Africa

No injuries in Alexandra fire started by fallen electricity pylon
Firefighters were battling a blaze in Alexandra, City of Johannesburg emergency services said on Tuesday.
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Wales Loses Shorefast Ice
Wales lost shorefast ice early in the season. Ice along the shore has been crushed and broken. This is a very unusual event for Wales as many of our hunters rely on great ice conditions for whale and other sea mammal catch for food.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Winter storms flood houses in Nunapitchuk and Kotlik
Storms battered the southern Bering Sea and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta last month. February storms aren’t unusual, but the amount of rain and flooding is. The combination caused a lot of damage for two communities in the region.
Kotlik, Alaska, United States

Bering Sea ice is at an ‘unprecedented’ low right now
“You could take your sailboat and sail from Dillingham all the way to Little Diomede and never see much more than an ice cube.

Back-to-back storms cripple business as usual in Nome
Back-to-back blizzards with tons of snow and high winds have hammered Nome since late January and the accumulation of a total of 76 inches of snow is now beginning to take a toll on residents.

Freezing winds encase house in a shell of ice
Strong winds and freezing temperatures left an upstate New York lake house encased in a shell of ice.
Lake Ontario, Ont., Canada
CNN

‘Februburied’: Record snowfall stacks up in Sierra Nevada at Truckee Tahoe resorts
The snow began falling in early February and hardly let up until the last day of the month, setting records at local ski resorts and causing havoc across the
Truckee, California, United States
Sierra Sun

Dry Creek at Harrison Island
Harrison Island, Haida Gwaii

Southern Hemisphere Hoodwinker Sunfish Washes Up in California
Rare hoodwinker sunfish, never before seen in Northern Hemisphere, washes up at Coal Oil Point Reserve
Isla Vista, California, United States
The UCSB Current

Train on Trans-Siberian railway goes through wall of fire from grass and forest inferno
Wildfires ablaze early in year due to lack of snow, posing threat to railway in Russian Far East.
Vladivostok, Primorskiy, Russia

Squaw sets February snowfall record
The latest storm to hit the Truckee-Tahoe area dropped another 30 inches of snow at Squaw Valley’s upper mountain, breaking the record at the resort for most snowfall in February. This month, Squaw Valley has been hit with 205 inches of snow at its upper mountain and more is currently coming down. The previous record…
Squaw Valley, California, United States
Sierra Sun

Capelin Stocks In Poor Shape
As a result, the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MFRI) will not permit fishing of the species this coming season. Capelin is the second most important export species of fish in Iceland after cod.

Eagle preys on duck on Saanich Peninsula
‘I’ve never seen that before in my life’
North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria News

Arctic Char Population Rapidly Declining
The stock of arctic char in Elliðavatn lake has almost collapsed. Similar developments are taking place in Norway as well. Hilmar Malmquist, head of the freshwater division at the Marine Research Institute, believe that climate change is the main explanation.
Kopavogur, Capital Region, Iceland

Storm Rages Across Iceland
Storms affecting most of the country, particularly Southeast and East Iceland, have damaged property and put travellers in danger. According to the Icelandic Met Office, storm conditions are expected to continue into the evening. Residents and tourists alike are advised against travelling in the affected areas. Search and rescue called out Search and rescue teams […]
Hornafjörður, Austurland, Iceland

White-tailed eagles congregate in Vaasa as habitats shrink
The WWF and locals report sightings of 10-15 eagles at a time in western Finland.
Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland

30 year temperature record broken
Warm temperatures break 30 year record.
Svelgen, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
NRK Sogn- og Fjordane

Walls of ice bulldoze ashore from Lake Erie
Extreme winds from a huge weekend storm over the Great Lakes pushed huge walls of ice on the shores of Lake Erie.
Hoover Beach, New York, United States
CNN

Snake has woken early from winter hibernation
Snake wakens early from winter sleep. He is a sure spring sign, but is not happy in February. If you see a viper at this time of year, then there may be several snakes in the vicinity.
Berle, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
NRK Sogn- og Fjordane

