http://www.thebigwobble.org/2018/11/another-tipping-point-breached-...

Another tipping point breached: Salmon have disappeared in Scotland: Not a single salmon caught during the entire season.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/panic-grips-ch...

continues............

Comment by Juan F Martinez yesterday with a link

http://www.yourdestinationnow.com/2018/05/frozen-baikal-deepest-and...

May 2018

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/several-dead-birds-found-along-no...

Several dead birds found along North Myrtle Beach shore, officials say

“The bottom line is that birds perished and were found on our beach, and as of this writing, we do not know why,” city officials said in a Facebook post.

According to officials, two pelicans and another type of bird were found in one location, while several other birds were found in another spot. One of the pelicans was reportedly found barely alive.

https://www.facebook.com/CityofNMB/posts/2161116954136865

UPDATE - DEAD BIRDS - DECEMBER 16 - 3:00PM

Several times today, U.S. Coast Guard and SCDHEC personnel flew the coast from Myrtle Beach, SC to Ocean Isle Beach, NC looking for signs of diesel or other fuel spills on the water. They did not see any evidence of spills.

Four species of birds are represented among those that died. The agencies involved have decided to have representative samples of each specie examined at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) in Georgia. The state-federal cooperative structure of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) is the most cost-efficient means of providing high quality wildlife disease expertise to State and Federal Agencie.

Investigators said there is no evidence of a diesel spill or that the death of any of the birds is associated with a diesel spill at this point.

Officials said samples from the birds were sent to be examined at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Georgia and the results are pending.

Galahs and other birds 'falling out of the sky' as Biosecurity SA tests for toxins

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-20/galahs-falling-from-the-sky-...

A large number of dead galahs have shown signs of possible poisoning after "literally falling out of the sky" in South Australia's Lower Lakes region.

Milang local and wildlife carer Sarah Hope said she first noticed a dead pink and grey galah in her backyard on November 27.

She told ABC Radio Adelaide that large numbers started turning up dead in the town and adjacent to Lake Alexandrina after clearly suffering a "horrific" end.

"A lot of people in the area, including those who come here for holidays, are distraught by seeing these animals literally falling out of the sky," Ms Hope said.

"It's absolutely horrific. They go down so fast and you can see how their claws are balled up because they can't hold onto the branch any more and fall out of the trees.

"They're literally face down on the ground."

Ms Hope sent two of the dead birds to Biosecurity SA which delivered a pathological report indicating a "significant congestion of organs, which commonly occurs with poisons/toxicity".

There were no signs of disease and the agency described it as a suspected poisoning involving 50 birds in the Milang area.

Government testing for toxins

Ms Hope said more than 100 birds had since been found and she had delivered a further 20 for toxin and pesticide testing.

In a statement to the ABC, a Biosecurity SA spokesperson said the cause of the mortality did not appear to be an infectious disease.

"Testing for non-infectious causes such as toxins are now being conducted but may take several months for results to be available," the spokesperson said.

"Initial results may be available within the next four to six weeks."

Photo: An initial pathology report on two galahs found organ damage consistent with poisoning. (Supplied: Sarah Hope)

Magpies and pigeons also affected

Ms Hope said she had since heard reports of galahs being found in Murray Bridge and at Goolwa, and hoped the Government took it further to test the environment and find out where the "chemicals were coming from".

She said in the past week the deaths had crossed species into magpies and pigeons, while a large bird of prey, possibly a wedge-tailed eagle, had been found in an advanced state of decomposition.

"It's face down and has died in the same way. It's really tragic."

She said corellas had just started to arrive in the region but that the galahs came first in larger numbers than usual.

"It seems they're coming down to the lake because it's so dry up north, but the first flock that came down has become nothing within a couple of weeks.

"I've held more birds as they've died in the past few weeks here than I have in 20 years as a wildlife carer."

Authorities will test for up to 200 chemicals in the birds' livers and a part of their digestive tract near the mouth called a crop.

Full results, however, could take up to three months.

Anyone wanting to report bird deaths in other locations should call the Murray Bridge Natural Resources Management office on 8532 9100.

https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/civic-issues/article/karnat...

Dead fish found floating on surface of Bengaluru's Seegehalli lake in large numbers

Mirror Now

Updated Dec 30, 2018 | 19:50 IST

Thousands of dead fish were found floating on the surface of Seegehalli lake in Bengaluru, less than three months after a similar sight was reported from the city's Madiwala lake.

Water from the lake has been sent for examination (Representative Image)  |  Photo Credit: BCCL

Bengaluru: For the second time in less than three months, water bodies in Bengaluru can be seen bearing the brunt of the city's growing population. Locals residing near the Seegehalli lake woke up on Saturday morning to the sight of thousands of dead fishes floating on the banks of the lake. A similar instance was reported at the city's Madiwala lake earlier this year.

Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Balaji Ragotham who is one of the lake's guardians said that water samples have been sent to a laboratory in order to determine what might have led to the deaths of the fishes. "I was taken by surprise as we make all efforts to keep our lake and surroundings clean", he added.

When asked, residents who developed and maintain the Seegehalli lake said that inflow of underground drainage (UGD) into the water body may have led to the decimation of marine life. They also claim that the lake's design is flawed since the inlet pipe is directly connected to the stormwater drain. Therefore, the SWD overflows and silt gets deposited every time it rains even a little.

In October of this year, a similar incident was reported from the Madiwala lake where dead fish and snails were found floating on the surface in thousands. Citizens claim that these instances are the result of pollution of the city's water bodies by residents in addition to the discharge of effluents into them. Bengaluru in Karnataka is also home to Bellandur and Varthur lakes which have frothed and caught fire multiple times since 2016 owing to the high density of pollutants in them.

https://theworldnews.net/au-news/hundreds-of-dead-fish-found-at-pop...

0:48 / 30.12.2018

Hundreds of dead fish found at popular watering hole

HORRIFIC scenes of hundreds of dead fish, shrimp and an eel at a popular recreation spot have stirred community concerns of a potential toxic contamination.

Visitors reportedly made the shocking, stinking discovery at Wappa Dam and Falls yesterday after a disgusting

smell alerted them something was wrong at the watering holes in the Yandina area.

Hundreds of dead fish, crustaceans and an eel have reportedly been found at Wappa Dam and surrounding areas this weekend. 7 News Sunshine Coast

The Daily has sought information from Seqwater, who operate Wappa Dam, the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science and the Sunshine Coast Council.

Since the discovery, many locals have taken to social media saying they have never seen anything like it, and commented that it was "beautiful and fresh” after the rains.

