LEO Network

About the LEO Network
The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
Continue

Observations

'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
Alaska Dispatch News

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
CBC News

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
CBC News

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
CBC News

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.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

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
Alaska Dispatch News

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
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
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
Alaska Public Media

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
Yle Uutiset

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
Yle Uutiset

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

Food Forest Garden at NWIC Enjoying the Warm Weather
*Foodscaping a Tribal College* – The purpose of the project is to provide the Northwest Indian College (NWIC) and Lummi Communities with a model of food sovereignty and local access to organic, traditional foods.
Ferndale, Washington, United States

Dropping water level on Kluane Lake causing problems, MLA says
The water level on Kluane Lake began dropping last year after a river of glacial meltwater abruptly changed course, leaving docks and boat ramps high and dry.
Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory, Canada

West Nile investigated in boy’s death, which would be Missouri’s earliest fatal case
The Jackson County Medical Examiner has sent samples for testing to the Missouri Department of Health after a possible West Nile death. If confirmed it would be the earliest West Nile fatality in a calendar year in Missouri history.
Independence, Missouri, United States
Kansas City Star

Poisonous Mushroom in Iceland
It has recently been confirmed that a poisonous mushroom, by the name of Steinkrympill has found its way to Iceland.
Laugarvatn, South, Iceland
Iceland Review

Hundreds Of Dead Seabirds, Sea Lions Wash Up In California
The likely culprit is a toxic algal bloom, fueled by warmer ocean temperatures.
Carpinteria, California, United States
HuffPost

They just keep coming: Tent caterpillar invasion coats Sask. home in insects — and feces
Hordes of tent caterpillars have covered Tammi Hanowski's home south of Saskatoon and have crawled up the walls and made their way into her pool.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
CBC

Moscow storm: At least 16 people killed
A fierce storm whipped through Moscow Monday, killing 16 people, toppling thousands of trees and damaging several buildings, officials said.
Moscow, Moscow, Russia
CNN

Erosion Could Drain Lake at Anytime
Goldfish Lake near Port Heiden is on the verge of draining into the Bering Sea.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Chris Maio, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Mike Brubaker, Richard Buzard, Scott Anderson, Susan Flensburg, Erica Lujan, Moses Tcheripanoff

Extremely dry conditions as crews fight wildfire near Haines Junction
Crews continue to work a 13-hectare blaze about 40 kilometres northwest of Haines Junction. The risk of wildfire is now considered 'extreme' in many parts of the territory.
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada

Lone Star Tick invades Southeast
Tick season is here and it's no secret the parasites can transmit dangerous diseases.But there's a relatively new and rare tick-borne disorder that causes an allergic reaction to red meat called 'Alpha Gal.'Jasmine Bailey reports how the tick that carries
Mobile, Alabama, United States
WPMI

Ticks are flourishing in St. Lawrence County, Lyme disease rates likely higher than tracking shows
Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States
NorthCountryNow

Ghost fishing: Lost pots are a crab killer
Douglas Indian Association catalogs marine debris at the bottom of Gastineau Channel | Though it sounds like the subtitle to a Pirates of the Caribbean movie, ghost fishing is a real phenomenon. It's going on right now in Gastineau Channel.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Leaping lizards! Victoria under invasion
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Times Colonist

Video: Savoonga residents describe changes in spring sea ice
As spring walrus hunting season gets underway, residents of St. Lawrence Island talk about sea ice changes and how they affect the village.
Savoonga, Alaska, United States

Scientists: Tick population exploding across Long Island
Scientists predict a record year for ticks on Long Island and the rest of the Northeast, and they are attributing the surge to a confluence
Long Island, New York, United States
Newsday

Melting sea ice causing 'eco-anxiety' in remote Labrador community
The annual ice melt in Canada's North is occurring earlier and earlier, and some researchers say that and other climate-related changes are affecting the mental health of populations in Inuit communities. CBC's Sabrina Fabian reports from Rigolet, Labrador.
Rigolet, Labrador Canada

Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) Hauling Out with Seals
Sea otter population growth not seen in recent history and shellfish harvest have been dropping.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Greenland Glacier Melt Actually Warped Earth's Crust
A massive wave of ice and water in 2012 caused the amount of ice lost from the Rink Glacier to increase by more than 50 percent
Rink Glacier, Greenland
Scientific American

For two Alaska villages, walruses remain essential. As sea ice disappears, can it last?
Thinning sea ice puts walruses nearly out of reach. The federal government may list walruses as an endangered species. And ivory bans elsewhere are making it hard for walrus-tusk carvers to sell their art.
Gambell, Alaska, United States

Marea Roja en costas de Ensenada
Salvavidas, pescadores y funcionarios de gobierno dicen que nunca se había presentado este fenómeno en esta zona.
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) Haulout at Cape Greig
Pacific Walrus haulout at Cape Greig.
Cape Greig, Alaska, United States

Earthquakes Change Well-water Quality
Residents associated poor well water quality with earthquakes.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Scott Anderson, Melissa O'Domin, Erica Lujan

Victoria Day heat a 10-year Duncan high
Victoria Day brought with it a statutory holiday and a new 10-year high in Duncan.
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Swedes face hosepipe bans after long dry spell
Sweden's towns, villages and cities have been warned to plan for emergency water deliveries and hosepipe bans in a letter from nine Swedish agencies.
Södertälje, Stockholm, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Evacuation alert issued for wildfire near Lumby
More firefighters are expected to go to a wildfire burning out of control near Lumby, B.C. on Wednesday.
Lumby, British Columbia, Canada

Fast Moving Hail Storm
Observed fast moving weather system... as quickly as it came it abated.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Climate change taking toll on clarity of Lake Tahoe water
Scientists say climate change is causing Lake Tahoe to warm sooner in the spring than it has historically, disrupting the normal mixing of shallow and deep water and undercutting gains made in reversing the loss of clarity of the cobalt mountain lake.
Crystal Bay, Nevada, United States
sacbee

Southern California fisherman catches rare giant fish
Shawn Steward of Oxnard, Calif., had a once-in-a-lifetime catch last week in the Channel Islands. Steward caught a 90-pound opah, which is very rare to this area.
Channel Islands, California
Fox News