Roundheaded Wood Borer

That ice was 3300 years old. And now it melts
Thousands of years old ice disappears all over Norway. Dag Inge Bakke (42) is among those struggling to save the frozen archive of the past.
Galdhøpiggen, Oppland, Norway
NRK Norsk Rikskringkasting

Two Banff National Park wolf packs likely decimated by trapping
‘There’s a really high likelihood that the pack is just gone altogether’
Banff National Park
The Narwhal

Temperatures in Northern Finland to soar 40 degrees in one day
There are no records to indicate the last time there was such a radical temperature change in a 24-hour period.
Muonio, Lapland, Finland

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) Entering Breeding Grounds Early
Swans have arrived early in Southeast Alaska this year, with most lakes still frozen and no green grass anywhere. Most lakes are frozen; the swan is sticking to a small patch of water surrounded by ice.
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

Residents of Smog-Hit Russian Town Sue Over Health Complications
Locals blamed a mining company for attempting to hide what they called an 'ecological tragedy.'
Sibay, Bashkortostan, Russia

Lots of Female King Crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus)
Large number of Red King Crabs (*Paralithodes camtschaticus*) found on the beach during an extreme low tide. According to fisheries researchers, crabs move to shallow water to hatch and release eggs.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Early Reports of Black and Brown Bear
Brown bear spotted on Kupreanof Island for the first time.
Kake, Alaska, United States

Spring flowers bloom very early
The winter holiday offers 15 degrees (C) of heat and spring flowers.
Lavik, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Company) Sogn og Fjordane

Weather and wildlife changes
Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana

One Small Colorado Town Ran Out Of Water. How Did It Happen?
One morning in mid-February, David Herz went to turn on the faucet in his farmhouse outside the small western Colorado town of Paonia, and nothing came…
Paonia, Colorado, United States
KUNC

Ash turns Siberia snow black triggering acute pollution concerns from locals
Blame for pollution is focused on failure of coal plant to filter emissions.
Прокопьевский, Кемеровская область, Russia

Unusual Flooding in February
A warm winter storm leads to sea ice loss and flooding of homes in Western Alaska. "Damage to the foundation of the homes is all I think happened, besides wet clothing and a few things on the floor."

Snow closes Haleakala National Park and creates social media buzz
Snow on Haleakala?
Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Coastal Flood Advisory
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States
Olivia Lee, Richard L Thoman Jr, John Henry

Leads in Ice After Warm Storm
Leads appeared following a warm storm, in areas with usually stable, shorefast ice. The leads separate many crabbers from their pots, and are illustrative of how Norton Sound's recent erratic sea ice patterns are altering subsistence opportunities and patterns.

A 'invasion’ of polar bears is terrorizing an island town in Russia
Thinning sea ice has driven more than 50 polar bears ashore on an Arctic archipelago in northern Russia, causing chaos for the local population.
Rogachëvo, Arkhangelskaya, Russia

‘Historic’ storm hurls huge waves and 191 mph winds at Hawaii. Rare snow hits Maui.
Snow may have fallen at the lowest elevation ever observed in the state.
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Snow on Haleakala
Launiupoko, Hawaii, United States

Alaska biologist report increased sighting of mink in Kodiak
KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — Sightings of mink are increasing around Kodiak, Alaska wildlife biologists said of the animal — a species not native to the area. The first sighting was several years ago, the Kodiak Daily Mirror reported . Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist John Crye said the sightings began after he got a call from an individual who was interested in raising and farming the animals.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
AP NEWS

Extreme rain reactivates waterfall
Deadly floods in northern Chile left homes and roads destroyed.
Atacama Desert, Chile
BBC News

Yukon ice cave definitely changing geologist says
The spectacular natural formation near Haines Junction has become a big draw for visitors.
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada

Swordfish becoming much more common in Vesterålen
n 52 years, 36 observations of the species have been recorded in Norway. This one included.
Sortland, Nordland, Norway
NRK

Botulism cases reported in Nome
Public health officials confirmed that four Nome residents had been hospitalized in early January with preliminary results pointing to poising from foodborne type E botulism from an aged beluga flipper.