One fisherman told 7 News yesterday that he had been in the area since 1985 and "never seen anything like it”.

He told he had seen "hundreds” of dead bass, catfish and shrimp, and was disgusted by the smell.

"I don't know what caused it, but it's not good,” they said.

A fisherman from the area since 1985 said he had "never seen anything like it" after discovering hundreds of dead fish at the Wappa Dam and Falls area. 7 News Sunshine Coast

A mother and her son had intended to swim, but decided against it.

"We have had a walk around the rocks and there's quite a few dead fish, a dead eel,” the woman said, and her son found a dead crayfish.

"It doesn't look good for swimming.”

At that time, visitors had not reported any signage warning them of any potential risks, and no workers were seen on site.

One commenter suggested the heat would have caused algae to grow rapidly, causing the marine life to suffocate.

https://www.sott.net/article/404033-Dozens-of-dead-birds-found-on-r...

Dozens of Dead Birds Found at Intersection of 45th and Coulter

Posted: Jan 02, 2019 04:38 PM CST

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) - Dozens of birds are found dead near at the corner of 45th and Coulter.

Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare said they have picked up birds at that location.

The City of Amarillo said the birds might have flown into power lines or cables near the electrical station at the intersection.

Xcel Energy Spokesperson Wes Reeves said they do not have any evidence of birds impacting their facilities at that intersection, and there have been no service interruptions related to animal contact in that area in recent weeks.

Merida, Yucatan, MX -MÉRIDA.- After thousands of locust arrived at the beaches of Progreso and Sisal, they now arrived in the city of Mérida and covered the sky like a cloud. Social network users reported the fact through their accounts.

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=es&sl=es&tl=en&am...

https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/nsw-mp-vomits-aft...

NSW MP vomits after witnessing mass fish deaths in Darling River

10 January 2019 — 11:35am

NSW independent MP Jeremy Buckingham said he vomited after visiting the Darling River and saw the scale of the mass fish deaths.

Mr Buckingham travelled to Menindee, near Broken Hill on Wednesday, after a Facebook video posted by local farmers Dick Arnold and Rob McBride showing the large, bloated carcasses of native and critically endangered Murray cod went viral.

The former Greens MP posted his own video to social media, highlighting the mass death.

“Australia, you need to hang your head in shame. Look at this,” Mr Buckingham said, as he retched while holding a rotting fish.

Mr Buckingham, who has been campaigning on the health of river systems his "entire political life," said it was "the most disgusting scene you could possibly imagine".

Algal blooms in the Darling River are believed to be responsible for the death of millions of fish, including golden perch, bony bream and Murray cod. There have been four such mass fish deaths in the region since the Christmas period.

On Wednesday, NSW Fisheries and Regional Water Minister Niall Blair said the latest mass killing would not be the last.

"Unfortunately this is the sort of thing we do see during drought," he said.

While Mr Buckingham acknowledged climate change and drought in the area contributed to the disaster, agriculture also played a major role.

"The first principle is we have to get more water out of the hands of the irrigators and into the river to restore its health, it's as simple as that," he said.

"At a national level, we need a royal commission into the management of the Murray Darling basin, and the administration of the Murray Darling Basin Authority," he said.

Mr Buckingham said he planned to stay in the area for a couple of days to highlight the issue so people living in the cities could witness it, "because it is an ecological catastrophe on an international scale".

He also criticised Mr Blair for not meeting a group of locals who were wait... on Wednesday afternoon.

"The NSW water minister Niall Blair had the gall to come out here, speed past the locals ... and then got out of the boat with a police escort and talked about how they were going to restock the river with fish," he said.

"Well, you can’t restock a river that has no water."

Mr Blair said on Wednesday he did not meet that group due to security concerns after "threats" were made, but said met with other locals along the river bank and met local councillors.

Related Article

Water

Water ministers reject claims of mismanagement over massive Murray-...

Mr Buckingham said he still has the stink of dead fish on his hands 24 hours later, despite four scrubs, two showers and a quick, "panicked" dip in the Darling River after he vomited from the smell.

"It was the most foul thing, you could not come up with a more disgusting smell," he said.

"It's this greasy, stagnant, rotten custard meat all over the place ... It's an appalling situation."

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-46801495

Hundreds of dead fish found in River Nene near Peterborough

About 400 fish have been found dead in a river after a "pollution" incident, according to the Environment Agency.

Residents living in Stanground, near Peterborough, reported the sightings in the River Nene on Monday.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, which is investigating, said the fish were killed by "elevated levels of ammonia and low oxygen".

She added that there was no risk to drinking water but advised people not to let their pets drink from the river.

The organisation said levels of ammonia and oxygen in the water were stabilising, but "possible enforcement action" could still be taken

The spokeswoman added: "We have identified the source and cause of the pollution, which has been stopped and isn't posing any further risk to the environment.

"As always, we'd remind people to please report fish in distress or suspected pollutions to us as soon as possible so we can investigate."

Residents shared their concerns about the discovery on social media, with one calling it "so sad".

A spokesman for Anglian Water also confirmed it had received reports of dead fish in the Riverside Mead area.

He added: "We're working with the Environment Agency to investigate the cause and assisting with clean-up actions in the immediate area."

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/thousands-bir...

Thousands of birds found dead in WA's 'most important' inland wetland

22 January 2019 — 12:42pm

Thousands of birds have been found dead at one of Western Australia's most important inland wetlands.

Birds roosting at Lake Gregory after a wet season.Credit:File photo/DCBA

A Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development veterinarian arrived at Lake Gregory in the East Kimberley earlier this month to take sample, and found a number of wild birds in "poor conditions with low body weights".

On a department inspection, it was found several thousand birds had died at the wetland, but the cause of death remains a mystery.

Lake Gregory is a permanent freshwater lake located between the Great Sandy Desert and the Tanami Desert and was previously described by the department as the most important inland wetland in Australia.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Thousands-of-Birds-Found-D...

Thousands of Migrating Birds Found Dead at Salton Sea

Published Jan 22, 2019 at 9:11 PM

Authorities say thousands of migrating birds have died at California's Salton Sea this month from avian cholera.

The California Department of Fish and Game says ducks, gulls and other birds were found dead at the south end of the state's largest lake between Jan. 8 and last Thursday.

Testing showed signs of avian cholera, an infectious bacterial disease. It's spread through direct contact or from contaminated food or water.

Wildlife officials say outbreaks occur annually as a result of birds flocking closely together during migration.