Fast Sea Ice Movement
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Don't panic, humanity's doomsday seed vault is probably still safe
A lot of water went into the start of the tunnel and then it froze to ice, so it was like a glacier when you went in,” Statsbygg spokeswoman Hege Njaa Aschim told the Guardian of the water breach.
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Washington Post

Eastern US Trees Shift North, West With Climate Change
The northward shift to get to cooler weather was expected, but several experts were surprised by the move to the west, which was larger and in a majority of the species
Eastern forests, United States
VOA

‘Doomsday’ seed vault meant to survive global disasters breached by climate change
The seed bank designed to preserve the world’s crops and plants in the event of global disaster isn’t prepared to withstand the greatest global disaster facing our planet: global warming. Melting...
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
The Verge

State checks dead mule deer near North Pole for dreaded parasite
Alaska Department of Fish and Game seeks the public's help in determining the date that an exotic deer died near North Pole.
North Pole, Alaska, United States
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Sinkhole pops up at Ft. Wainwright
A sinkhole has opened up on Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks. The 3-foot diameter void discovered Monday near a housing unit, is suspected to be the result of thawing permafrost.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Overfishing is killing climate-resistant coral found in Mozambique
Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique
Mail Online

Less sea ice means shorter hunting season for polar bears and scientists who study them
"It was pretty crazy how much water just kind of showed up," said Michelle St. Martin, whose field season was cut short by melting sea ice.
Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean
KTOO

Explosion of Deadly Ticks Fueled by Climate Change, Ravaging Moose, Infecting People and Pets
EnviroNews Exclusive: Warmer, shorter winters due to climate change are a boon for the ticks that harm people, their pets and wildlife, scientists told EnviroNews in a series of exclusive interviews for this report. A walk in the woods can be refreshing, fun and good exercise.
Canada-United States, North America
EnviroNews DC News Bureau

38 million pieces of plastic waste found on uninhabited South Pacific island
Henderson Island
the Guardian

Extraordinary levels of pollutants found in 10km deep Mariana trench
Mariana Trench
the Guardian

Yemen war: Emergency in Sanaa as cholera kills scores
Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
BBC News

Up to 20cm of Mother’s Day snow greets mums in eastern Finland
Spring’s many faces and moods greeted mums across Finland on Mother’s Day. Some celebrated the occasion in summery weather, while others in areas like Kainuu in eastern Finland contended with up to 20cm of snow.
Kainuu, Finland

The reindeer island that disappeared
Following mass deaths of animals, the once powerful cooperative managing the reindeer flocks in the island of Kolguyev shuts down.
Bugrino, Russia
The Independent Barents Observer

Landslide forces evacuations, flooding fears persist near Kelowna, B.C.
A landslide has forced residents of 17 properties to flee their homes near Kelowna, B.C., as flooding continues to threaten the area.
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
CTVNews

Noatak residents speak out in support of caribou closure
With fewer caribou in the area and the higher cost of fuel to travel upriver to find the animals, families and neighbors are finding themselves in a tough spot.
Noatak, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Polar bears shift from seals to bird eggs as Arctic ice melts
The habitat overlap of polar bears and their main prey, ringed seals, is disappearing and the bears are instead getting closer to nesting birds.
Svalbard, Norway
New Scientist

This Giant Dead Sea Creature Washed Up On An Island, And It's Freaking Everyone Out
Pulau Seram, Maluku, Indonesia
The Huffington Post

Bringing beluga back to Buckland
Technology has changed, communities have moved, people have grown older, and the beluga whales the Kanigmiut have relied on for generations have all but disappeared.
Buckland, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Shiveluch Volcano Erupts in Eastern Russia
The Shiveluch volcano in Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka region has erupted, spewing ash some 13km above sea level.Officials from the region's Emergency Situations Ministry have confirmed that the ash is not expected to land on nearby settlements, Meanwhile a "red warning" has been issued to passing planes, urging them to avoid the site.The Shiveluch volcano is extimated to be between 60,000 and 70,000 years old.
Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
The Moscow Times

Salinity and leopard shark mortality in San Francisco Bay
San Francisco, California, United States

The worst may be yet to come as the flood risk rises in the Okanagan - NEWS 1130
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
NEWS 1130

Murre colonies struggle to reproduce following die-off
While reproductive failure is common for some species like black-legged kittiwakes, it isn’t for murres. In some places less than one percent of the chicks survived.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Stream temperature monitoring could provide insight into important fish populations
The Chilkat River and its nearby waters are a major source of food for subsistence fishermen in Haines and Klukwan. That’s one reason decreased salmon runs are alarming in the Chilkat and other rivers in Southeast. Tribal leaders around the region are trying to get a handle on one factor that may contribute to declining returns.
Klukwan, Alaska, United States

Rare Eagle observed on Swinomish Reservation
La Conner, Washington, United States

Kelowna mayor warns residents to prepare for unprecedented flooding tonight
'As a community, we need to come together and look after each other,' mayor says

Quebec floods: Water-control agency eyes weekend rain, warns of 'high water' summer
Faced with record breaking water levels in Lake Ontario that are expected to climb even higher, the agency responsible for determining the downstream outflow from the lake has regularly been releasing water into Lac St. Louis since last Saturday and will continue to do so.
Châteauguay, Quebec, Canada
Montreal Gazette

Flooded Quebec communities brace for more rain as Trudeau does Gatineau aerial tour
Nicolet, Quebec, Canada

Okanagan flooding expected to be ‘unlike anything ever seen,' Kelowna mayor warns
British Columbia’s Okanagan region is bracing for a storm that Kelowna’s mayor worries could unleash the worst flooding the region has ever seen.
Vancouver Sun

City of Ottawa warns flood victims of contamination risk
The City of Ottawa has advised residents affected by flooding to throw out many household items that have come into contact with flood water.

Ottawa River full of untreated sewage during May flooding
Heavy rain and winter runoff in the month of May has affected more than people's homes along the Ottawa River. The river itself, often polluted with sewage overflow after a day or two of heavy rain, has had to absorb more than 600-million litres over the past week alone.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

A late spring is better than an early summer
Unseasonably cold weather is keeping birds from nesting and delaying the blossoming of wild berry bushes in Finland's north.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

Beavers on the tundra? Yukon biologists see the unexpected
Tom Jung and Dave Mossop were monitoring falcons on Yukon's Arctic coastal plain when they spotted a beaver dam, made of shrubs. 'This was a bit of a unique observation.'
Babbage River, Ivvavik National Park, YT, Canada

Glacier National Park is Losing its Glaciers
Over the past 50 years, some of Glacier National Park's namesake glaciers have shrunk by as much as 85 percent.
Boulder Glacier, Glacier National Park
Climate Central

Beavers on the tundra? Yukon biologists see the unexpected
Tom Jung and Dave Mossop were monitoring falcons on Yukon's Arctic coastal plain when they spotted a beaver dam, made of shrubs. 'This was a bit of a unique observation.'

