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

'Very rare' King-of-the-Salmon fish found on Vancouver Island beach
A thin, shimmering fish covered in purple scales and fringed with a red dorsal fin. It turned out to be a massive King-of-the-Salmon fish, measuring about two metres in length.
Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
CBC News

Alarm as 'super malaria' spreads
The usual treatments are failing 60% of the time in some regions of Cambodia, scientists say.
BBC News

64 walruses found dead at Point Lay haulout
Dozens of walruses were found dead earlier this month at their seasonal haulout near Point Lay. The findings came just about a day after locals said they saw an airplane they believed to be flying inappropriately over the herd, which comes to shore each year once the sea ice recedes past the continental shelf and it becomes too deep for them to feed.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

Snow Falls In The Sierra Nevada On Summer's Last Full Day
Hurricanes have dominated weather news lately. When it snowed on Thursday in the Sierra Nevada, it not only added a new weather element to the news mix, it got resorts thinking about ski season.
Kirkwood, California, United States
NPR.org

Rare "king-of-the-salmon" washes up on Oak Bay beach
The rare type of ribbonfish was found by a man walking his dog on Rattenbury Beach.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Surrey Now-Leader

Alaska could become climate change refuge for tropical fish
Researchers from the University of Washington used 80 years of data to figure out how much warming fish could withstand. They discovered fish in the tropics are already living in water at the upper end of their threshold.
Gulf of Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

Kangaroo Mouse?
Found what seems to be a kangaroo mouse and a normal mouse
Aniak Slough, Alaska, United States

Up to 71″ of Snow Forecast on Mt. Rainier This Week
NOAA has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Mt. Rainier area of Washington State for today including Crystal Mountain ski resort. The Winter Storm Warning is calling for 6-10 of snow by 5…
Crystal Mountain ski resort, WA
SnowBrains

Pink salmon found in odd places near Homer
Pink salmon are showing up in unexpected places around the Homer area.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Unknown Cause of Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Mortality
Black bear found dead along lake trail.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Late Run of Abundant Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Elders are finding this unusual for this late in the season.
Nanwalek, Alaska, United States

Hurricane Maria’s aftermath: ‘There will be no food in Puerto Rico’
In a matter of hours, Hurricane Maria wiped out about 80 percent of the crop value in Puerto Rico — making it one of the costliest storms to hit the island’s agriculture industry.
Yabucoa, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Alaska Dispatch News
Frances Robles, Luis Ferre-Sadurni, The New York Times

Oil worker killed and eaten by hungry bears as beasts besiege towns and villages
Staff and passengers at Nyagan airport in fear of bear patrolling the runway and trying to break into terminal.
Nyagan, Khanty-Mansiyskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Siberian Times

Hurricane Maria Makes Landfall in Dominica as Other Islands Brace for Potential Disaster
Hurricane Maria barreled through the islands that curve through the Caribbean.
Dominican Republic, Caribbean
The New York Times

Disappearance of right whales from winter breeding grounds a mystery
Scientists are at a loss to explain one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.
South Atlantic States Continental Shelf
CBC News

Monstrous 1-ton ocean sunfish caught in Russia's far east, thrown to the bears
The group of Sakhalin fishermen did not expect to find the Lovecraftian monster in their nets as they took to the sea for smaller fry on Saturday. The enormous fish, considered a delicacy in some cultures, proved to be a dead weight as it didn't make it to the shore fresh.
Iturup island, Russia
RT International

For first time in 300 years, Barbuda is empty
When Hurricane Irma ravaged the Caribbean island of Barbuda, the storm left it uninhabitable." And, now, for the first time in 300 years, no one lives there.
Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda
CNN
Joe Sterling and Cassandra Santiago, CNN

Salmon Spill Sends Thousands of Invasive Fish Swimming Up and Down the Pacific Coast
Last month, a pen in Washington State holding hundreds of thousands of fish broke, sending swarms of silver Atlantic salmon swimming to the south and north.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States
Gizmodo

Millions at risk of water shortages as Asian glaciers melt
Asian glaciers are set to shrink by at least a third by 2100 due to climate change, researchers said on Thursday, threatening the millions who depend on their meltwaters for drinking and farming.
Himalayan Mountains
Mail Online

Dozens of dead moose discovered in Lapland, tests reveal they starved to death
Dozens of moose carcasses were discovered last spring in a Lapland national park, and Finland animal disease watchdog Evira has since determined that the animals died of malnutrition. The reason why they were unable to find sustenance is a mystery, as the area had relatively normal temperatures and snowfall last winter.
Yle Uutiset

As Alaska Thaws, Everything Changes
HEALY, ALASKA—Bitter winters still dominate life in the Alaskan interior, but a practiced eye can spot the signs of a warming climate, particularly in the ground. Beneath the rolling fields of tussock scattered just north of the Alaska Range, what was once permanently frozen is starting to thaw. The impacts could ripple across the planet.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Gizmodo

B.C. loses more than one million hectares to wildfires
There have been 1,249 fires that have burned through roughly 1,173,886 hectares in B.C.
British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Extreme Flooding in Huslia
Huslia, Alaska, United States

For third year in a row, Alaska seabirds wash up dead
For the third year in a row, seabirds are washing up dead along the coastline in Alaska. Hundreds of birds have been discovered along a stretch of the Bering Sea, on the Pribilof Islands and as far north as Deering. Julia Parrish said the thin bodies of the dead fulmars and shearwaters washing up on shore suggest the birds are struggling to find enough to eat. So far, about 800 have been discovered along the coast of the Bering Sea. Parish said early lab results don’t point to disease. It looks like the birds are starving to death.
Bering Sea, East Coast Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