The 350-square-mile (560-square-kilometer) lake is located in the desert near the Mexican border. It's a regular stop for migrating birds.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/shocking-number-dea...

The shocking number of dead dolphins and porpoises washed up on Cornwall's beaches

Three more dead dolphins have been washed ashore in Cornwall, bringing January's grim tally to 30 animals

Experts have recorded 30 dead dolphins and porpoises which have been washed up on Cornwall’s coastline in January alone.

It includes two recent dead animals washed up on the beaches at Par and Porthtowan. Another dolphin was stranded and died on the Rame peninsula at the weekend.

Ruth Williams, the marine conservation manager with the Marine Stranding Network, said the figures were shocking but not unprecedented.

She said the network, which is run by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, recorded a total of 170 similar deaths last year and 250 in 2017.

“We do get a lot of reports of strandings at this time of year but these figures for January are pretty average,” she added.

“This year we are seeing huge numbers of live animals close to shore, which may increase the risk of harm or increase the number of sightings.”

The dolphin discovered at Porthtowan on Sunday was a young male common dolphin. It was found to be malnourished and has been removed to be examined and establish a cause of death.

Meanwhile another male common dolphin was washed ashore at Par on Saturday. That animal has been tagged but left in place.

Last week, paddle boarders near Kingsand Beach found another dead dolphin. It is believed that the mammal could have accidentally stranded itself by coming too close to the shore at Millbrook

Earlier, Rame Peninsula Beach Care group revealed how a large group of villagers watched on as a pod of dolphins came dangerously close to the dam.

If you find an animal washed up, it should be reported to the Marine Strandings Network on 0345 2012626. For a live or distressed sea animal, call the marine rescue team on 01825 765546.

Dolphins in the sea have been sighted regularly this month, including between Falmouth and St Mawes as well as drone footage up at Plymouth Sound.

The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth has shed light on the recent surge in dolphin activity.

In a blog post, the NMA wrote: "Recently research into marine mammal migrations has shown that warm water species, such as the short-beaked common dolphin, have been extending their range further north.

"This could be a result of climate change with the waters around the British Isles getting warmer or a shift in warm water currents.

"It is possible that higher temperatures and warmer waters have attracted these dolphins and created the conditions for plankton fronts to develop. These would have encouraged fish, whales and dolphins to gather following their food.

“This may seem like good news, but if our ocean continues to rise in temperature we will lose some of our cold-water species such as the Atlantic white-sided dolphin and White-beaked dolphin.

"On the flip side, it may be a case that over the winter months, the deep-water hunting grounds for the common dolphin have dropped in temperature. This would mean that the fish are travelling elsewhere to get their food and the dolphins are coming closer to our shores in search of a meal.

"One thing is for sure, we receive more reports of dolphin and whale sightings year on year, which is excellent and shows a real increase in public engagement in ocean conservation.”

Cornwall Wildlife Trust added: "We believe they have come inshore after large shoals of sardines and mackerel in our waters. Over the years we’ve had increasing reports of common dolphin in the south west, which are believed to have moved in from other areas and taking advantage of our productive seas."

Thousands of beached shrimp, still unknown causes. Ischia - ITALY

01-14-2019 Ischia

https://terrarealtime.blogspot.com/2019/01/scena-da-finimondo-ad-is...

01-14-2019 Ischia - Thousands of shrimp have been found on the beach in Lacco Ameno. The Coast Guard alarm has just been triggered and is investigating the possible causes of an unexplained event.
The population has been invited not to eat the shrimps found because the causes of what has happened are not currently known.
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What is going on? In the province of Cesena, crazy mice commit suicide en masse! - ITALY

https://terrarealtime.blogspot.com/2019/01/cosa-sta-succedendo-in-p...

23/01/2019 - It seems the scene of an apocalyptic film: hundreds of mice that rush into the street running like crazy, biting each other and without even trying to escape the wheels
of arriving vehicles. They die in dozens and remain on the asphalt until vigilants, firemen and local health company men do not arrive to try to understand what happened.

It seems a mass suicide that of hundreds of white and gray rats, of a type never seen in the area, which has disturbed a small village of Cesenatico, between via Medri and via Capannaguzzo.
I have a feeling something happened, they seemed crazy, they bite and ate each other,
and they do not behave normally

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It is the apocalypse! Rimini: flocks of crazy birds bang on the walls of houses or against cars in the race! - ITALY

https://terrarealtime.blogspot.com/2019/01/e-lapocalisse-rimini-sto...

24/01/2019 After the mass suicide of mice in the cesenatico, anomalous phenomena in the Rimini area are now reported. What is bothering these animals? What are they warning?
Groups of starlings that slam on the walls of houses or against cars in the race. Unusual phenomena

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-28/fears-of-more-menindee-fish-...

Thousands more fish found dead at Menindee as locals fear there will be 'none left'

Carp have been filmed floating and gasping on the banks of the Darling River at Menindee after the town in far west NSW was struck by another mass fish kill.

The NSW Government is investigating after thousands of fish were found dead Monday morning — less than a month after about a million fish were killed in the same area.

Fisheries officers from NSW's Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are on their way to the river to confirm the number of fish killed.

Large numbers of bony bream and a smaller number of other species have perished, according to the DPI.

Video shows the grim scene that greeted locals Monday morning of exhausted fish gasping on the water's surface.

Water Minister Niall Blair said there had also been reports some Macquarie perch were involved, but no confirmation Murray cod had perished.

The weather conditions had been similar to early January, when the first mass fish kill occurred, Mr Blair added.

"Unfortunately, we’re expecting the conditions to potentially continue to deteriorate," he said.

Clean-up crews were due to begin work Monday afternoon, he said.

Menindee gathered worldwide attention after the last fish kill.

It followed a smaller kill at the end of 2018.

Those two kills were the result of a blue-green algae bloom which stripped the water of oxygen, suffocating the fish.

Algae blooms can worsen during severe temperature change and rain.

On Sunday, the temperature in Menindee dropped 20 degrees Celsius and 2.1 millimetres of rain fell.

The Central Darling Shire Council has deployed a clean up operator who is also tasked with reporting on the fish.

'There will be none left'

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the latest kill proved there was "the makings of an ecological" disaster in Australia's most important river system.

"This is a disaster, the disaster keeps on unfolding," he said.

NSW Government officials say the state's drought was to blame for the fish kill earlier this month, but locals in Menindee claim the area's waterways have been mismanaged for years.

They said these fish kills proved their worst fears about the emptying of the Menindee Lakes in 2014 and 2017.