Pocahontas Flood Cleanup Continues for Homeowners
Pocahontas, Arkansas, United States
ARKANSASMATTERS

Snowmelt triggers a flood warning in Yosemite and a river closure in the Central Valley
Yosemite Valley, California, United States
latimes.com

Residents in flood zone should get well water tested, health officials advise
Residents who get their water from wells in areas affected by flooding should get their water tested before drinking it, and should check well pumps for damage, Ottawa Public Health is recommending.
On Monday city officials said more than 300 homes near the Ottawa River have been affected by severe spring flooding.
Bells Corners, Ontario, Canada

Lake Ontario flood warning remains in effect for Oswego County
Oswego, New York, United States
syracuse.com

Earthquakes caused by melting glaciers?
There is some evidence that shifts in the weight on a land mass can affect earthquakes — and glaciers are receding around the world — but seismologists and glaciologists simply cannot “connect the dots” between the two happenings.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
Juneau Empire

Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) showed up late, then disappeared
Cemetry Beach, Haida Gwaii

World’s Oceans Experiencing Significant Decline In Dissolved Oxygen
CleanTechnica

B.C. spring run-off and torrential rain cause floods and mudslides
Warm temperatures prompting spring run-off combined with heavy rainfall in some areas caused devastating floods and mudslides in several parts of B.C.
Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Early Morning Call - Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
I've only heard this animal in the spring/summer.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Threat of moose-killing tick infestation looms as far-north climate warms
In New England where ticks have decimated moose, the average tick load is 40,000, and some have been found with 90,000.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Sea star populations in Kachemak Bay annihilated by wasting disease
Sea star wasting disease, a type of densovirus, reduced the count of sea stars in Kachemak Bay from 180 last spring to a measly five this year.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

Farmers say government bleating over sheep disease concerns | Yukon News
Officials worry about the possible transmission of pathogens between domestic sheep and goats and wild thinhorns, an issue which has caused some tension among local farmers.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

Leopard sharks dying by the hundreds in San Francisco Bay
Alameda, California, United States
SFGate

U.S. Native Coastal Communities Moving Due to Change Climate Change
La Push, Washington
Colorlines

Heat Wave in Iceland
There is an unusually warm mass of air over Iceland. Thermometers rose to rare heights in the northeastern part of the country.
Húsavík, Northeast, Iceland
Iceland Review

Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) spawning along west Seattle shoreline
West Seattle Beaches, Washington, United States

Water rising in Interior
With warmer temperatures in the forecast, the province has issued a high streamflow warning for streams and rivers across the Interior. Currently, Nicola Lake is about one metre below the minor flooding point, and it's forecast to continue climbing over the next 30 days.
Castanet

Lots of Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus)
Spotted half a dozen wood frogs crossing Roland Road, Fairbanks. Those that were run over by cars were females loaded with eggs.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Killer whales bad news for belugas
After attacks belugas scattered northward, away from a traditional calving area. Scattering could impact the survival rate of young belugas.
Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada

A desperate plea for help as four African nations near a famine crisis
Somaliland villages
ABC News
CHRISTINE ROMO, DAVID MUIR, ENJOLI FRANCIS

Wildfires rage across Siberia and the Russian Far East
Dry conditions fuel dozens of fires and result in a state of emergency across the Siberian Federal District.
Bubnovka, Irkutsk, Russia
Siberian Times

1.4 million children to suffer acute malnutrition in Somalia
Somalia
Africanews

Sharks Are Dying By the Hundreds in San Francisco Bay -
Foster City, California, United States
Bay Nature

Weather is Confused!
It's still snowing in early May.
King's Cove, Alaska, United States

Climate Change Drives Up the Cost of Canada’s Northernmost Highway
Chris Burn at Carleton University is tracking the growing cost of maintaining Yukon’s Dempster Highway as warmer weather brings more landslides, washouts and other challenges.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
Arctic Deeply

Prince George on the verge of experiencing wettest April on record since 1943
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
My Prince George Now

Large Number of Moths
Last year there was a large infestation of caterpillars in the area, wondering if that is why we have all the moths this spring
Anvik, Alaska, United States
Jessie Moan, Erica Lujan, Nathan Elswick

Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with Sores/Deformities?
Several bald eagles were observed with sores around their eyes and bills.
King's Cove, Alaska, United States

Community Sick with Spring Flu
Seems to happen same time each year.
Scammon Bay, Alaska, United States
Jennifer Dobson, James Berner, Morgan Simon

When Alaska shellfish turns deadly
No one really knows why algae put so much effort into making poisons. Alexandrium makes saxitoxin, and causes PSP. Another algae called Pseudo-nitzschia produces domoic acid, the source of amnesiac shellfish poisoning.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

In Greenland’s northernmost village, a melting Arctic threatens the age-old hunt
But the age-old Inugguit lifestyle is changing fast as the climate warms, disrupting long-held patterns and possibilities and forcing economic challenges as a traditional hunting culture weighs new industries such as fishing and even tourism.
Qaanaaq, Greenland
The Washington Post

Biologist: Orca attacks on gray whales up in California bay
Monterey Bay
ABC News

Two-Spot Keyhole Limpet (Fissurellidea bimaculata)
A limpet not seen in the area before.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Fire burns 2,000 acres on Selawik refuge
A tundra fire has burned nearly 2,000 acres on the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge over the past week.
Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

Mass Die-Off of Whales in Atlantic Is Being Investigated
Forty-one whales have died in the past 15 months along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Maine. Ten of the whales were killed by collisions with ships.On average, eight humpback whales are stranded each year and fewer than two are hit by ships.
New York City, New York, United States
New York Times

Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) in Port Moody Arm
Port Moody Arm, British Columbia, Canada

Parasite on a Hooligan's (Thaleichthys pacificus) Gill
A parasitic copepod- similar to or possibly *Salmincola*.
Lutak Inlet, Alaska, United States

