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Observations

Very Early Crow Berries (*Empetrum nigrum*)
Very early berries this year.
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States

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

Not much for berries or fireweed
"In a summer of continuous rainfall I would presume glorious growth and tons of picking...but this did not happen. The blueberries never took off, neither did the soap berries known to us as bear berries."
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Salmon Berries (*Rubus spectabilis*) Early
Salmon Berries (Rubus spectabilis) Early
Wrangell, Alaska, United States

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

Abundant Berries
The blueberries are so ripe now that the best time to pick those are late morning while they are chilled down and the leaves are not so moist, otherwise they fall easily or squish in your fingers.
Kiana, Alaska, United States

Insect on cloud berries
Is the abundance of insects unusual? Updates from around the state with picking and weather impacts.
Trapper Creek, Alaska, United States

Salmonberries are a month late
"We usually pick salmon berries in early July."
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

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

Something is eating salmonberry leaves
"This season we have observed many salmonberry bushes that appear to be defoliated. It seems something is eating the leaves. We have also noticed the berries look sickly."
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Blueberries (*Vaccinium uliginosum*) at 60-mile Steese
These berries were on a south slope in a recently burned area. Seems early to me!
Pleasant Valley, Alaska, United States

Subsistence Harvest Comes Early
Silver salmon, Brant geese and berries.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

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

Climate Change Linked to Berry Declines
Observations and research across Alaska indicate shifting berry ripening times and unpredictable yields, with climate change as a key factor affecting these important subsistence and cultural resources.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Berry Harvest Failure
A terrible year for berry harvest in the Upper Nushagak River.
Ekwok, Alaska, United States

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

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

Late Bloomer - Salal / Laughing Berry (*Gaultheria shallon*)
Late blooming Laughing Berry (*Gaultheria shallon*) in Metlakatla
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

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

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

Red currants or black currants...? Moose have a preference
Red and black currants are present on the property and the moose seem to be picky about what berry they like to consume.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Early Salmonberry (*Rubus spectabilis*) Bloom
Early salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) boom
Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States

Early Blueberries (*Vaccinium corymbosum*)
Early blueberries in Jakolof Bay, Alaska
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Early Ripe Blueberries (*Vaccinium ovalifolium*)
Early Ripe Blueberries (Vaccinium ovalifolium)
Sitka, Alaska, United States

First Ripe Blueberries (*Vaccinium ovalifolium*), South side of Wickersham Dome
Little early for blueberry to be ripe.
White Mountains National Recreation Area, Alaska, United States

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

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

Winter Robin (*Turdus migratorius*)
Robins are migratory birds, but may stay in one place if the temperature is warm and/or there is food available.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Odd shaped Low-bush Cranberries (*Vaccinium vitis-idaea*)
Pear shaped cranberries (*Vaccinium vitis-idaea*) are likely the result of a genetic mutation.
Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, United States

Early Salmonberry (*Rubus spectabilis*) Blossoms
Early Salmonberry Blossoms in February on Kodiak Island
Ouzinkie, Alaska, United States

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

Blooming Raspberry (*Rubus arcticus*) Plants
Blooming Raspberry plants
Bethel, Alaska, United States

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

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

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

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

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

Salmonberries (*Rubus spectabilis*) Blooming In February
Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) Blooming in February
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Blueberries in June
Manley hotspring road

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

Salmonberries (*Rubus spectabilis*) in Full Bloom
Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) are in full bloom on Baranof Island.

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

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

Early Growth Of Salmonberries (*Rubus spectabilis* - Highbush)
Early Growth of Salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis - Highbush)
King Cove, Alaska, United States

Early Ripe Blueberries
Moose Mountain, Fairbanks, AK

Mysterious Holes in Leaves
Defoliation of willows, alders, and berry bushes may be related to different insect species depending on the plant.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

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

Cloudberries (*Rubus chamaemorus*) in Seldovia
Cloudberries observed in new area around Seldovia.
Jakolof Bay Headwaters, Alaska, United States

Early Cloudberry (*Rubus chamaemorus*)
Early Salmonberries (Rubus chamaemorus)

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

Early Salmonberry (*Rubus spectabilis*) Blossoms
Salmonberry blossom seem a little early this year.

Unusual Bird (*lxoreus naevius*) on Lake Iliamna
Identified as a male Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)
Kokhanok, Alaska, United States

Weather Effects Caribou Migration and Season
11-11-13 Weather effects caribou migration and season - Barrow, Alaska, USA
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Picking and Eating Blackberries (*Rubus armeniacus*) in Mid-November in Haida Gwaii

Very Little Snow
2-20-14 Very little snow - Bethel, Alaska, USA
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Late blooming iris (*Iris setosa*) and lowbush cranberry (*Vaccinium vitis-idaea*)
During fall time, we only hand pick when the blackberries turn brown. As I was picking I saw this wild iris, like it bloomed just a few days ago. I was very awed to see this flower in October.