We get warmer and warmer later in the year
In Etne in Hordaland, 30.4 degrees of heat were measured at 15 today. Never has it been so hot so late in the year in Norway.
Etne, Hordaland, Norway
NRK
Oddleif Løset, Birger Kolsrud Jåsund and Geir Bjarte Hjetland

Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) With Bad Odor and Taste
The smelt, caught through the ice in late January, may have caused a person who ate some to get sick. Local, tribal and state officials worked together to collect and analyze the fish.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Bob Gerlach, Percy Nayokpuk, Jayde Ferguson, Anahma Shannon, Louisa Castrodale, Racheal Lee, Tim Thomas, Sharon Nayokpuk, David Verbrugge, Mike Brubaker

72 dead baby sharks removed from dead pregnant shark during necropsy at Coles Bay
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the University of Victoria’s Juanes Laboratory think the shark came into shallow water to give birth and potentially had complications, as there are no signs of trauma.
Coles Bay, Saanich, BC

Icebergs and Open Sea
Very strong south winds took out all the sea ice and created an ice pile in front of the village.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States
Andrew Kakoona, Olivia Lee, Sharon Nayokpuk

Eagle Sighting
Eagle sighting during winter in Western Alaska.
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Pregnant shark washes up on Vancouver Island shoreline
The carcass of a nearly four-metre-long bluntnose sixgill shark was found on Coles Bay Tuesday.
North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Island

Pregnant Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus) in Coles Bay
A pregnant bluntnose sixgill shark found on the banks of Coles Bay may have come in to shallow water to give birth and died from complications.
Cole Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Heavy snowfall stalls inter-city trains until Thursday
The state rail company VR has said that it will substitute buses on some of the cancelled rail trips.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

Yukon ice conditions unusual this year, says snowmobile association
'This year especially there's been lots of reports of thin ice and open water in places where there hasn't been in previous years,' said James Connor of the Klondike Snowmobile Association.
Drury Lake, Yukon

Australians could find crocodiles, snakes in ‘unexpected places’ after floods, officials warn
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Washington Post

Black bear wandering around Kincaid Park in the middle of winter? Here’s why.
If high temperatures melt snow and that leads to a bear’s den getting flooded, that’s another reason the bear might head outside. It’ll likely try to find another den, Farley said.
Kinkaid Park

Extended Cold Snap
The capital area, along with most of Iceland, has experienced constant below-freezing temperatures for a couple of weeks now.

Record cold damages grape buds in Essex County
Two record cold nights have damaged grape buds in Essex County with Merlot, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc particularly at risk.
Essex County, Ontario
Windsor Star

More snow to hit Sweden after temperatures drop to new record cold
The weather station in Nikkaluokta recorded a frigid -39.5C, setting the record for the lowest temperature of the winter.
Nikkaluokta, Norrbotten, Sweden
thelocal.se

Chilean scientists discover mass die-off of krill in Antarctica
The scientific literature indicates that, in general, crustacean wash ashore due to hypoxia (low oxygen) or to phenomena such as excess sediment in suspension and changes in water temperature.
Antarctica
Fish Information & Services

Deep freeze hits area
MARQUETTE — In light of the bitterly cold air and wind chills falling far below zero, all Michigan state offices are closed today, and the U.S. Postal Service
Ishpeming, Michigan, United States
miningjournal.net

Reported wolverine sightings are up, says N.W.T. gov
Last week, in the wee hours of the morning, a curious wolverine was caught on camera wandering the hallway to a dormitory at Diavik Diamond Mine.
Northwest Territories

Midwest Freeze Cancels Flights, Even Stops the Mail
Chicago, Illinois, United States
NBC News

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

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Spotted Walking with Cubs in Mid-Winter
Weather had been pouring rain and 45-degree temps for several days leading up to the sighting.
Haines, Alaska, United States

Rising sea levels could kill off 500-year-old trees in New Jersey forest
Dark water formed an eddy around Steve Eisenhauer's boots as they sank into the muck at the base of a 90-foot black gum tree so old, its roots were deep in this ground when the Pilgrims landed.
Bear Swamp, Cedarville, New Jersey, United States
Phys.org