Medieval Child’s Burial Unearthed in Northern Russia
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Archeology

After the last sigluaq
Sixty years ago there were 12 of these such cellars in Kaktovik.Today there is only one left. All the other family cellars have been flooded and have collapsed.
Kaktovik, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Climate Change drives early laying/hatching, but not only Temperature!
The Earth Times

California Sea Level Could Rise 10 Feet By End Of This Century
San Bruno, California, United States
The Huffington Post

VIMS: Chesapeake Bay sees another record year in underwater grass abundance
Chesapeake Bay, United States
dailypress.com

Oxfam: Climate change deepening Horn of Africa's hunger crisis
Mogadishu, Banaadir, Somalia
Eyewitness News

Two dead squid in two weeks: Coincidence?
The novelty of seeing a jumbo squid in Unalaska is not wearing off: a second one washed ashore Monday night.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Nuclear town on fire, with residents 'choking' from smoke
Facilities for producing weapons grade plutonium believed safe despite fierce flames caused by wildfires.
Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarskiy, Russia
Siberian Times

Transient orcas spotted off Vashon Island
Multiple groups of transient killer whales were spotted in the waters off Vashon Island Friday, according to the Vashon Hydrophone Project’s Ann Stateler (“Orca Annie”).
Vashon Island, Washington, United States
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Canada's 'Iceberg Alley' Is Spectacular This Year For A Sad Reason
Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada
The Huffington Post

1,900-acre fire spreads across Northwest Alaska
A wildfire is burning in a remote area of northwest Alaska. The Alaska Fire Service reports that the Zane Hills Fire was discovered this week, and mapped at 1,900 acres.
Zane Hills Fire, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, United States

Low water in the Peace River
Peace River, Taylor, British Columbia

Emperor Goose (Chen canagica) Spotted in Anchorage
Nearly all emperors winter in the Aleutian Islands, on the western and south side of the Alaska Peninsula, and on Kodiak Island. However, sightings have occurred as far south as California and even Hawaii.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Green Yellow Puss on Tiny Seal
I never thought of seeing sick seal but what is that?
Togiak, Alaska, United States
Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Diane Abraham, Kathy Burek Huntington

Climate change is a boon for Santa Claus with April snowfall
Kirov, Kirov, Russia
Russia Beyond The Headlines

We've never seen this drought, this disease: Somali families bury their dead
Baidoa, Bay, Somalia

Wildfire near Indian forces 2-hour closure of Seward Highway
Alaska Division of Forestry spokesman Norm McDonald said the 2-acre fire's exact cause has not been determined but is suspected to be similar to that of four smaller Mat-Su wildfires earlier Thursday. Those blazes were tracked to backfires from a white Chevrolet pickup truck.
Sunrise, Alaska, United States

Stranded, lethargic ringed seal found far south of normal icy habitat
A parasite-riddled seal afraid of the water is the first Alaska marine mammal rescued in 2017. The seal will not be returned to the wild if it continues to survive rehabilitation at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.
Seward, Alaska, United States

As woody shrubs move north in a warming Arctic, so do beavers
Canadian researchers learned that local Inuvialuit hunters had spotted beavers in the region in 2008 and 2009. Those sightings are the first documented signs of North American beaver occupancy on the Beaufort coastal plain.
Babbage River, Yukon Territory, Canada

Iceberg Alley: Newfoundland's new tourist attraction
Over 600 icebergs have already floated into the North Atlantic this year, compared to an average of 687 over the whole season. Experts believe that this year’s bumper crop is down to strong counter-clockwise winds, as well as global warming.
Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada
INDEPENDENT

Ice roads ease isolation in Canada's north, but they're melting too soon
The country's 3,300 miles of ice roads are a lifeline for marooned communities during frigid winters, but climate change is making the roads unsafe much earlier.

Scientists have discovered vast systems of flowing water in Antarctica. And that worries them.
Nansen Ice Sheet, Antarctica
Washington Post

Early Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Early butterfly observed south of the Kaiyuh Mountains along the west bank of the Yukon River.
Anvik, Alaska, United States

California wildflowers erupt in super bloom
Southern California is enjoying a wildflower super bloom after years of extreme drought.
Derby Acres, California, United States
CNN

Slow Fairbanks snowmelt slows Canada Geese migration
Sunshine is abundant this time of year, but cooler temperatures this week have slowed the melting of a well above normal snowpack in Fairbanks. That’s affecting migratory bird’s arrival at a local refuge.

California's Rare Super Bloom Flowers Are Migrating North
Carrizo Plain National Monument

Springtime in Anvik Alaska
What are the weather conditions for Anvik in mid-April?
Anvik, Alaska, United States

Researchers identify widespread parasite in Alaska scallops
The prevalence of "weak meats" syndrome in 2014, 2015 meant that somewhere on the order of half of all scallops shucked couldn’t be marketed. That was much higher than the fleet had ever seen before.
Kamishak Bay, Alaska, United States
Peninsula Clarion

Receding glacier causes immense Canadian river to vanish in four days
Kaskawulsh Glacier, Yukon Territories, Canada

'It scares me': Permafrost thaw in Canadian Arctic sign of global trend
For years now, buildings in Inuvik have been sinking due to thawing permafrost. It's part of a worrying trend across the Arctic, writes David Michael Lamb.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

A new crack in one of Greenland's largest glaciers
Petermann Glacier, Greenland
CNN

7,000 massive methane gas bubbles under the Russian permafrost could explode anytime
Yamal Penninsula, Siberia, Russia
ThinkProgress

B.C.'s provincial tree threatened by climate change, expert says
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Erosion and Habitat Disturbance at Mimico Creek
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

California wildflowers erupt in super bloom
Southern California is enjoying a wildflower "super bloom" after years of extreme drought.
Cardio Plain National Monument, California, United States

Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) late by 2 weeks, then gone
Masset, Haida Gwaii

Hurghada Coast Degradation
Coral degradation, fish species decline and an increase in jellyfish population.
Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt

Northern California gets its wettest winter in nearly a century
Northstar Resort, California, United States
latimes.com

At-risk countries worry what 'America first' means for climate change
Bairiki Village, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati
Public Radio International

First Compton Tortoiseshell Butterfly of the Year
Spring is approaching but it still seems too cold for this little guy.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

First seismic sensor installed to give early warning on new 'exploding pingos'
The aim is to give warnings over seismic activity that could lead to the sudden formation of new craters, which could potentially damage key industrial infrastructure.
Sabetta, Yamalo-Nenets
Siberia Times

Unalaska receives surprise visitor from the deep
What has eight arms, two tentacles and washed ashore on a beach in Unalaska Monday night? A more than six-foot long squid.
Unalaska, Alaska, United States
Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska

Two Robust Clubhook Squid (Onykia robusta) Wash Ashore
Both squid were of the genus/species Onykia robusta, previously known as Moroteuthis robusta, and commonly known as the robust clubhook squid.