Record numbers of Portuguese man o' war wash up on Cornish coast
Record numbers of the potentially-fatal Portuguese man o' war have washed up on the Cornish coast, according to conservationists.
Perranporth, England, United Kingdom
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Video shows methane leaking from beneath an Arctic river after spectacular eruption
Gas bubbles from waters filling crater hole on Yamal peninsula two months after volcanic-style explosion in thawing permafrost.
Yamal-Nenets District, Russia
Siberian Times

Charting a Path for Churchill to Become a Sustainable Arctic Community
The northern Canadian town of Churchill, Manitoba, may be an early casualty of climate change, but it could become an Arctic sustainability pioneer, says Douglas Clark, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Arctic Deeply

Atlantic salmon arrive in French Creek -- Not in a good way!
Atlantic salmon, believed to be part of a cohort that escaped from a U.S.-based fish farm on Aug. 19, are being hauled in by anglers fishing out of French Creek on mid-Vancouver Island. Cameron Whe…
French Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Fisherynation.com

Late Bloomer - Wild Rose Enjoying the Fall
Fairbanks rose bush blooming in early September, 2017.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Nahanni Butte residents told to stay out of community, as officials monitor nearby wildfire
Residents are now being asked to stay away from Nahanni Butte, N.W.T., after being forced out Thursday night by a forest fire burning close to the community.
Nahannie Butte, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC News

Small potatoes, big need: food bank blames bad weather for poor yield
The head of the Ottawa Food Bank says their ability to provide fresh produce to people in need has taken a hit this summer after a wet and cold growing season stunted production of staple foods like potatoes and carrots.
Stittsville, Ontario, Canada

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

Debris Eroding from Old Dumpsite
Community concerned about health and safety from old site.
Cheenik Creek, Alaska, United States

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) Confusion - Flying North then South
There were lines of cranes flying north and then this morning just before daylight, flying south
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Monarch butterflies might vanish from Tri-City summers
A study in Biological Conservation led by a WSU scientist documents the steep decline of monarch butterflies in the West. They could be functionally extinct within a few decades.
Irrigon, Oregon, United States
tri-cityherald

Lynn Canal fishermen land record low sockeye harvest
Gillnetters have caught about 36,900 sockeye salmon in Lynn Canal so far this summer, the lowest harvest on record, according to preliminary Alaska.
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Algae blooms throughout BC Interior
Concerns about water safety for human and animal consumption for drinking and for recreation.
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

Wildfire smoke leads to weather alert on Vancouver Island
Environment Canada says these smoky conditions could remain until Wednesday.
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Victoria News

Skagway rocked by second landslide in under 2 weeks
Early Tuesday morning, a rockslide crashed into Skagway’s largest cruise ship dock. It was the second slide event in less than two weeks and caused a pair of cruise ships to divert to other ports. Some Skagway residents are calling on the city and the private company that owns the dock to take action.
Skagway, Alaska, United States

Dry Koksilah River threatens fish in Cowichan Valley
The Koksilah River is in trouble, with low flows threatening fish populations.
Koksiloh River, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette

Russian River flooding is affecting Kodiak residents
Russian River flooded last week in Kodiak leaving some residents scrambling to address the damage.
Womens Bay, Alaska, United States

No injuries in Sitka Labor Day landslide
A landslide in Sitka early Monday afternoon stranded people on either end of the road system for about eight hours, but otherwise there no reports of damage or injuries.
Sitka, Alaska, United States

Flock of Sandhills (Grus canadensis)
Sandhill cranes spotted flying east
Portage Creek, Alaska, United States

The Post-Harvey Mosquito Invasion Seems Like Hell
Plenty of people have described Hurricane Harvey as a disaster of biblical proportions, and it seems the next plague is upon us. It’s not locusts. Thanks to untold quantities of filthy standing water, millions of mosquitos are starting to hatch. And yes, they do bite. They love to bite.
Houston, Texas, United States
Gizmodo

Parasites on Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Parasite identified as sea lice.
Whipple Creek, Alaska, United States

Stampede suspected as dozens of walruses found dead near Point Lay
The Arctic barrier island where the carcasses were found has emerged as a favored end-of-summer haulout for animals trying to survive without summer sea ice.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Juvenile Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) in southern coastal BC
Southern BC Waters

Irritating smoke from wildfires choking US West, turning lives upside down
The smoke from massive wildfires hangs like fog over large parts of the U.S. West, an irritating haze causing health concerns, forcing sports teams to change schedules and disrupting life from Seattle to tiny Seeley Lake, Montana.
California
Fox News

L.A. Area Wildfire Spurs Hundreds Of Evacuations, Smoke Keeps Others Indoors
Los Angeles County's La Tuna Fire is one of 29 burning across the state, and "is the largest fire in the history of L.A. city," Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
Brace Canyon, Burbank, California, United States
NPR.org

Another 1,500 evacuated from Manitoba First Nation due to wildfire
The Canadian Red Cross says an additional 1,500 people from the Garden Hill First Nation in Manitoba have been given evacuation orders due to wildfire smoke in the Island Lake area.
Garden HiIl First Nation

Jolly Mountain Fire threatens 3,800 homes, unhealthy levels of smoke hit Yakima
UPDATE 3:55 P.M. With assistance from several supporting agencies, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office completed evacuation notices mid-day Saturday in the Roslyn, Ronald and Lake Cle Elum areas.
Jolly Mountain
Yakima Herald-Republic

Human mood drugs end up in Great Lakes fish
Study finds Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac and Serafem in multiple Great Lakes fish species — possibly changing their behavior and impacting the ecosystem
Niagara River, New York, United States
Detroit Free Press