Brown Bear Awake in January
Hungry and looking for food, where it was last fall. Very warm 40 degrees and rain. I'm sure it disturbed his hibernation.
Pedro Bay, Alaska, United States

Large Number of Redpolls (Acanthis)
Fox, Alaska, United States

Invasion of redpolls sends seeds flying
After a record-low last winter, the birds are making a comeback. Redpolls, seen in two varieties in Alaska — the common and the hoary — have attracted scientists’ attention because the birds survive super-cold temperatures. Physiologist Laurence Irving ranked redpolls’ feathers just behind pine grosbeaks for “apparent usefulness for insulation.”Redpolls have a secret weapon other small birds, including chickadees, don’t possess: food pouches on each side of their necks.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Driver badly hurt when falling rock hits car on Seward Highway
Authorities warned that drivers should use caution in the area due to the potential for additional rockslides.

Across Australia, Yet Another Scorching Summer
Australia’s heat waves, now an annual ordeal, have been expanding into new territory — like Tasmania, where more than 50 wildfires were burning as of Friday.
Australia
New York Times

Another Sand Point fisherman is chomped on by a sea lion
The third such bite in two years prompted a police warning in the Aleutian Islands town.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Rare Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Spotted in Western P.E.I.
A woman who put bird seed out in her yard in St. Chrysostome, in western P.E.I., was thrilled she ended up attracting a rare bird.
Saint Chrysostome, Prince Edward Island, Canada

A coyote attracts attention in Anchorage
A Fish and Game biologist urges people to give the animals space.

Yukon Quest's route shortened this year because of lack of snow
For safety dogs and mushers will be trucked from Braeburn to Carmacks.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Uncommon: reports of 2 wolves in town of Norman Wells
Officers received four separate calls in 48 hours from Sunday to Monday. The wolves were quite active, quite brazen, coming out in the daylight hours right in residential areas. One resident had a dog encounter with one of the wolves but was not harmed.
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada

Alaska man kills polar bear that strayed from its usual habitat
Jim Hollandsworth of Arctic Village said he encountered the bear in early January. He said the bear had tried to get into his cabin about 32 kilometers from the village.
Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

Extreme wet January displaces thousands and floods farmland in Mercosur member countries
Intense rainfall in northeast Argentina and neighbouring areas in Mercosur members has caused devastating floods, amplifying the economic burdens of Argentina's recession. Over 5,000 people have evacuated the region, and millions of hectares of crops have been sent underwater.
Mercosur member countries
MercoPress

‘A sad day’: two more B.C. mountain caribou herds now locally extinct
The Kootenay populations, a fixture on the landscape for thousands of years, succumbed to industrial disturbances and other human activity in their critical habitat.
Salmo, British Columbia, Canada
The Narwhal

Another bad year for sargassum seaweed forecast for Quintana Roo
Large quantities of sargassum are likely to wash up on the beaches of Mexico’s Caribbean coast in 2019, according to a researcher.
Atlantic Ocean
Mexico News Daily

Four dead, thousands evacuated in north Argentina floods
Heavy rainfall breaks local and regional records, as provincial governments in the Litoral region struggle to
Paso de los Libres, Corrientes Province, Argentina
Buenos Aires Times

State investigates Prudhoe Bay wells after a second North Slope well ‘jacked up’ and leaked oil and gas
The incident appears similar to an oil and gas release in 2017 blamed on thawing permafrost and hot production fluids.
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Russian military sent to assess giant rockfall blocking Bureya River
Urgent measures underway to evacuate residents of remote villages after flood threat caused by rising water above new ‘dam’.
село Усть-Ургал, Верхнебуреинский район, Хабаровский край, Russia

Freeze already! Hopes sinking for Dawson City ice bridge, despite cold snap
Normal ice build up not occurring. It seems like the ice along the shoreline is not moving into the river.
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

Wind blew asphalt off road
Wednesday night’s storm in North Iceland brought exceptionally warm air and extreme wind conditions. The small village of Borgarfjörður eystri, in the north of the East Fjords, suffered damage that included asphalt blowing off a paved road surface.
Bakkagerdi, East, Iceland

Sinkholes in parking lot - earthquake aftermath?
It has been a month since the 7.0 earthquake in Anchorage. Are these sinkholes which suddenly appeared related?