Great Barrier Reef hit by severe coral bleaching — study
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
NBC News

Cause of death unclear for Steller sea lion in Morris Cove
The carcass of a Steller sea lion washed up this weekend in Unalaska's Morris Cove. The dead marine mammal was an adult male, almost 8-feet long, according to Melissa Good of the Alaska Sea Grant program.
KTOO

What tiny particles blowing in North Slope air tell us about oil-field pollution
Air emissions from Prudhoe Bay-area oil fields can have a big influence on the particles in the air in Utqiaġvik, the town formerly known as Barrow.
Utqiagvik, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Warnings of new Arctic explosions at some 700-plus sites in Yamal due to thawing permafrost
Scientists rush to site of latest tundra eruption - which formed a crater 50 metres deep - amid fears for homes and key industrial sites.
Bovanenkovo, Yamal Peninsula, Russia

Mild winter temperatures cause damage to roads in Finland
The past three winters have been particularly hard on road pavements. Wet winters with temperatures fluctuating on both sides of the freezing point have damaged even relatively fresh asphalt, leading to cracks, potholes and deep ruts.
Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland
Eye on the Arctic

Reef restoration underway to restore native oyster populations
Victoria's biggest-ever reef restoration project is underway, in attempt to restore the once abundant populations of native oysters in Port Philip Bay.
ABC News

What Kind of Beetle?
A bright little unknown beetle in the middle of my kitchen.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Poor Grazing Conditions for Reindeer in Varanger
Harsh grazing conditions have been reported this winter due to some rainy days that have lead to ice cover on the ground.
Varanger Halvo, Norway

When Globalization Brings Brain-Invading Worms
The parasite that causes rat lungworm disease is now endemic in the southeastern United States, and it’s expected to spread northward.
Hilo, Hawaii, United States
The Atlantic

Climate change hits Alaska's rural water systems
Thawing permafrost is warping water and sewer lines. Along the coast and rivers, erosion is threatening the lakes that communities use for drinking water or the lagoons where they dump sewage.
KTOO

Bears Out, Despite Snow Cover
Early bears (?), and snow cover still significant.
Truckee, California, United States

No assurance that water in Cowichan River now will help with summer drought
It’s likely a lot of Cowichan Lake residents think there’s plenty of water around for the summer of 2017, given the winter we’ve been having. But, according to Cowichan River watcher Parker Jefferson, “We’re just about where we were last year.”
Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Anchorage Area Rarity – Hawfinch
Location:  Two locations in the same Hillside neighborhood:  1st Location:  Metz Court, 2nd Location:  Park Hills Drive – Anchorage,
Anchorage Audubon Society

Paralytic shellfish toxin found in mollusks at Auke Bay
Researchers with Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research found high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxin in a population of mollusks at Auke Recreation Area in Juneau on Friday.
Juneau, Alaska, United States
JuneauEmpire.com

Fourth year of mild March temperatures
Up north highs were up to 2 degrees warmer than average, while central and southern regions of Finland were up to 3 degrees warmer.
Muonio, Lapland, Finland

Ice Shelf Off of St George Island
Coastline along town had sheets of ice pushed against it, maybe 20 to 30 yards deep, this has not happened since 2012, 5 years ago.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

Herring spawn on eelgrass
Coal Port, Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Volunteers needed to monitor bats
Millions of bats in the Eastern US and the Midwest have died from white nose syndrome disease, and it’s spreading.
Alaska Fish & Wildlife News

Second Spring in Whitehorse

The Antelope Valley poppies have exploded into a spectacular burst of neon, signaling an end to drought
Antelope valley California Poppy Reserve, California, United States

ANTHC searching for solutions to St. Michael’s frozen water lines
About 10 miles of above-ground water and sewer lines froze in mid-January. ANTHC suspects the lines were damaged when melting permafrost caused building foundations to shift.
St. Michael, Alaska, United States

First Blooms
Bellingham, Washington, United States

Hungry, exhausted, only half their normal weight: Tragedy for black bears
Lack of food means bears cannot hibernate, and die of starvation and cold, with logging blamed for the lack of nuts and acorns.
Khabarovsk, Region Russia
The Siberian Times

Herring spawn near Lily Point
Near Lily Point, Point Roberts, Washington, United States

Dead Juvenile Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Arctic lakes bubble from seeping methane gas
Detailed study of satellite data has identified more than 200 lakes with active methane emissions.
Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Siberia Times

Here’s the dirt on the melting permafrost in Fairbanks
The unexpected appearance of sinkholes or groundwater flooding is something to which residents have grown accustomed.
Arctic Deeply

Unusual change in seasons, waters and wildlife
Pine Ridge, South Dakota, United States

Potential Indicators of White-nose Syndrome in Bat Sighting
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Dark Winter Mystery Salmon
Traditional knowledge keepers and ADFG identify as a chum salmon.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States
Martha Turner, Patricia Yaska, Erica Lujan, Robert Hannon

Paddle boarders hijack ice floe
March brings a gathering of paddle boarders on a big ice floe in Ussuri Bayk. The air temperature didn't go above 10C and water was at maximum of 5C.
Vladivostok, Primorskiy, Russia
Siberia Times

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Sighting
A pair of rare, presumably mating, Northern Cardinals (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) were spotted in Spruce Grove, Alberta CAD.
Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada

2016 exceptional weather proves that climate change is real, say scientists
Human-driven climate change is now an empirically verifiable fact ... those who dispute [it] are not sceptics, but anti-science deniers'
Dahar, Somalia
The Independent

Blizzard-bound Churchill awaits supply train
Northern Manitoba town's grocery shelves are bare as residents face another blizzard.
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Adult Bald Eagle Sighting
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The Seasons Aren’t What They Used to Be
In February, spring peepers made my ears ring as I walked through wetlands east of Nashville’s honky-tonks. These frogs were a month ahead of their normal schedule.
Canada-United States, North America
The New York Times

Pintail ducks (Anas acuta) early
Norther pintails observered early in the Mat-Su Valley near the Glenn Highway-Parks Highway overpass.
Gateway, Alaska, United States

Open Water Adds to Winter Chill - Part 1
Unusually wet winter weather activity observed. Traveling in early February (AFE) disrupted travel due to weather conditions.