Assessing the U.S. Climate in September 2017
During September, the average contiguous U.S. temperature was 66.3°F, 1.4°F above average.
Contiguous United States
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Landslides, floods, smoke: Prepare for climate change effects in Denali National Park
A new report identifies climate change as one of the challenges facing transportation in Alaska's most famous national park.
Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

San Francisco sets all-time heat record downtown at 106 degrees during hottest recorded summer
According to the National Weather Service, 36.5 million residents, 98% of Californians, are under a heat advisory Friday as a high-pressure system broils the state from the Oregon to Mexico borders.
San Francisco, California, United States
latimes.com

After Atlantic salmon spill, fish farms’ future under attack on both sides of border
Cooke Aquaculture Pacific knew its Cypress Island facility was “vulnerable” before the spill that sent tens of thousands of invasive Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound. Now, the future of Atlantic salmon farming in Washington is in doubt.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
The Seattle Times

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

Day of reckoning for marine invaders
For centuries, marine species have moved around either by hitching ride on the hulls of ships or as stowaways in ballast water. In many instances, species have been deliberately introduced for aquaculture or other commercial purposes.
United Kingdom
Phys.org

Earthquake swarm in Port Heiden continues
Earthquakes have rattled through Port Heiden more often than usual this year. Michael West is the State Seismologist with the Alaska Earthquake Center. He took a look to compare this year’s quake numbers with other years. Listen Now
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Bellingham Bay Water Merging
On a field trip with Northwest Indian College Geology class to Chuckanut Drive saw water with apparent difference in color.
Bellingham, Washington

White Fish (C. nelsonii) with Saprolegnia Fungus
Had pus on them.
Chefornak, Alaska, United States

Invasion of the House Crickets (Acheta domestica)
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
Never seen anything like that in before.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

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

Rise in reindeer deaths in the Arctic linked with loss of sea ice and extreme weather
Two extreme weather events in 2006 and 2013 caused mass starvation among the reindeer herds, and researchers for the first time have linked these extreme weather events in the coastal mainland in northwest Russia with sea ice loss in the adjoining Barents and Kara seas.
Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
Phys.org

Northern moose migration corresponds with early snow-melt and increased vegetation
Moose and other species have advanced north with warming temperatures. University of Alaska Fairbanks assistant professor of water and environmental research Ken Tape said movement of boreal species into far northern Alaska has corresponded over the last century with earlier snow-melt and river ice out.
Alaska, United States

Healthy Snowfall is Back
Three healthy snowfalls with progessively more snow each time.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Furry Caterpillar in November
Furry caterpillar in November.
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Kachemak Bay has seen massive die-offs of sea stars and other species. What’s going on?
Kachemak Bay has witnessed massive die-offs of sea stars, murres and razor clams. Whats going on?
Seldovia Village, 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

Long Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) Beaching
Dolphin beaching in Sodwana Bay, South Africa
Sodwana Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Marine Mussels Clean of PSP Toxins
Klamath, California, United States

Visible Hue to Air - Smoke.. Smog... Silt..?
Hazy air conditions in the Mat-Su Valley, southcentral Alaska.
Hatcher Pass, Alaska, United States

Warm Fall Weather
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Invasive plant discovered near Anchorage’s Potter Marsh
Elodea, a fast-growing leafy plant, is now in a roadside ditch at the marsh, and a response plan is in the works.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) vulnerable to domoic acid contamination
Warning: (2016-11-07) Recreational anglers should avoid consuming the viscera (internal organs, also known as “butter” or “guts”) of dungeness crab
Klamath, California, United States

Late Freeze-up of Koyuk River
Koyuk River foze solid by Oct-14 by the 28th there was open water.
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Juvenile Sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) intertidal burrowing
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Clumps of Foam Noticed Floating on the Fraser River
Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada

Primitive Crane Flies (Family: Tanyderidae) in Haida Gwaii in November

Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) Leaves and Flowers Opening in November
Mount Tolmie, Saanich, BC, Canada

Non-native Beetle (Anomala)
Inside of a couch shipping box.
St. Mary's, Alaska, United States

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

Sea Ice - No Sea Ice!?
Sea ice is here and then disapears.
Elim, Alaska, United States

Jumping Spiders (Salticidae) in School
A spider was found in a class room, not sure what it is.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States
Derek Sikes, Jessie Moan, Karis Porcincula

Dead Puffins
Over 100 dead puffins, mostly tufted, have been found in Saint George, Alaska.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

First Sight of Snow
Early sighting of snow this year.
Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Unusual Mortality of Tufted and Horned Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata and Fratercula corniculata)
Several ill or dead tufted and horned puffins were found on the shores of St. Paul Island.
Saint Paul, Alaska, United States
Lisa Tran, Aaron Lestenkof, Pamela Lestenkof, Julia Parrish, Lauren Divine, Paul Melovidov, Barbara Bodenstein, Hillary Burgess, Karin Holser

Unusual Fast Flooding
Unusually fast flooding on the Chignik River.
Chignik Lake, Alaska, United States

Enormous Poplar Leaves
During the 2012 wind storm, many of the poplars lost branches or their tops. Now leave the leaves are growing back as big as pie plates.

Lake Drying
Decades have passed and ponds are drying up.
Chistochina, Alaska, United States

Black Slugs Invade Whittier
“They’ve been in Cordova for over 30 years. They’re just starting to be reported and sighted in other places. We have confirmed sightings in Whittier, in Girdwood, in Chenega Bay, in Eshamy Bay and one of the hatcheries out in the sound has reported them.”
Whittier, Alaska, United States
Glacier City Gazette

A Flock of Parrots (Parakeets?) in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, United States

A Changing Urban Forest
Since the 2012 wind storm, the forest in Cheney Lake Park has been rapidly transforming from native cottonwoods to a variety of exotic ornamental trees.