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

Delayed Freeze-Up
Delayed freeze-up on Lake Iliamna.
Iliamna, Alaska, United States

Abundant Mossberries (*Empetrum nigrum*)
A great year for harvesting mossberries.
Cold Bay, Alaska, United States

Giant Flock of Bohemian Waxwings (*Bombycilla garrulus*)
Earlier and more abundant then normal.

Heavy Rains and Flooding
Heavy rains and flooding.
Nome, Alaska, United States

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

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

Brown Bear (*Ursus arctos*) Caught in Village
Brown bear (Ursus arctos) caught in village.
Mountain Village, Alaska, United States

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

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

Himalayan Blackberries (*Rubus armeniacus*) Fruit Second Time
Himalaya blackberry is an introduced, perennial, spreading shrub.
Bellingham, Washington, United States

Brown Bears (*Ursus arctos*) in the Arctic
Brown bears spotted by a resident for the first time on the island of Shishmaref.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

American Robin (*Turdus migratorius*) in January
"While teleworking, I looked out the window to see a red breast light in a tree in the front yard in Anchorage, Alaska in January. It was an American robin."

Bears in December
Possibly orphaned bear cubs are active during the winter when they should be hibernating.
King Cove, Alaska, United States

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

Unusual Winter Brown Bear (*Ursus arctos*) Sighting
Although bears may hibernate for different lengths of time during winter, winter bear activity is an uncommon sight for Alaska Peninsula residents.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

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

A Not So Normal Summer
Drought, causing low waters in Goodnews River, no blackberries, and early cool weather.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

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

Amber Snail
These ladies found a snail that they had never seen before and brought them.

Square-legged Camel Cricket (*Tropidischia xanthostoma*)
We found an unusual looking spider or insect.
Klawock, Alaska, United States

Squirrel Parka Tail Plants Early
Squirrel parka tail plants early
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Robin Spotted In Chuathbaluk
Mid-January robin sighting in Chuathbaluk.
Chuathbaluk, Alaska, United States

More Brown Bears (*Ursus arctos*)
10-1-12 More brown bears - Koyukuk, Alaska, USA
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Severe Bank Erosion from Permafrost Thaw
Thawing and eroding is destroying river bank, impacting access, threatening infrastructure, and causing safety concerns.
Selawik, Alaska, United States

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.

Robin (*Turdus migratorius*) Spotted
The early arrival of robins in southeast Alaska.
Haines, Alaska, United States

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

Beach Sand - Coastal Erosion
We are losing coastline due to erosion and this is a sad sight to witness.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

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

Caterpillar Causing Itchy Skin Likely a Rusty Tussock Caterpillar (*Orgyia antiqua*)
Rusty tussock caterpillars can cause skin irritation for people when handled individually, and are responsible to large defoliation events when populations are high.
Alakanuk, Alaska, United States

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

A Fall Storm in the Summer
Unusual mid summer storm in Golovin and local observations about changes in the salmon harvest.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Northwestern Crow (*Corvus caurinus*) with Ticks
Ticks spotted on a Northwestern crow may have picked up ticks while scavenging for food.
Port Graham, Alaska, United States

Peculiar orange fungus on juniper bushes
"Returning from a walk with the dog I was struck by a mass of bizarre fire orange fungus tentacles covering all the stems of some low lying juniper bushed in our driveway. This is the first time I have seen it in 21 years of living here with the same juniper bushes."
Valemount, British Columbia, Canada

Big Year for Highbush Cranberries (*Viburnum edule*)
Highbush cranberries benefited from unusually warm, sunny conditions.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

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

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

Warmer Temperatures Affecting Red Elderberry?
Warmer temperatures during this fall/winter seem to be changing there life cycle.
Wrangell, Alaska, United States

Unusual Rusty Tussock Caterpillar (*Orgyia antiqua*)
"This is the first time I've seen this kind of caterpillar in this area."

Exposed Permafrost in Tundra
Permafrost is becoming exposed in Western Alaska, in areas where the landscape transitions to tundra.
Alakanuk, Alaska, United States

Abnormally Cold Spring
At Cold Bay, snow was reported on five days during the month, the most for any May since 2013.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

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

Warm Wind with Drizzling Rain
A heatwave in Unalakleet, Alaska.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Decline in Saskatoon Berry Abundance, Southern Manitoba
A severe decline in saskatoon berry production near Glenboro, Manitoba, has led to unsustainable harvesting, with potential economic and ecological impacts, likely exacerbated by recent droughts and heatwaves.
Carberry, Manitoba, Canada

Harvest begins unusually early
Berry farm owners Bjarni and Hrafnhildur at Vellir in Svarfaðardal report that this year’s wild blueberry harvest has started unusually early, with three shipments already arriving for sale.
Svarfaðardalur, Northeastern Region, Iceland
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