Sea lions survive with the help of Kamchatka residents
Sea lions have been pushed to come closer town because of marine pollution and over fishing, and now they are eating the scraps from the fish processing plant.
Петропавловск-Камчатский, Kamchatka, Russia
РЕН ТВ

3 wildfires reported in Fort Liard area
'These fires can then pop back up in the spring when conditions warm up,' says the environment department. A local crew will likely extinguish the fires by Monday.
Fort Liard, Northwest Territories, Canada

Windstorm and Widespread Forest Blowdown
Damage assessment underway due to fallen trees, hanging debris
Whisky Creek, British Columbia
Port Alberni Valley News

Wolves are preying on dogs in Old Crow
Wolves don't typically linger around the community, they're hungry because the caribou are all in Alaska right now. There's also little snow around Old Crow so it may be harder for wolves to hunt moose. About ten dogs have been killed.
Old Crow, Yukon, Canada

East Iceland hit 18 degrees yesterday
Genuine summertime temperatures were recorded in East Iceland yesterday. The warmest place was Dalatangi, which reached 18°C. Not far behind was Bjarnarey on 17.8°C and Eskifjörður recorded 16.6°C.
Dalatangi, Iceland

Possible Alaska Hare (Lepus othus) Tracks
Strange tracks between Pilot Point and Ugashik, found near the river may belong to an Alaska hare (*Lepus othus*)
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States
Wilson Justin, Dave Crowley, Gregory Kingsley

Amid environmental grief, finding hope in a graveyard of yellow cedar
One ecologist wonders, for the yellow cedar forests and the people who care about them, what comes after climate change and environmental loss in Southeast Alaska?
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

A jellyfish ‘epidemic’ has Australian scientists wondering if climate change is to be blamed
More than 13,000 stings were recorded in Queensland alone last week, with more than 2,500 people seeking treatment over the weekend, according to rescue organizations.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
BostonGlobe.com

Wandering seals swarm streets of Newfoundland town
Officials are warning residents in Roddickton, Newfoundland to keep their distance from seals that have wandered into town.
According to resident Brendon Fitzpatrick, some have crawled 6 to 8 km away from the ocean.
Roddickton, Newfoundland, Canada
The Weather Network

Thousands of Queensland beachgoers stung by swarm of jellyfish
Surf Life Saving Queensland said a “whopping” 3,595 people were stung by jellyfish, forcing the closure of popular swimming spots across the northern state. Lifeguards said the invasion was caused by unusually strong north-easterly winds.
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
The Independent

Decline of mountain bird populations
Some species have experienced a much greater decline than average. For the snowflake in Scandinavia there is talk of approx. 35 percent, patchwork 25 percent.
Vadsø, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
NRK, Norwegian Broadcasting Company

5 dogs attacked by lynx in Inuvik since late November, says official
Lynx have attacked five dogs in Inuvik since late November, a trend a local wildlife officer calls surprising. The behaviour is unusual since lynx are typically reclusive animals and don't usually come into inhabited areas.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Delhi air pollution surges to emergency levels
Air quality index at 12 times US government-recommended level and visibility low
Delhi, NCT, India
the Guardian

Residents along Lake Erie spending thousands to protect homes from erosion
An Amherstburg couple has been dealing with shoreline erosion along their waterfront property, and they've invested thousands of dollars in an effort to protect it.
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada

Strong winter storm batters Finland, causing power cuts, traffic delays
Record wind speeds have been clocked in southern maritime districts as a storm dubbed Aapeli causes widespread power cuts and train delays across Finland.
Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland

First ever winter sighting of blue-green algae in Gulf of Finland
In the frigid waters of the Gulf of Finland, cyanobacteria has been observed for the first time during the winter months.
Pernå, Uusimaa, Finland

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