Unusual Plant - Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)?
Plant found in patch of high bush cranberries.
Nulato, Alaska, United States

Juvenile Pacific Herring ball (Clupea pallasii)
Henderson Point, North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) Mortality
Died on beach.
Seldovia Village, Alaska, United States

Warm Weather Delaying Winter
Winter is near, but, it is unusually nice outside these days.
Evansville, Alaska, United States

Unusual Turbidity in Sarita River
Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada

Mixed schools of Sandlance (Ammodytes personatus) and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Russia plans to kill a quarter-million Siberian reindeer amid anthrax fears
A mysterious anthrax outbreak over the summer killed more than 2,300 reindeer and at least one child.
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Washington Post

Seafood's new normal: An ecosystem at risk
Special report: A huge disruption to California's coastal ecosystem is under way after several years of unusually warm ocean conditions and drought.
Northern California Coastal Areas
The San Francisco Chronicle

Septembers Are Changing in Lower Kalskag
Unusually rainy year for Lower Kalskag this year.
Lower Kalskag, Alaska, United States

Plumose anemones (Metridium spp.) detaching from rocks
Bowyer Island, Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada

The Pacific blob caused an 'unprecedented' toxic algal bloom - and there's more to come
The 'blob' caused it this time around. But oceans will keep getting warmer in the future.
Northeast Pacific Ocean
Washington Post

Northern Birch Tree (Betula papyrifera) Die-off
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Alaska abuzz over rise in wasp population
In Southcentral Alaska, wasps seem to be everywhere. One Anchorage clinic has seen more than 250 sting patients this year.
Anchorage Daily News

Chitemene Farming Has Environmental Consequences
Long-term consequences.
Kawambwa, Luapula, Zambia

Mushy halibut syndrome reported by Inlet fishermen
Saltwater fishery officials are reporting a resurgence of a mysterious condition that's bound to turn the stomachs of anglers -- mushy halibut syndrome. Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Barbi Failor said the department is receiving more reports of mushy fish caught by sport fishermen all over Cook Inlet.
Kenai, Alaska, United States

Why are Edmonton's birch trees dying?
A study is looking into why birch trees are dying off in the prairies and British Columbia, but a researcher says they can be salvaged.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
CBC

Rare Sighting of Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma furcata)
Never seen before in area.
Grayling, Alaska, United States
Moses Tcheripanoff, Kathy Kuletz, Bernice Nicholi

Surf smelt (Hypomesus prestiosus) school
15m north of the Island View Beach boat ramp

Greenland ice holds Cold War peril
It sounds like something from a science-fiction novel or a disaster movie.
A hidden city under ice, housing 200 people, complete with hospital, cinema, church and research labs – and powered by a mini nuclear reactor. In fact it is reality and lies below the ice of north-west Greenland. The building of Camp Century was started in 1959, by US army engineers.
Nuuk, Sermersooq, Greenland
Deutsche Welle

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

Exotic ticks found on Alaska dogs, Alaskans
Ticks that infest red squirrels, snowshoe hares and a variety of birds have always been present in Alaska, but a team of biologists and veterinarians recently found five non-native ticks on Alaska dogs and people.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Ruffed Grouse
Never seen a grouse this size.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Widespread power outages reported as storm moves through Southcentral Alaska
Hundreds of Chugach Electric customers in Anchorage and Girdwood remained without power Wednesday morning amid outages from Fairbanks to Nikiski.
Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage braces for wind storm
High wind warning for Anchorage. Winds could reach 50 mph with gusts to 100 mph.
KTUU

Increasing Sea Surface Temperature at Langara Lighthouse
Langara Point Lighthouse, British Columbia, Canada

Increasing Sea Surface Temperature at Entrance Island
Entrance Island, British Columbia, Canada

Huge cull of 250,000 reindeer by Christmas in Yamalo-Nenets after anthrax outbreak
Freak warm weather followed by a freeze in winter 2013-14 caused an ice-over of pastures which led to the deaths of some 70,000 reindeer in a famine. This summer, there was an outbreak of deadly anthrax after the hottest Arctic summer on record.
Noyabrsk, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Siberia Times

Shoal Creek Now Dry
Cause for Drying Uncertain
Austin, Texas, United States

European Black Slug
Tenakee Springs, Alaska, United States

Strange & Unusual Plants Observed
Strange and unusual plant located in Nulato on northwest bank of the Yukon River.
Nulato, Alaska, United States

Rare Monarch Caterpillar Danaus plexippus
Rare monarch caterpillar-butterfly (Danaus plexippus) seen in five years.
Merion Station, Pennnsylivania, United States

Fasten your seat belt – turbulence is on the rise
Severe turbulence, which recently forced the emergency landing of a transatlantic flight, is on the rise. But why and what can be done?
Houston, Texas, United States
the Guardian

Moose (Alces alces) Eating Rose Hips (Rosa aciculariso or R. nutkana)
Young moose eating rose hips.
Ester, Alaska, United States

Anidación de bobo patas azules en Isla San Jerónimo, Baja California
Blue-footed booby nesting on San Jeronimo Island.
Isla San Jerónimo, B.C., Mexico
Yutzil Lora Cabrera, Margarita Delgadillo A., Alejandra Fabila-Blanco, María Félix-Lizárraga

Bumble Bees Are Still Out
Bumblebees (bombus polaris), moths, butterflies, mosquitoes (Culicidae) and gnats (Nematocera) are still here.
Slana, Alaska, United States

Nome Area Ponds Are Disappearing
Ponds in and around the Nome area are drying up.
Nome, Alaska, United States

Toads (Anaxyrus boreas) Re-emerge
First toad sighting in years.
Tatitlek, Alaska, United States