Menindee Tourism Association president Rob Greggory said the event was "tragic".

"What we are seeing is probably the last lot of fish that are here now," he said.

"There will be none left."

Mr Greggory said it was disappointing the Prime Minister or Federal Environment Minister had not visited the area.

"It would be nice for them to see it with their own eyes, instead of looking through the lens of a camera," he said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian faced criticism for a whirlwind visit to the lower Darling on Friday that did not include Menindee.

When questioned as to why she did not stop in, she said it came down to prioritising.

"Menindee has a population of 300 and they are on level one," she said.

"Others are on level five and six.

"I have been on the ground and spoken to people and been within a few kilometres of these specific issues."

Ms Berejiklian said water security in the state's far west had been a priority for her Government.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/01/shocking-undersea-plague-ob...

‘This is shocking.’ An undersea plague is obliterating a key ocean species

Jan. 30, 2019 , 2:00 PM

An “underwater zombie apocalypse.” That’s how wildlife veterinarian Joe Gaydos of the University of California (UC), Davis, describes “sea star wasting disease,” a blight that has decimated more than 20 species of sea stars from Mexico to Alaska since 2013. Now, a new study by Gaydos and colleagues has more bad news: The disease has hit the sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides)—a key predator within kelp forests—hardest of all. This once-common species has vanished from the majority of its range, sending shock waves through the ecosystems it once called home. The team also found a worrying association between warmer ocean temperatures and the severity of the outbreak, suggesting climate change could exacerbate future marine epidemics.

“This is shocking,” says marine ecologist Mark Carr of UC Santa Cruz, who was not involved in the study. “This is not just a population reduction, this is virtually the loss of a key species over thousands of miles. We’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Sea star wasting disease progresses from “that looks weird,” to “horror movie,” over a few days. White lesions appear, then expand into fissures of melting tissue. Limbs fall off and crawl away. And finally, the sea star disintegrates into a pale mound of decaying flesh.

Scientists still haven’t identified the pathogen responsible for the disease. Research suggests the culprit is a virus, but which one remains unknown. Similar die-offs have struck the West Coast in previous decades, but none has been so deadly over such a large area. Of the 20 species affected by the outbreak, lab tests showed the sunflower star to be among the most susceptible.

The meter-wide, 24-armed sunflower star stalks the kelp forest swallowing prey like kelp-munching sea urchins whole. As one of the top predators of invertebrates these supersize stars help maintain balance in the kelp forest ecosystem. Left unchecked, sea urchins can mow down kelp forests, leaving behind a denuded and depauperate undersea landscape. The sunflower star used to be a common sight underwater, but since its disappearance and the subsequent boom of urchins, northern California has lost more than 90% of its kelp forests, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The loss of those kelp forests has left the other species that depend on them hungry, homeless, or dead. In December 2018, California moved to extend a ban on recreational fishing for red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) after surveys showed the mollusks, which feed on kelp, were starving to death in huge numbers. Impacts to fish species are more challenging to quantify, but Carr says kelp forests are of vital importance not just as food, but as habitat, especially for young fish hoping to evade predators.

A dying sunflower star infected with “sea star wasting disease” in the Salish Sea off the coast of Washington state.

Jenn Collins

To gauge the impact of sea star wasting disease on the sunflower star, Gaydos’s colleague Drew Harvell, a Cornell University marine ecologist based in Friday Harbor, Washington, and other team members analyzed counts of the sunflower stars from nearly 11,000 shallow water scuba dives and close to 9000 bottom trawling surveys in deeper water. Hundreds of citizen scientists trained to identify and record the presence of the sunflower star conducted the shallow water surveys, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducted the bottom trawls, which consist of systematically dragging a net along the sea floor to sample marine biodiversity.

These data sets spanned nearly a decade prior to the collapse of sea stars and covered more than 3000 kilometers of coastline. Shallow and deep-water surveys showed stable populations followed by steep declines of the sunflower star ranging from a 60% population ... after the onset of the wasting disease in 2013, the researchers report today in Science Advances.

“Many people expected the sunflower stars to be taking refuge in the deep water where we couldn’t count them,” says Steve Lonhart, a kelp forest ecologist with the NOAA based in Monterey, California, who was not involved in the study. “We hoped they were hiding down there—this research shows that hope was naïve.”

The onset of sea star wasting disease also coincided with the warmest 3-year period on record for California’s coastal waters—2014, 2015, and 2016—according to NOAA climate researcher Nate Mantua in Santa Cruz, who was not involved in the study. To see whether there was a connection between water temperature and the disease, the study authors compared sea surface temperatures from the times and locations of each survey with the decline in sunflower stars. Their analysis found that the times and locations of the biggest death tolls coincided with the presence of abnormally warm water.

Mantua is the co-author of a 2018 paper in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society showing that climate change played a large role in the warming of California’s c.... Climate projections indicate those temperatures will become commonplace by the 2050s, he says.

“Many of these outbreaks are heat sensitive. In the lab, sea stars got sick sooner and died faster in warmer water,” Harvell says. “A warming ocean could increase the impact of infectious diseases like this one.”

The declining kelp forests of northern California are unlikely to recover unless sea urchins succumb to a pestilence of their own or their natural predators are restored. Harvell thinks the imperiled sunflower star should get strong consideration for being added to the U.S. Endangered Species List, and that a formal recovery plan may be necessary.

“I’m more worried now than I was before I read this paper,” Lonhart says. “We could be watching the extinction of what was a common species just 5 years ago.”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6680245/Deadly-dise...

Deadly disease that turns deer into ZOMBIES has spread to 26 states, new report warns - amid fears it could one day be transmitted to humans

• Zombie deer disease (chronic wasting disease) is infection in deer, moose, elk 
• It causes dramatic weight loss, loss of coordination, and increased aggression 
• As of January, CDC says it's been reported in 24 US states, two Canada provinces

17:01 EST, 7 February 2019

A deadly infection that’s come to be known as ‘zombie deer disease’ is spreading across North America, a new report warns.

Formally called chronic wasting disease, the illness attacks the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues in deer, elk, and moose.

It eventually leads to death – but, not before causing the animal to dramatically lose weight and coordination, and become aggressive.

According to the CDC, the disease was reported in at least 24 states in the US and two Canadian provinces as of January 2019, up two states since last year.

Though warnings over ‘zombie deer disease’ over the past few years have caused many to draw parallels to the mad cow epidemic, there’s so far no evidence that people can be harmed by infected meat.