Why Scientists Are Worried About a Landslide No One Saw or Heard
It’s all about climate change, retreating glaciers, and newly exposed rock.
Tanna Fiord, Alaska
Atlas Obscura

How the Great Barrier Reef is responding to global warming. (Hint: not well)
Global warming has likely caused permanent damage to the world's largest coral reef, according to a new report in the journal Nature.
Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Steller Watch lets anyone with internet access play wildlife biologist
Scientists are trying out crowdsourcing to comb through pictures looking for sea lions.

High waters raise concern

Huge winter storm cuts power to 100,000 across eastern US
Avis, Pennsylvania, United States

Northern lampfish (Stenobrachius leucopsarus) Die-off
Hundreds of northern lampfish were observed on Nahku Bay beach. The last die-off occurred in March 2011.
Nahku Bay, Alaska, United States

Cold weather delays Yukon growers
Yukon growers report delay, because of colder than usual March temperatures.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Thermal spring early to southern Finland
Spring - or rather thermal spring - could be arriving to Finland as early as this week in southern and western areas.
Southern Capital Region, Finland

Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) near Vancouver
Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area, British Columbia, Canada

Disturbing melody of melting permafrost crater
This tadpole-shaped gash in the Earth's surface - around one kilometre long, and 800 metres wide - is enlarging by up to 30 metres a year.
Yakutsk, Sakha, Russia
Siberian Times

Flowering cacti observed in La Quinta, California
Bear Creek Trail, La Quinta, California, United States

Warm winter can be deadly for snowmobilers and ice fishermen
The unusually warm winter has proven deadly in the northeast. More than a dozen people, including snowmobilers and ice fishermen, have died when they fell through thin lake ice.
Gilford, New Hampshire, United States
NPR.org

Alaskan Caribou Are Adapting to Warming
The most recent study noted that Arctic thaw is occurring one to two weeks earlier than the first study, and the North Slope growing season is lengthening by 15 to 21 days. At the same time, however, caribou are maintaining the same reproductive timeline.
Dalton Highway, Alaska, United States
Scientific American

Low salmon projections cancel popular Southeast spring king derby
Juneau's Spring King Salmon Derby won’t happen this year, because there aren’t enough fish. State biologists predict chinook returns will be low this year.

Photo series shows glacier disappear
A series of photos, taken by Guðmundur Ögmundsson, Skaftafell National Park manager in the past five years, shows in a striking way how Skaftafellsjökull glacier, an outlet glacier from Vatnajökull glacier, has receded.
Kálfafell, Iceland
Iceland Review

Simla had probably been stuck here for a couple of days: Shows the dangers of littering along the fjord
Reindeer stuck in local trash. Blue markings can also be seen on body. Mayor Frank M. Ingilæ and his two dogs came to the rescue for this fight Wednesday.
Torhop, Tana kommune, Troms and Finnmark County, Norway
iFinnmark

1 year later, no answers on why truck broke through ice on Deline winter road
A year after a fuel-carrying truck broke through the ice on the Deline winter road, the N.W.T.'s Department of Transportation has yet to release the results of an investigation into why the accident happened.
Déliné, Northwest Territory, Canada

Yukon species list shows climate change in action
A big emphasis in the last few years has been updating and adding to the list of species known to occur in the Yukon.
This past year, a whopping 1,973 species of plants, insects and animals have been added.

Bumper harvest as herring return to Strait of Georgia in great numbers
The commercial roe-herring fishery opened with a flourish over the weekend as the gillnet fleet took its share of what the federal government predicts to be “near-historic” returns to the Strait of Georgia.
French Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver Sun

Pictures Reveal How Climate Change Affects Glaciers in High Peru
"A photographer and environmental anthropologist explores melting glaciers in Peru."
Peru

Did Pinochet-era deregulation cause Chile's worst-ever wildfires?
"After the fires killed 11 and devastated vast swaths of land in January many are asking if subsidised timber plantations are to blame"
Monte Patria, Coquimbo, Chile

Archaeologists say they've found the campsite used by survivors of legendary 'doomed' ship
Kruzof Island, Alaska, United States

Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica Harvest at NWIC Lummi Campus
NWIC Lummi Campus, Washington, United States

First Ever Junior National Ski Jumping Event Without Snow
Sports are innovating and adapting to hold competitions even in absence of winter.
Fox River Grove, Illinois, United States

As water scarcity deepens across Latin America, political instability grows
"In Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador disputes over water shortages are part of a wider fight for equal access and shared responsibility"
Cochabamba, Cochabamba, Bolivia

Unusual Depressions in Lummi Tideflats
Marietta, Washington, United States
Tom Okey, Jeramiah Wallace, Sichangu Lee

Bloated Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) in Harbor
Sick and bloated sea lion may have been caused by eating rotten fish, noted state DVM.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Our mysteriously shrinking Kenai king salmon
Since Les Anderson landed a 97-pound Kenai king in 1985, the prized fish has been harder to find and smaller. Is there something we all can do to help reverse the trend?
Kenai, Alaska, United States

How Alaska's Jay birds spread their seeds
On a recent hike, I heard a volley of high-pitched screams coming from a thick stand of small spruces just beside the trail. They sounded very much like the cries of a red-tailed hawk, but that bird would be highly improbable in such a place and at this time of year (February). Surely it was a Steller’s jay, which is well-known to mimic redtails and some other birds as well.
JuneauEmpire.com

Amazon Deforestation, Once Tamed, Comes Roaring Back
"A decade after the “Save the Rainforest” movement captured the world’s imagination, Cargill and other food giants are pushing deeper into the wilderness."
Coari, Amazonas, Brazil
HIROKO TABUCHI, CLAIRE RIGBY and JEREMY WHITE

Climate change doubles size of lakes in N.W.T. bison sanctuary, reducing habitat
Fort Providence

Manila Clam (Venerupis philippinarum) Die-Off
Manila Clam (*Venerupis philippinarum*) Die-off observed - possibly related to freezing temperatures.
Lummi Bay, Bellingham, Washington (Lummi Nation), United States

Go back to bed! Early-riser bear spotted near Whitehorse
Wildlife officials typically tell Yukoners to keep an eye out for bears coming out of hibernation in April. 'We don't generally get sightings reported this time of year.'