Are Ocean Conditions Right for Vibrio parahaemolyticus?
Resident becomes sick after consuming oysters and wonders what is being done to prevent future outbreaks of *V parahaemolyticus*, this new climate related illness in Alaska.
Mike Brubaker, Soumik Basu, Santina Gay, James Berner

Low Salmon Numbers
Commercial and Subsistence Harvest
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Hot Sun
It seems very warm when the sun comes out.
Goodnews Bay, Alaska, United States

Low Stream Water for Pink Salmon
But at least there is a stream...
Seldovia, Alaska, United States
Stephen Payton, Michael Opheim , Ryan Brubaker

A Poor Year for Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Fishing for pinks has been really up and down the last few years. In 2014 the catch was really low, and then 2015 it was amazing with more than we had ever seen before. This year's pink salmon return again, was really bad.
Red Bluff, Popof Island, Alaska

Abundant Jellyfish Disrupt Commercial Salmon Fishery
Purse seiner crew scrambles to shovel the huge bycatch of Northern sea nettle jelly fish (*Chrysaora melanaster*) overboard.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Rapid Growth of White Spruce (Picea glauca)
Rapid growth of white spruce over the past three summers observed.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Gran Grupo De Colibríes

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) on Great Bear Lake
Bird sighted far north of normal migratory range.
Deliné Waterdome, Northwest Territories, Canada
Suzanne Carriere, Brian Sieben, Edward Reeves

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

Winter flooding, warm ocean likely affected Southeast humpies
This season's pink salmon were slightly bigger, but southern Panhandle runs fizzled.
Southeast Panhandle, Alaska, United States
KTOO Public Media

Dead Murres (Uria aalge)
Murre die-off in Seldovia continuing.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Extreme Weather
High rate of change in weather conditions
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Seabird Deaths
A large number of bird die-offs

Sick Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
Sick brown bear
Koliganek, Alaska, United States

Periwinkle (Vinca minor) causes suppression of Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum)
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

Black Fungus (phaeohyphomycoses) on Smelt
Smelt caught on the Kugkaktlik River were found to have dark spots on the skin. Photo examination suggests that the cause is the same black fungus found in saffron cod in Norton Sound. Continued surveillance for this condition in fish is requested by LEO Network members.
Kipnuk, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, James Berner, Jennifer Dobson, Jayde Ferguson, Nick Slim

Late Sea Ice Freeze Bring Together Seals and Caribou
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Entangled Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) Whale
Dead humpback whale
Unalaska, Alaska, United States

Ticks already on the move – take the necessary precautions
The first ticks have been observed in the northwest region of Oulu, meaning they are assuredly on the loose already further south. Entomologist Reima Leinonen recommends that people who have been enjoying the outdoors take a shower at the end of the day to help check for ticks.
Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) with Saprolegnia Mold
Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) with Saprolegnia
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Replogle Swan, Jayde Ferguson, Ali Hamade, Janet Mitchell

School Fire Raises Health Concerns
Ayaprun School Fire
Bethel, Alaska, United States

Japanese Knotweed in Remote Area
Tipella, British Columbia, Canada

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Blue Heron near Humpback Bay
Perryville, Alaska, United States

Spruce Tree (Picea glauca) Rapid Growth
Spruce trees growing fast.

Coastal Erosion
Coastal erosion near Cape Blossom
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Dead Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) Near Birchwood
I was flying on Monday and found a giant beached dead humpback whale up on the mudflats near Birchwood. I see belugas all the time but never a humpback.
Eagle River, Alaska, United States

Sierra Leone's stinking seaweed linked to Caribbean invasion
Proliferation of thick brown algae is affecting fishing, tourism and marine life on both sides of the Atlantic, say scientists
Tokeh, Western, Sierra Leone
the Guardian

Dead Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) and Starfish (Phylum: Echinodermata)
Dead sea otter and star fish
Prince of Wales Islands, Alaska, United States

Blue Sail (Velella) Jellyfish
Blue Sail Jellyfish

A Very Large Grasshopper (Melanoplus)
Unusual Insect
Yakutat, Alaska, United States

Eroding Arctic coastline reveals human bones
When a storm exposes human remains in Barrow, there isn’t an established protocol. They are usually given to the federally recognized Native Village of Barrow for repatriation.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Eye on the Arctic

Crayfish invade Kodiak waters
Alex Hughes is a Fish and Game technician who volunteers with KSWCD. He said based on their studies at the Buskin river, crayfish are successfully breeding. Crayfish are originally from the Pacific Northwest and as with many invasive species, it’s anyone’s guess how they got to Kodiak.
Kodiak, Alaska, United States
KTOO

Are Vancouver's recent Gray Whale sightings the start of regular seasonal visits?
Tuesday’s (September 29) sighting of a gray whale swimming and possibly feeding right off the Stanley Park Seawall brings recent sightings up to three in that area. It isn’t clear if it is the same whale or different whales in the widely reported incidents since August 12. One whale, perhaps the same animal each time, was observed for days in the same area in English Bay, sometimes travelling into Burrard Inlet and off West Vancouver’s Ambleside Beach.
Stanley Park Seawall, British Columbia, Canada
Georgia Straight

Presencia de águila calva (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) en Isla Santa Margarita e Isla Magdalena
Puerto Alcatraz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Yutzil Lora Cabrera, Margarita Delgadillo A., María Félix-Lizárraga, Norma Castillo

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

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

Seabird Deaths
Sea bird deaths

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Low Beaver (Castor canadensis) Activity
Beaver activity declining in Campbell Lake area