The disease was first spotted in the wild roughly 40 years ago, but has been seen in captive deer as far back as the late 1960s.

It blossomed primarily in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, and has been spreading outward since, according to the CDC.

‘Since 2000, the area known to be affected by CWD in free-ranging animals has increased to at least 24 states, including states in the Midwest, Southwest, and limited areas on the East Coast,’ the CDC says.

‘It is possible that CWD may also occur in other states without strong animal surveillance systems, but that cases haven’t been detected yet.

‘Once CWD is established in an area, the risk can remain for a long time in the environment. The affected areas are likely to continue to expand.’

Chronic wasting disease can be found in both free-ranging and farmed animals, and is known to have horrifying effects on those it infects – but, it can be years before an animal begins to show signs.

The disease earned its nickname from the bizarre symptoms it causes, including a vacant stare and exposed ribs as it causes the animal to physically waste away.

While it’s not yet known to be transmissible to humans, a recent study found for the first time that macaques could get the disease after consuming infected meat, sparking fears that a variant targeting humans could soon emerge.

A separate study found that laboratory mice with some human genes could become infected, according to the CDC.

So far, though, it’s limited only to the hoofed mammals and its occurrence remains ‘relatively low’ nationwide.

But, it’s slowly and steadily spreading.

‘In several locations where the disease is established, infection rates may exceed 10 percent (1 in 10), and localized infection rates of more than 25 percent (1 in 4) have been reported,’ the CDC report says.

‘The infection rates among some captive deer can be much higher, with a rate of 79% (nearly 4 in 5) reported from at least one captive herd.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2019/01/28/Thousands-of-fis...

Thousands of fish die in 3rd mass death in Australian river

Monday, 28 January 2019

Thousands more fish have died in a key river system in drought-hit eastern Australia just weeks after up to a million were killed, authorities and locals said Monday, sparking fears an ecological disaster is unfolding.

Fisheries officials said they were on their way to Menindee, a small outback town in far-west New South Wales state, after the third mass fish kill in the area in less than two months.

The town is near the Darling River, part of the Murray-Darling River system that stretches thousands of kilometres across several states and supplies the country's food bowl.

“There's lot of small (dead) fish... a lot of the larger fish have already perished in the last two kills,” Menindee tourism operator Rob Gregory told AFP, adding that he counted 380 dead fish in just a six-metre (20-foot) stretch of river.

Gregory said Menindee was renowned as having one of the best fisheries in the far-west region.

“This is a true environmental disaster that is equivalent to a lot of other things that are occurring like the bleaching of the coral in the Great Barrier Reef,” he added.

While the federal government blames the deaths on a severe drought, experts and locals say they stem from the systemic depletion and pollution of the river.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries said the latest kills were likely linked to rains and a sharp drop in temperature after an extended period of hot weather that contributed to plummeting oxygen levels in the water.

The state government has installed aerators in some waterways to keep the levels of oxygen up for fish, but Regional Water Minister Niall Blair said it was fresh water that was ultimately needed for them to survive.

“No scientists, no locals, no-one has been able to point to anything else that could prevent something like this other than fresh water coming into the system,” Blair told reporters in Sydney Monday.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten called on the government to act, saying Monday the Murray-Darling was “facing the makings of an ecological disaster”.

and another:

Mystery surrounds more than 1000 dead fish that washed ashore south of Perth

Authorities in Western Australia are working to find out why more than 1,000 dead fish washed ashore on a beach south of Perth on Wednesday morning.

Pictures show the Rockingham foreshore littered with the fish on a 500-metre stretch of beach, around the Palm Beach and Rockingham Yacht Club jetties.

Brad Tilley from WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said only one species of fish, the scaly mackerel, was killed in the mysterious event.

“The numbers of fish were estimated to be more than a thousand,” he said.

“A report from the public on site was that dead fish could be observed in the shallows up to a kilometre towards the Kwinana bulk cargo terminal.”

Mr Tilley said tests would now be undertaken to determine the cause of the deaths.

“The fish samples have been delivered to DPIRD Aquatic Diagnostics, and the water samples to the Department of Water and Environment Regulation’s phytoplankton ecology unit.”

Other fish and dolphins unaffected

Witnesses said other fish were swimming freely around the dead mackerel.

“What was quite strange to me was it was this one particular type of fish that was washed up,” said Johann Maree, who was at the beach this morning.

“The dolphins actually came past and turned around and swam back up the shoreline, everything else seemed fine.”

Mr Maree said a local tour boat arrived while he was down there and staff on board advised him the fish kill was not a normal occurrence.

“It looked like clear water, there were actually lots of schools of small fish as well, but the water was dead still,” Mr Maree said.

“Not even a funny smell, everything seemed fairly normal except for the dead fish.”

DPIRD said fisheries officers would continue to monitor the area, and any additional species, in case of further fish deaths.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/dutch-scientists-probing...

Dutch scientists probing mystery of mass bird deaths

12 Feb 2019 01:42PM Updated: 12 Feb 2019 01:50PM

DEN HELDER, Netherlands: It was late on a stormy Saturday night when marine biologist Mardik Leopold's phone rang at his home on the remote northern Dutch island of Texel.

On the line was a coast-watch volunteer calling to tell him of reports of hundreds of dead guillemots washing up along the country's shores

"The next morning, my phone rang red-hot from callers all over reporting dead birds," Leopold, based at Wageningen University's marine research department in the northern port city of Den Helder, told AFP.

"Alarm bells started ringing."

Since early January, more than 20,000 guillemots have washed up dead on Dutch beaches - from the northern Wadden Islands to southwestern Zeeland.

"All the birds show signs of severe starvation and we don't know why," said Leopold.

On Thursday, Leopold, other marine biologists and veterinary pathologists will gather in the central city of Utrecht to perform a mass autopsy on some 100 birds, hoping to find an answer.Scientists like Leopold say they are in the dark as to why this phenomenon has struck the North Sea's guillemot population, which numbers about two million.One possible cause being probed is a recent spill from a container ship, the Panama-registered MSC Zoe, in January.The spill littered the Dutch and German coastlines with debris, including plastic toys, polystyrene, shoes and at least one bag with a dangerous powder identified by authorities as "organic peroxide".But there is no proof of a link and the container theory raises as many questions as it would answer.Why, for example, are only guillemots dying all along the Dutch coastline? Leopold said he has received no similar reports from Belgium or Germany.Also, guillemots are a cliff-breeding species who raise their chicks mostly along the rugged coasts of Scotland, Norway, Iceland and the German island of Heligoland, said Leopold."They are pretty robust birds," he said, equipped with small wings which enable them to "fly" underwater as they chase fish like sprat and herring."SOMETHING WRONG AT SEA"But now, dead birds are washing up "in their thousands", Leopold said at a warehouse in Den Helder, where dozens of the dead birds are being kept on ice."That's pointing out that there is something wrong at sea, and that's alarming."Their mysterious deaths are turning marine biologists like Leopold into the equivalent of animal crime-scene investigators.There are several theories circulating.