First-ever cases of obesity in Arctic peoples as noodles replace traditional diet
Changes in traditional diet and lifestyle of native ethnic groups in the Yamalo-Nenets region have brought the first cases of obesity. Change in wildlife routes and climate are among factors causing diets to change.
Yamal Peninsula

Eklutna Glacier, a source of Anchorage drinking water, is disappearing drip by drip
A new study quantifies the rate at which Eklutna Glacier is losing its icy mass. Between 1957 and 2010, the loss of glacier mass averaged 5 percent a year.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

New restrictions made on king salmon fishing in Kenai and Kasilof
he Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced restrictions Thursday for king salmon fishing in the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers. King runs to the Kenai and Kasilof continue their recent trend of expected low returns.
Kenai, Alaska, United States

Whats happening to winter? Unusual warm weather hits N.W.T
It is not uncommon in the Northwest Territories to have a few days of warmer weather here and there throughout the winter season. However, this winter seems to have had a few more warmer days, and more frequently than normal.
Fort Liard, Northwest Territories, Canada

With winter back at Kincaid Park, high school skiers experience a brand-new world
At Friday's and Saturday's Cook Inlet Conference championships, they were challenged by some of the toughest courses set for high school skiers in recent years.

When Their Food Ran Out, These Reindeer Kept Digging
Reindeer are thought to face a grim future as climate change threatens lichen, a key winter food source. But on one Alaskan island, reindeer have found a new food source, making scientists hopeful.
St. Paul, Alaska, United States
NPR.org

Waiting for winter: ice roads mean the North Slope can get to work
Every winter, a massive infrastructure project takes place on the North Slope one thats designed to disappear. Ice roads are built to minimize the oil industrys footprint on the sensitive tundra, and melt away in spring. Many of the oil industrys multi-million dollar projects on the North Slope cant be built until the ice roads are finished each year.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

A sure sign of spring: Korkeasaari bears wake from winter hibernation
In Finland nothing means spring is around the corner more in the south than news that the brown bears at Helsinkis Korkeasaari Zoo have woken from their winters sleep. Zoo employees say the 16 and 11-year-old females hibernation is increasingly cut shorter as the years pass.
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

WATCH: Rare Sunfish observed in the waters near Bella Bella
Seaforth Channel, British Columbia, Canada
Global News

10 snowmobilers die in thinly frozen lakes in mild Northeast
Albany, New York, United States
Fox News

New whale species discovered in Sri Lankan waters
Accidentally running into a whole new species of whale on the job? For marine biologist, conservationist and educator Asha de Vos, who’s a specialist in Sri Lankan blue whales, it’s all in a day’s…
Sri Lanka
TED Fellows

Warm, wet weather prompts road closures | Yukon News
Record-breaking warm temperatures had some people in Whitehorse basking in the sun over the last few days.
Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

After die-off, sea stars face uncertain future
Sea star wasting syndrome was first documented in Kachemak Bay in 2014, but it wasn’t until last summer that the mysterious infection began killing sea stars in large numbers.
Homer, Alaska, United States
KBBI

Warm, wet weather prompts road closures
Record-breaking warm temperatures had some people in Whitehorse basking in the sun. In Haines Junction it was raining so hard the sand was washing off the road.
Yukon News

City councils spending millions on creating snow
Sweden is having another winter without much of the white stuff, but local councils are taking the matter in their own hands.
Östersund, Jämtland, Sweden
Radio Sweden

February 2017 Heavy Rains
Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Erosion at Homer Spit is speeding up
Land's End Resort was built more than 50 years ago, and during that time, the Homer Spit has changed dramatically. A change in the direction and intensity of winds may be driving the faster erosion.
Homer, Alaska, United States

Ice cover at sea exceptionally low this winter
Ice cover over Finlands sea areas is very low. Experts warn that the ice is now very thin over sea, and with spring slowly arriving, the situation is not likely to improve.
Tornio, Lapland, Finland

Miserable stretches of trail prompt Iditarod to move race start to Fairbanks
For the second time in three years, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will move its official start from Willow to Fairbanks due to poor trail conditions that race officials determined unsafe.
Willow, Alaska, United States

Sheriff: Car, Truck Plunge Into Lake Minnetonka Within Hours Of Each Other
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office reported that two vehicles had plunged into Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota within hours of each other.
Minnetonka Beach, Minnesota, United States
CBS Minnesota (WCCO 830)

‘It was really haunting’: 416 beached whales propel New Zealanders into frenzied rescue mission
The whale stranding was the third largest in New Zealand history, since the country began keeping data in the 1800s.
Farewell Spit, Tasman, New Zealand
Washington Post

Unusually warm ocean temperatures linked to massive Pacific seabird die-off
A year after tens of thousands of common murres, an abundant North Pacific seabird, starved and washed ashore on beaches from California to Alaska, researchers have pinned the cause to unusually warm ocean temperatures that affected the tiny fish they eat.
Whittier, Alaska, United States

Movimientos inusuales de la marea en El Cuyo, Yucatán
El Cuyo, Yucatán, Mexico

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) with deformity
Fish has bend in spine.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States
Alice Julius, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) with Lesions
Lesions on this Dolly Varden or Arctic char are most likely furuncles caused by a common bacterial pathogen called Aeromonas salmonicida.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States
Alice Julius, Ted Meyers, Jayde Ferguson

Logging Crew Mobilizes Near Irreplaceable Wetland, Slated for Site C Flooding
Watson Slough, Peace River region
DeSmog Canada

Abundance of "Oyster Pickers" Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani)
"I learned from a community member that they haven't seen these type of birds here within town, they usually see them on the islands that surround our cove. With the warming temps. people have noticed more and more different types of birds showing up in our community."
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Heavy snow fears as Fraser Valley prepares for another big dump
With up to 70 cm of snow already on the ground, the Fraser Valley is bracing for another dump of snow and heavy rain as early as Wednesday.
Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Winds challenging Finland’s icebreakers despite record low Baltic ice
Meteorologist Niko Tollman of the Finnish Meteorology Institute confirms that counting up the number of stormy days this past month made January one of the windiest first months of the year over sea areas since 1994.
Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland
Yle

Ashfall from Bogoslof Volcano
Dusting of ash reported overnight.