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sick Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
11-29-14 Sick harbor seal - Chefornak, Alaska, USA
Chefornak, Alaska, United States
Raphaela Stimmelmayr, Gay Sheffield, Janelle Kinegak

Winter Spider
11-24-14 Winter spider - Togiak, Alaska, USA
Togiak, Alaska, United States

Dead Orca (Orcinus orca) Whale
Dead orca observed in the Bering Strait region.
Wales, Alaska, United States

Lions Mane Jellyfish Sighting
11-20-14 Unusual jellyfish - Togiak, Alaska, USA
Togiak, Alaska, Unites States
Kristin Cieciel, Aeshia Upton, Brian Abraham

Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus) with Hair Loss
11-18-15 Bearded seal with hair loss - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Winter River Breakup
11-18-14 Winter river break-up - Kongiganak, Alaska, USA
Kongiganak, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm
11-15-14 Unseasonably warm - Kwinhagak, Alaska, USA
Kwinhagak, Alaska, United States

Jellyfish Bloom
11-14-14 Jellyfish bloom Haines, Alaska, USA
Haines, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm
11-13-14 Unseasonable warm - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA

Late Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Run
11-12-14 Late coho salmon run - Cordova, Alaska, USA
Cordova, Alaska, United States

Caribou Migration Changing
The caribou are crossing at different times and locations as the years go by.
Kiana, Alaska, USA

Unseasonably Warm and No Sea Ice
The ocean is still open, and have not even begun to freeze yet.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States

Unseasonably Warm and Bad Ice
11-11-14 Unseasonable warm - Ruby, Alaska, USA
Ruby, Alaska, United States

Bering Sea Superstorm Among the Strongest Extratropical Cyclones on Record
Partially derived from former Super Typhoon Nuri, the typhoon's remnants joined up with the polar jet stream and a very strong disturbance in the mid-latitude belt of westerly winds, leading to explosive development of low pressure.
The Weather Channel

Unseasonably warm and raining
11-01-14 Unseasonably warm - Pitkas Point, Alaska, USA
Pitka's Point, Alaska, United States

Mollusks in Moose (Alces alces) Gut
11-29-14 Mollusks in moose gut - Egegik, Alaska, USA
Egegik, Alaska, United States

Arctic Char with Sores and Parasites (Salmincola)
10-24-15 Arctic char with sores and parasites - Quinhagak, Alaska, USA
Quinhagak, Alaska, USA

Pacific Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus)
10-20-14 Sleeper shark - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

Summer heat, invasive insects take toll on Interior Alaska birch trees
Interior Alaska’s hot and dry summer of 2013, coupled with an invasion of insect pests, has taken a steep toll on the region’s birch trees, experts say.

Unseasonable weather
10-10-14 Unseasonable weather - St. Michael, Alaska, USA
St. Michael, Alaska, USA

Landslide destroys Starrigavan restoration projects
High rainfall this month is being blamed for a major landslide near Sitka. The US Forest Service reports that a 100-acre slide came down in the Starrigavan Valley, about ten miles from town. The slide, and water damage to an ATV trail in the valley and other hiking trails elsewhere in Sitka -- all add up to a tough month for the agency.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
KCAW

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

Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with Parasites
9-24-14 Coho salmon with parasites - New Stuyahok, Alaska, USA
New Stuyahok, Alaska, United States

Lots of wasps
9-23-14 Lots of wasps - Kolikanek, Alaska, USA
Koliganek, Alaska, United States

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

High Sea Water Temperatures
9-18-14 High surface water temperatures - Bering Sea
Bering Sea, Alaska, United States

Rare whale shark sighting documented near Catalina
Near Catalina Island, California, United States
Pete Thomas Outdoors

Unusual species in Alaska waters indicate parts of Pacific warming dramatically
Hinchenbrook Entrance, Alaska

Grey Seal
Truro, Massachusetts, United States

Unusual Caterpillar
9-10-14 Unusual caterpillar - Big Lake, Alaska, USA
Big Lake, Alaska, United States

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

Sighted - Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
9-04-15 Swainson's thrush - Wales, Alaska, USA
Wales, Alaska, United States
Beth Paluso, Brit Oxereok, Dean Stockwell

Caterpillar (Hyles gallii) with reddish tail
9-2-14 Caterpillar with reddish tail - Tyonek, Alaska, USA
Tyonek, Alaska, United States

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) Sighted at Possession Point, Southern Vancouver Islan
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada

Delayed Winter In Nondalton
11-30-13 Delayed winter - Nondalton, Alaska, USA
Nondalton, Alaska, United States

Advisory - Avian cholera
Hundreds of birds washed up on the shores of St. Lawrence Island.
St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, USA

Persistent High PSP Levels
Persistently high levels of PSP recorded in the Shumagin Islands.
Sand Point, Alaska, United States

Starvation killed 80,000 reindeer after unusual Arctic rains cut off the animals’ food supply
Sixty-one thousand reindeer starved to death in the northwestern reaches of the Russian tundra in November 2013 in the largest recorded mortality event of its kind.
Ямало-Ненецкий АО, Russia
Washington Post

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

Storm Surge
Early fall weather conditions brought on an extreme storm surge in a Norton Sound community.
Shaktoolik, Alaska, United States

Storm Damage
Series of storms contribute to flooding, erosion, infrastructure damage.