One is that rough weather caused the birds to become too tired to chase fish underwater, eventually causing them to starve.

But, said Leopold, "this winter was not particularly rough or severe and also, surely the birds would also have washed up elsewhere?"

As for the container theory, Leopold said an initial autopsy on a small number of birds showed "no plastic" in their stomachs.

Similarly, if the birds were affected by a chemical, other animals would also have shown symptoms, the marine biologist said.

Nor are the birds covered in oil or any other visible substance, which rules out an oil spill.

"VERY SICK"

This is not the first time guillemots have died off in their thousands, said Leopold. There were similar events in the 1980s and 1990s.

While Leopold and other scientists are puzzling out the mysterious deaths, some 120 kilometres (80 miles) to the east, animal rescuers have been hard at work saving many weak guillemots still alive when they washed up.

"They arrive here very sick. They are in poor condition," said Hetty Sinnema, manager at the Fugelhelling bird sanctuary in the small northern Frisian village of Ureterp.

By last Friday, the shelter had received 35 birds, but only around 14 have survived, despite emergency care and tube feeding with a special mix of fish, glucose and electrolytes.

Sinnema said she believed the bird deaths could be attributed to a combination of factors including rough seas and a shortage of fish.

"But we have to wait for the scientists to give us a clear answer," she said.

Leopold said scientists hoped to publish a report within a month after the autopsy.

and another:

ttps://www.standard.net.au/story/5899719/warning-to-stay-away-from...

February 12 2019 - 5:00PM

Warrnambool City Council and DELWP warn people to keep out of water at Lake Pertobe

Warrnambool wildlife carers say they have found more than 40 dead birds at Lake Pertobe after a toxic outbreak.

Signs have been placed around the water at the adventure playground’s lake, with Warrnambool City Council and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning advising humans and animals to keep out, as it may cause ‘serious harm’. 

Wildlife carer Alexis Creed-Sycopoulis said she had advised the council of the dead ducks two weeks ago after noticing them on the Australia Day long weekend.

She believes the birds have avian botulism, which is caused by the bacteria clostridium botulinum, a naturally occurring organism living in lakes and ponds.

The city council did not respond to questions from The Standard about the signs, why they had been erected, if there was any health warnings to the public or if avian botulism was present.

Outbreaks occur when there is a combination of low water levels, warm temperatures and lack of oxygen in the water

Ms Creed-Sycopoulis said she had four sick ducks euthanised, which didn’t include the ill ducks she could not reach.

“Their symptoms are typical of avian botulism which result in paralysis - they can’t hold their necks up and as a result will drown,” she said.

She said feeding bread to birds contributed to higher nutrient levels in the water, which in turn led to an increase in the soil bacteria that caused avian botulism.  

“People need to be aware that feeding bread to the ducks is not only bad for the ducks but contributes to the conditions that pollute the water, making birds sick,” she said.

“I’m hoping council will be erecting signs at Lake Pertobe and the botanical gardens warning people about the dangers of feeding bread to ducks and wildlife.”

Agriculture Victoria advises pet owners to prevent their animals from eating fish, birds or maggots potentially affected by avian botulism. 

It said the quick removal of dead birds was important in dealing with an outbreak. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/02/11/polar-bear-inv...

Dozens of polar bears invade remote Russian town, create 'emergency situation'

Russia might be famous for its bears, but this is ridiculous.

An invasion of about 50 polar bears has caused an "emergency situation" in the small Russian settlement of Belushya Guba, according to the TASS news agency. The town is located on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow.

"The people are scared," said Alexander Minayev, the deputy head of Novaya Zemlya.

"They are frightened to leave homes and their daily routines are broken," Minayev said in a statement. "Parents are afraid to let the children go to school or kindergarten."

The bears arrived in December and have acted aggressively since then, attacking people and entering residences and businesses.

"I have been in Novaya Zemlya since 1983, but there has never been so many polar bears in the vicinity," said Zhigansha Musin, the head of Novana Zemlya.

There could be a connection to global warming: Melting Arctic sea ice has forced polar bears to spend more time on land, where they compete for food. Scientists have long warned that the shrinking sea ice in the Arctic poses a direct threat to the bears – and increases the likelihood of encounters with humans, according to CBS News.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature says there are approximately 26,000 polar bears on earth. The species is categorized as "vulnerable." In the United States, it's considered a threatened species.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates the population could decrease by 30 to 50 percent if the loss of sea ice continues.

"Two-thirds of the world's polar bears could die out by 2050," the World Wildlife Fund has said.

This particular invasion in Russia might last awhile. The Russian government has refused to issue licenses to shoot the most aggressive polar bears, TASS reports. But the government has sent a team of experts to the archipelago to assess and prevent attacks on humans.

http://www.zetatalk.com/theword/tworx352.htm

Polar Bears

Polar Bears May Move North
Discovery Earth Alert, December 14, 2000

Thousands of polar bears that make their home near Hudson Bay in Canada may be forced to move north to survive melting ice caused by global warming. Environmental science professor William Gough of Toronto University's Scarborough College has spent the past six years evaluating the temperature and ice coverage of Hudson Bay, using records that date back to 1900. Polar bears normally spend November to June on the region's thick ice floes, feeding on newborn seal pups. The seal pup diet enables the bears to store enough energy to make it through the summer months on land. Gough said, "The length of time polar bears are able to spend on the ice is crucial because   the weight they gain during this period determines their survival rates and the number of cubs they'll raise." The rising temperatures have already triggered abnormal behavior in the bears. Witnesses have reported seeing caribou being stalked and adult seals being killed on land. The bears have also begun to increasingly view humans as a source of food. Professor Gough said, "There has been a dramatic increase in bear and human   confrontations over the past few years. Just recently, a woman north of Churchill was devoured and we're seeing more and more bears in garbage dumps close to towns." Gough chose Hudson Bay for his studies because it houses the most southerly polar bear population in the world.

http://www.pragativadi.com/hundreds-of-dead-fish-found-in-sono-rive...