People of the sea ice see cracks forming
In Nain, a coastal village in Newfoundland and Labrador, the approximately 1,400 residents rely on sea ice for transportation and traditional activities.
Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Hakai Magazine

Alaska biologists research mystery of declining caribou herd
The size of a large caribou herd in Alaska's Arctic region has dropped by more 50 percent over the last three years, and researchers who have tentatively ruled out hunting and predation as significant factors for the decline are trying to determine why.
North Slope, Alaska, United States
Allied News

Alaska biologists research mystery of declining caribou herd
The size of a large caribou herd in Alaska's Arctic region has dropped by more 50 percent over the last three years, and researchers who have tentatively ruled out hunting and predation as significant factors for the decline are trying to determine why.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Associated Press

Ice of Change - Amid Waterfowl Sightings
No sea ice; hunters say it should not be like this today.
Diomede, Alaska, United States

At Herschel Island, history is eroding
Herschel Island has seen a lot of people come and go. The Inuvialuit have used the place, known as Qikiqtaruk in Inuvialuktun, for at least 1,000 years.
Herschel Island, Yukon Territory, Canada

Canadian Arctic faces threat of coastal erosion
Darren Nasogaluak has an unusual problem.As the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, a small Inuvialuit hamlet on the coast of the Beaufort Sea, he has had to watch bits of his community wash away over the years.
Herschel Island - Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park, Beufort Sea, YT, Canada
ND Arctic Deeply

Vandalism of mammoth graveyards in Siberia
Unique paleontological sites are facing destruction from gangs seeking to sell prehistoric remains. The hunters are especially active in late summer, when the permafrost retreats leaving mammoth remains more visible.
Zhokhov island

St. Paul’s fur seal pups at lowest level in 100 years
Scientist Rod Towell has been part of the fur seal counts since 1992. He said the difference at the rookeries is striking. Northern fur seal pup production has hit its lowest level since 1915.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States

Kenai Peninsula permafrost thawing rapidly
A recent study estimates permafrost coverage on the peninsula has decreased by 60 percent since 1950. Permafrost is usually associated with Northern and Interior Alaska, but it also occurs in isolated pockets in wetlands on the Kenai Peninsula.
Ridgeway, Alaska, United States
KBBI Homer

St. Paul’s reindeer thrive without lichen
As lichen has disappeared, the herd has changed its diet. This adaptation could have global implications for reindeer facing a warming climate.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States

Permafrost thaw altering chemistry of Yukon River
As Alaska warms and permafrost thaws, the chemistry of the Yukon River's water is transforming chemically, new research from the U.S. Geological Survey shows.
Pilot Station, Alaska, United States

How tundra wildfires could create an unstoppable cycle
The 2007 fire was probably the first for that area in 6,500 years, according to scientific evidence examined later, Higuera said. But the wait for the next big burn won't be nearly as long, according to the evidence gathered in the study.
Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, United States

Asian tapeworm found in Alaskan salmon
Scientists recently announced they had found an Asian tapeworm species in pink salmon caught off the coast of the Kenai Peninsula. Listen now
Hope, Alaska, United States

Muuelomuuel (Red Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum) Flowering
Flowers blooming near the mouth of the Klamath River
Klamath, California, United States

Lowest Temperatures in Years Coming to Southcentral and Interior Alaska
In Anchorage, the temperatures forecast for this week won't come close to breaking any city records, Ahsenmacher said. But they are a departure from years of mild winters that rarely saw temperatures below zero.

Fog and cold have created perfect conditions for a frosty Anchorage
After years of low snow and higher winter temperatures, Anchorage once again looks like a real northern city thanks to a heavy layer of frost.

Lavado de orilla

Early American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Sighting
A robin was sighted in southcentral Alaska; an early arrival.
Port Graham, Alaska, United States

Desperate exodus of the climate refugees | Letters
Letters: Climate change is driving long-term environmental damage and sudden catastrophes, presenting a global long-term threat to human security
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Snow Storm May Have Saved Dozens of Saimaa Seal Pups
Heavy snows over the weekend are likely to have saved up to half of the rare, endangered Saimaa seal pups being born this winter season from death by exposure or from predators.
Taipalsaari, South Karelia, Finland
yle

Ski Jumpers Finally Compete
It has been three years since the Anchorage ski jumping club has been able to hold our New Year competition.

Seal - Harbor (Phoca vitulina) or Spotted (Phoca largha) with Hair Loss and Skin Infection
Was observed for the first time.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
Kathy Burek Huntington, Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Pamela Lestenkof, Gay Sheffield

New Year's storm pummels Bering Strait, St. Lawrence Island
A series of low pressure systems swept through western and northwestern Alaska beginning December 28 until things calmed down on January 2, leaving sections of villages without power and communicat
Bering Sea, Western Alaska
The Nome Nugget

Newtok asks: Can the U.S. deal with slow motion climate disasters?
Newtok, Alaska, United States

Nomads no more: why Mongolian herders are moving to the city
Climate change and the end of Soviet state support have forced 600,000 to migrate to the capital, leaving it struggling to cope.
Ulan Bator, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The Guardian

Warm winter sets back construction of Dettah ice road
Construction is beginning today on the ice road connecting Yellowknife to Dettah on the N.W.T.'s Yellowknife Bay, but a warm November means that it will open in January for the second time since the 2006/2007 season, and the second year in a row.
Yellowknife Ice Road, NWT
CBC

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) travel corridor along Flambeau River

Warm weather leading to worst Yukon trapping season in years
CBC

The Detective of Northern Oddities
When a creature mysteriously turns up dead in Alaska—be it a sea otter, polar bear, or humpback whale—veterinary pathologist Kathy Burek gets the call.
Jakolof Bay Alaska, United States
Outside Online

Spotted Seal
La Gi, Bình Thuận, Vietnam

Yukon's wild sheep could be at risk of disease outbreak
The Yukon Fish and Game Association executive director believes it's just a matter of time before a disease outbreak, such as pneumonia, could spread from domestic sheep to wild Dall sheep.
Clinton, British Columbia, Canada

Support

Observation Template