High PSP levels in clams
11-7-13 High PSP levels in clams - King Cove, Alaska, USA
King Cove, Alaska, Unites States

Dead Seabirds
11-6-13 Dead seabirds - Nanwalek, Alaska. USA

Alaska farmers scramble for hay
A one-two punch of mid-May snow followed by a six-week drought cut the supply of Alaska-grown hay from Homer to Fairbanks by a third to a half, state Division of Agriculture officials say.
Palmer, Alaska, United States

Ice Fishing Hazardous
11-4-13 Ice fishing hazardous - Golovin, Alaska, USA
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Krill Die-off
11-1-13 Krill die-off - Metlakatla, Alaska, USA
Metlakatla, Alaska, United States

Boats Still on the River
11-1-13 Boats still on the river - Koyukuk, Alaska, USA
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Warm and Wet Halloween
Anchorage is having the warmest October on record with an average temperature of 43 degrees. That will beat the record set in 1936 and residents are remarking on the novelty of having green grass and rain on Halloween.

106 mph winds knock out power in Anchorage
A windstorm pounded parts of Southcentral Alaska early Monday, knocking down trees and cutting off power for thousands of people from the Matanuska Valley to the Kenai Peninsula.

Warm weather delays subsistence
10-24-13 Warm weather delays subsistence - Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA
Shaktoolik, Alaska, USA

Mussel Roe Fouls Fishing Gear
Salmon and crab gear seeing an incredible increase in mussel roe and slime.

Sinkhole Appears Along Road
Sinkhole appears along road
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Hairless Seal
10-19-13 Hairless seal - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

No Ice Fishing Yet
10-17-13 No ice fishing yet - Shishmaref, Alaska, USA

Too Wet for Food Preserving
10-15 13 Too wet for food preservation - Elim, Alaska, USA
Elim, Alaska, United States

Sewage Lagoon Vulnerable - Coastal Erosion
Coastal erosion potential threat to community sewage lagoon.
Quinhagak, Alaska, United States

Skin Illness on Whitefish (Coregonus nelsonii)
10-13-13 Skin illness on whitefish (Coregonus nelsonii)
Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Sink hole damages airport
The runway, built in 1958, is over-top of permafrost and frozen soils.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

Bluff erosion
9-24-13 Bluff erosion - St. Michael, Alaska
St. Michael, Alaska, USA

Central Welland River Fish Kill
Common carp (*Cyprinus carpio*) and channel catfish (*Ictalurus punctatus*) die from low dissolved oxygen and ammonia that are the result of an over-application of biosolids.
Welland, Ontario, Canada

Stickleback Fish Kill
9-14-13 Stickle-back fish kill - Lake Illiamna, Alaska, USA
Lake Illiamna, Alaska, United States

Anchorage ties record for most consecutive rainy days
Rain overnight in Anchorage pushed the number of consecutive rainy days in the city to 18 -- tying a record set in September 1919, the National Weather Service reports.

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
On my way home for a lunch break, I noticed a different type of bird that I have ever seen before.

Unusual Spider
9-11-13 Unusual spider - Chignik, Lagoon, Alaska, USA
Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, United States

Great Year for Mushrooms
This has been a great year for the mushrooms

Caribou Delayed
9-5-13 Caribou delayed - Kiana, Alaska, USA
Kiana, 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

Still No Snow or Yukon River Ice
11-27-12 Still no snow or Yukon ice - Fort Yukon, Alaska, USA
Fort Yukon Alaska, United States

Lake Froze Weird
Aleknagik, November 26, 2012 (ice) Our lake froze weird again this year.
Aleknagik, Alaska, United States

Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) in November?
Birch shieldbug found in Wasilla home in November.
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Air Pockets in River Ice
11-21-12 Air pockets in river ice - St. Marys, Alaska, USA
St. Marys, Alaska, United States

Snow Well Below Normal
Half of what we usually have this time of year.

Anchorage Snow Totals Well Below Average
November is usually the second snowiest month in Anchorage, but this year, snow totals are well below average. So far, only about three inches of snow has fallen in the city. November usually sees an average of seven inches by now, with a total of a little more than 13 inches for the month. National Weather Service Meteorologist Dave Snider says total snowfall for the season is also well below normal.

No Snow on the Seward Peninsula
Despite the time of year, there is still no snow on the Seward Peninsula.
Elim, Alaska, United States

Late Snow Fall
Late snow seasonal snow fall
Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Late Salmon Run
11-1-12 Late salmon run - Fort Yukon, Alaska, USA
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

Road dust
Road dust is unhealthy.
Kalskag, Alaska, United States
Sharay Alexie, Billy Jean Stewart, Cathy Wasuli

Natural Gas Vent
On a rising tide, a line of bubbles from the mud under the water of Ugashik Bay can be observed rising forcefully to the surface.
Pilot Point, Alaska, United States
Mike Brubaker, Jennifer Skrada, Nikki Shanigan, Katey Walter Anthony

Worms (Splendidofilaria pectoralis) in Grouse and Ptarmigan
Species of nematode *Splendidofilaria pectoralis* has been described in blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus pallidus) in British Columbia, but never as far north and west as Unalakleet.
Victoria Kotongan, Caroline Van Hemert, Todd O'Hara

B.C.'s Cowichan River in danger of drying up
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada

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

River Erosion on the Yukon Flats
Yukon Flats community dealing with river erosion and landscape changes that are threatening the loss of traditional harvesting areas.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

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

Thawing and Eroding Trail
Permafrost thaw is causing trail in Golovin to erode.
Golovin, Alaska, United States

Damage to ATV Bridge
Permafrost thawing causing bridge damage.
Selawik, Alaska, United States

Extreme Rain & Flooding
9-21-12 Extreme rain and flooding - Wasilla, Alaska, USA
Wasilla, Alaska, United States

2nd Major Wind Storm Hits Anchorage
A second major wind storm in less than two weeks swept through Alaska's largest city on Sunday, but unlike the earlier storm, its greatest intensity was mostly on higher elevations where gusts as high as 120 mph were reported, weather forecasters said.
The Weather Channel

Unusual Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Sighting
Rare polar bear sighting in Sisualik summer camp, about 10-11 miles north of Kotzebue, AK.
Sisualik Fish Camp, Alaska, United States

Water Red in Harbor (Algae)
Red-colored seawater in boat harbor.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

Spruce Bark Beetle
We are worried about the effects of large infestation and about wildlife.
Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

Unseasonable windstorm ravages Anchorage
At least 50,000 homes and businesses lost power late Tuesday, and outages continued through Wednesday.