Hundreds of dead fish found in Sono River in Balasore

Feb 24, 2019

Balasore: Hundreds of dead fish have been found floating in Sono River in Balasore district on Sunday morning, triggering panic among the residents.

The incident came to light after some fish traders of the slums in Remuna block of the district came across the dead fishes in the morning during netting.

As the news broke, locals of Patripala and Ganipur area started thronging to the river. While the exact cause of death of fishes on such a large scale was not ascertained, water pollution was suspected to the reason.

While the locals have alerted the concerned officials and the district administration about the incident, officials are yet to reach the spot, sources said.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mystery-humpback-whale-fou...

Mystery as humpback whale found dead in middle of Amazon jungle

The ten tonne marine mammal has stunned experts - and it's not know how it died

23:32, 24 FEB 2019

A humpback whale has been found dead in the Amazon jungle miles from its natural habitat - leaving experts in Brazil baffled.

The 36 feet long, ten tonne marine mammal was discovered in the middle of the undergrowth on the island of Marajo off the Araruna Beach, at the mouth of the Amazon River.

Scientists believe the creature died at sea and may have landed in the wooded area after rough seas and high tides threw it inland, far from the ocean.

Dirlene Silva, from the department of health, sanitation and environment (Semma) said to Brazilian media Journal O Liberal: “We only found the whale because of the presence of scavenging birds of prey.

“The vultures were spotted circling above the carcass which was found hidden in the bush some distance from the sea.”

A team from Semma went to the region to inspect the remains, believed to be a 12 month old calf, and to gather information which could help to explain how the aquatic creature crash landed in the jungle.

Video taken on Friday shows the mammal splayed out in swampy mangrove surrounded by trees, with no visible signs of injury.

Biologists from the Bicho D’agua Institute have been called in to collect forensic samples to determine the cause of death.

They believe the massive animal, which measures six feet wide, was already dead when it was carried by huge waves to its unnatural resting place.

Renata Emin, the project’s president and marine specialist said: “We’re still not sure how it landed here, but we’re guessing that the creature was floating close to the shore and the tide, which has been pretty considerable over the past few days, picked it up and threw it inland, into the mangrove.

“Along with this astonishing feat, we are baffled as to what a humpback whale is doing on the north coast of Brazil during February because this is a very unusual occurrence.”

According to the expert, humpback whales are normally seen in Bahia on the north east coast between August to November. It is a well-known breeding and delivery area. Then they migrate to Antarctica to feed.

The biologist said: “Humpback whales don’t usually travel to the north. We have a record of one appearing in the area three years ago, but it’s rare.

“We believe this is a calf which may have been travelling with its mother and probably got lost or separated during the migratory cycle between the two continents.”

Researchers said as there are no clear reasons why it died, only an autopsy will determine the cause of death.

Emin added: “Depending on the state of decomposition, some information may already have been lost.

“We are collecting as much information as we can get and identifying marks and wounds on its body to see if it was caught in a net or hit by a boat.”

The scientists also plan to open up the carcass, collect samples of parasites and evidence from the muscles which will be sent to labs for disease analysis.

It’s believed the stranded animal may have been grounded for several days before it was found.

Gaining access to the remains proved difficult. It took two attempts to reach the site. The first was hampered by the swampy water in the mangrove.

The examination is expected to take up to ten days to complete.

For now there are no plans to remove the hulk due to the size, weight and location.

Instead researchers intend to bury much of carcass and the skeleton will be sent to the Goeldi Natural History Museum in Belem for future studies.

https://whnt.com/2019/03/01/witness-says-toxic-fumes-not-involved-i...

Witness says toxic fumes not involved in death of dozens of birds

HUNTSVILLE, Ala - On Wednesday morning, a viewer alerted WHNT News 19 about a scene that looked like it was straight out of a movie. More than 60 dead European Starlings were scattered across a small portion of Moores Mill Road in Huntsville. It appeared that they all died at the same time.

An aviary expert at Auburn University said he suspected the birds could have been exposed to poisonous fumes. Many people took to social media expressing concerns about where the fumes could have come from.

WHNT News 19 found a driver who actually witnessed what happened to the birds. We learned that the birds actually died on Monday but more importantly, the witness says there is nothing for the public to worry about.

"Birds just scattered everywhere. It was like a bomb exploded," said Shiela Price, a woman from Meridianville who witnessed what happened Monday afternoon as she left the grocery store.

"We had left Kroger and was headed toward 72 on Moores Mill Road," she explained.

That's when Price says several flocks of birds caught her attention because they were flying in a strange pattern near the road. A few seconds later one large flock dove straight into a white Chevy pick up.

"One swarm of the birds just looked like it attacked that truck. They just swooped down real quick and hit the truck," she said.

She says she thought it was important to contact WHNT News 19 and tell her story.

"Because I was reading on your post and a lot of people were worried that are residents there, that some kind of gas or toxic fumes, or something you know, going to endanger them. And so I wanted to come forth and let everyone know what really happened," she explained.

But what really happened? Why would so many birds dive bomb a car? WHNT News 19 asked Auburn's curator of birds, Dr. Geoff Hill.

"It was probably a life and death chase where they were eminently going to be caught and eaten," he said.

He says when birds are in danger they fly in tight formations to try and protect themselves.

"They fly really low and really fast, and that's when they can make mistakes and hit windows, or a truck because it's really life and death," he said.

Dr. Hill says new research suggests when birds fly in formation the ones in front navigate for the entire flock, which could explain why they all 60 of them hit the truck.

He says it is extremely rare for an entire flock of birds to run into something. He also doesn't believe any toxic fumes or poisonous chemicals were involved in the birds' strange behavior.

https://newsbeezer.com/canada/dozens-of-dead-ducks-were-found-at-el...

Dozens of dead ducks were found at Elliston Park in Calgary

February 28, 2019

Biologists investigate after finding dozens of dead ducks near a rainwater runoff in a southeastern Calgary park.

Brett Boukall, a senior wildlife biologist at Alberta Environment and Parks, said the authorities around the 10 o'clock had been informed on Wednesday. He said samples would be sent to the lab, and he hopes they have more information in a week become.

Olav Rokne, a spokesperson for the agency, said that they currently do not exactly have the number of dead birds "It has been found that it is more than a dozen."

"Our biologists have gone to the construction site to collect samples of individual dead birds," he said, adding that they are working in partnership with the city

Calgarian Wayne Clarke shared photos of the dead birds with CBC News including a close-up of a bird that seemed to have a well-preserved head and wings while the corpse might have been caught.