Windfall Tree Devastation
The winds came east out of the Chugach Mountains and caused damage to forest, unlike anything we have seen in over 50 years. It is going to be expensive and time consuming to clear the windfall.

Windfall creates flood hazard
9-5-12 Windfall causes flood hazard - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Unusual Skate Found on Arctic Beach
9-13-12 Unusual skate on Arctic beach - Barrow, Alaska, USA

Heat lightning
9-1-12 Heat lightning - Kiska Island, Alaska, USA
Kiska Island, Alaska, USA

Harp seals

Community Water Distribution System Freeze Up
We performed a survey of community water lines to see how permafrost thaw and sinking foundations may be impacting homes, water and waste water systems. During the June visit we saw where foundation sinking was putting stress on pipe runs and junctions. Now in the winter we see evidence of freeze up in some of the homes where the junction boxes have been compromised, gaps in the insulation seal, and resulting freeze up and overflow of water.
Selawik, Alaska, United States
Tanya Ballot, John Warren, Mike Brubaker, Prithviraj Chavan

North Pacific 'super storm' makes its way toward Western Alaska coastline
The National Weather Service predicted one of the largest storms on record blasting up the Bering Sea coast. Could this be the first Arctic hurricane?

Ringed seal
Wrangel Island, Chukotka, Russia

Sick ringed seal

Sick Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina)

Chiefs Concerned About Infectious Sockeye Virus
The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council is very concerned about the conclusive finding of the European Strain of Infectious Salmon Anemia virus (ISA) in sockeye in Rivers Inlet. The Secwepemc, like "most BC First Nations, have relied on salmon as the life blood of our people. Between 50 and 90 per cent of our people's diet consisted of salmon at the time of contact.
Rivers Inlet, British Columbia, Canada
Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper

Ringed Seal Mortality

Ringed seal stranding and mortality
Point Hope, Alaska, United States

Walruses suffer from similar disease afflicting Alaska ringed seals
Pacific walruses are beaching on Northwest Alaska shores, peppered with bleeding skin legions that have been observed on dying ringed seals in Arctic Alaska, according to federal biologists.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

Stranded ringed seals
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Mysterious disease killed scores of seals in Alaska
A mysterious disease, possibly a virus, has afflicted ring seals along Alaska's coast, killing scores of them since July, local and federal agencies said on Thursday.
Barrow, Alaska, United States
REUTERS

Mysterious disease takes toll on ringed seals in Alaska Arctic
Biologists are trying to determine what's ailing ringed seals that live off Alaska's Arctic coast. Scores of seals stranded on beaches this summer appeared to have skin lesions, and dozens have died.

Sick Ringed Seal
Koyuk, Alaska, United States

Stranded Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)

Sick Ringed Seal
Nome, Alaska, United States

Sick Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)

Ringed seal stranding

The Mystery Rust of Kivalina, Alaska
Last month a mysterious orange film ("goo" in the media vernacular) washed up on the shores of a northwest Alaskan village called Kivalina. An orange powder seems an odd product for the drying of crustacean eggs, but could make perfect sense for fungi -- specifically, the rust fungi.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Scientific American Blog Network

Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida) Mortality
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada

Seal stranding and mortality

Ice seal mortality
Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada

Ice seal mortality
Nome, Alaska, United States

Ice seal mortality
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States

Walrus with skin illness

Ringed seal mortality
Uelen, Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia

Stranded seal
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Ringed seal mortality

Ringed seal mortality
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States

Strange seal behavior
Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut

Shell shock - thousands of Ninilchik clams wash up on beach in unusual die-off
A winter storm lashed the sandy beaches at the mouth of the Ninilchik River with ferocious waves, powerful enough to uproot thousands of razor clams.
Ninilchik, Alaska, United States
Redoubt Reporter

Strange seal behavior
Churchill Manitoba

Sick seals

Sick Seals
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

Sick Seals
Coral Harbor, Nunavut, Canada

Troubling Decline in Caribou Herds of the Arctic
Across the Far North, populations of caribou — an indispensable source of food and clothing for indigenous people — are in steep decline. Scientists point to rising temperatures and a resource-development boom as the prime culprits.
Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, Canada

Spider Webs Covering Acres of Grasslands
Spider webs covering vegetation along the Noatak River Delta resemble a mass "ballooning" event reported in Unalaska.
Noatak River Delta

The Seattle Times: Sports: Notebook: Humboldt squid make rare appearance here
Washington's outer coast
Seattle Times

Jumbo squid is captured in unfamiliar waters
Sitka, Alaska
msnbc.com

Too Many Sea Otters?
Some want to be able to kill them again off BC's coast. Part one of a Tyee special report.
Chesterman Beach, British Columbia, Canada
The Tyee

Oh, rats! Rodent sighting means Anchorage has infestations, too
Anchorage can no longer claim to be the largest port city in the Northern Hemisphere without known rat infestations. State biologist Rick Sinnott caught and kille dtwo Norway rats found living at a pond near a South Anchorage school. Professional exterminatiors hired by the city placed more traps at the scene Monday afternoon.
Associated Press

Spotted seal

Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)

Ringed seal

Prickly sharks (Echinorhinus cookei) observed in the shallow head of Monterey Submarine canyon

Apparent native freshwater mussel mortality event

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