Rokne said it appears that the dead birds are only near the rainwater drainage areas in southeastern Calgary Park.

He said in winter that it is common for waterfowl to gather in open water areas such as the Bow River or the storm water ponds and whitewater areas. Temperature lowers the areas of available open water decline, l overcrowding.

"For those birds that remain in these crowded, open waters, there can be hunger, extreme exposure and even diseases that can lead to deaths." It's too early to say for sure but this could be the cause of the incident at Elliston Park, "he said.

He said that there have been similar incidents in the past, especially when the temperature drops to -30. 1

https://kbjr6.com/news/national-news-from-the-associated-press/2019...

https://www.iol.co.za/weekend-argus/news/mystery-as-14-dead-sharks-...

Mystery as 14 dead sharks wash ashore in Gansbaai

News / 16 March 2019, 10:48am

Cape Town - The bodies of 14 bronze whaler sharks were discovered near Gansbaai earlier this month.

The sharks are listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature list, because they are being targeted in commercial and recreational fishing for their meat.

Bronze whaler sharks are also often spotted during shark-cage diving in the small town. Great white sharks are becoming rare sights during cage diving because of environmental factors.

The carcasses of 13 bronze whaler sharks were discovered washed up on a beach near Gansbaai on March 5.

Another shark carcass was found between Kammabaai and Voëlklip.

Natalia Drobniewska, the operations manager at the SA Shark Conservancy, said one of the sharks was pregnant.

Sharks washing up on the beach is not a common phenomenon.

Georgina Pendell, a marine biologist for the White Sharks Project, said in the year she worked for the organisation, she didn’t hear of any similar cases.

It is still unclear what led to the sharks being washed up.

“There are a lot of possible reasons for the sharks to wash up: being hit by a boat, getting stuck in fishing nets and then dying, getting caught on long lines and then discarded back in the ocean, natural causes and sickness,” Drobniewska said.

Pendell said there was a trawler near to where the sharks were found.

“They might have gotten tangled in the nets, died and then got washed on to the beach,” Pendell said.

https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/more-dolphins-die-in-aegean-sea-...

More dolphins die in Aegean Sea; group suspects navy drills

Associated Press

Monday, April 8th 2019

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Aegean Sea has seen a "very unusual" spike in dolphin deaths over the past few weeks, a Greek marine conservation group said Monday, adding that the rise could be linked to massive Turkish naval exercises in the area.

Fifteen dead dolphins have washed up on the eastern island of Samos and other parts of Greece's Aegean coastline since late February, according to the Archipelagos Institute.

Its head of research, Anastassia Miliou, told The Associated Press that 15 is a worryingly high number compared to "one or two" in the same period last year.

The group said while it's still unclear what caused the deaths, the spike follows the Feb. 27-March 8 Turkish "Blue Homeland" exercises — the country's largest ever — that made constant use of sonar and practiced with live ammunition.

The deafening noise of sonar, used by warships to detect enemy submarines, can injure dolphins and whales, driving them to surface too fast or beach themselves — with sometimes fatal consequences — to escape the din.

"We can't say that the Turkish exercises killed the dolphins, but the fact that we had such an unusual increase in the number washed up dead — and what we have seen must be a small percentage of the total because the Aegean has a long coastline — coincided with exercises that used more than 100 ships," Miliou said. "(The deaths) are very worrying and we can't say that the two events are unrelated."

After several mass beachings of whales, NATO, to which both Turkey and Greece belong, has adopted a code of conduct for using sonar that is designed to better protect marine mammals.

Miliou said the alliance's rules are respected by the U.S. Navy, which has a strong Mediterranean presence, and the Greek navy.

"There's a new (military) generation in place that doesn't want to harm the environment in the name of national sovereignty," she said.

But Miliou said it was unclear whether Turkey has implemented the guidelines. She said the Greek government in Athens should raise the issue in talks with Ankara, particularly ahead of new Turkish naval exercises in the Aegean.

"With these giant exercises ... strain is placed on the entire marine ecosystem, including fish and plankton, because (they) cause intense noise pollution from which marine life can't escape," she said.

Miliou added that the Aegean Sea "can barely handle the strain we are already subjecting it to," such as pollution, overfishing and heavy marine traffic.

https://www.shoshonenewspress.com/local_news/20190413/tundra_swan_d...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-14/fish-kill-near-ramsar-listed...

Mass fish kill in eastern Victoria due to salinity and other natural causes, authorities say

April 13 2019

Hundreds of fish have died near an internationally-recognised lake in eastern Victoria.

Regulators and water managers have blamed "natural causes" such as salinity for the death of adult carp in the main drain of Lake Wellington near Sale.

Advocates for the Gippsland Lakes said the mass fish deaths were just another indicator of long-term mismanagement of the waterways, while a scientist said the impact of the drought was to blame for the decline in water quality.

Phil Ronalds, who lives near Lake Wellington, a Ramsar-listed wetland, raised the alarm about the dead fish earlier this week.

Photo: Mass carp deaths can deoxygenate the water, putting native fish at risk. (Supplied: Phil Ronalds)

He said diverting water from rivers for the nearby Macalister Irrigation District, and to supply Melbourne with drinking water, was part of the problem.

He said this fresh water kept the saline water at bay at Lake Wellington and across the extensive Gippsland Lakes network.

The Gippsland Lakes is a series of lagoons fed by seven rivers flowing down from Victoria's high country, towards the coastal town Lakes Entrance.

Much of the saline water that causes problems in the lake system is from the entrance being opened permanently to accommodate industry in the port.

Drought and summer bushfires contribute

Federation University environmental scientist Jessica Reeves blamed the current drought and summer bushfires for a decline in water quality across the lakes and increasing salinity.

"[With] rising sea levels, deepening of the entrance … and also the decreased rainfall, there just isn't enough fresh water coming in to dilute the system," Dr Reeves said.

"The overall salinity is increasing and particularly at the fresh water end such as Lake Wellington."

Dr Reeves has been doing research near Lake Tyers and said, because of the ongoing drought, its water levels were lower than people had seen in "living memory".

Confusion over cause of fish deaths

Southern Rural Water (SRW) manages the irrigation water from Glenmaggie Weir, which draws on water from the Macalister River, including the drain where the fish was found.

They were notified about the mass carp deaths on Tuesday, and informed Victoria's Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

"The EPA has confirmed this is one of several recent fish kill reports in the district, which are natural occurrences, typically caused by salt water ingress, not pollution," a joint statement from the two agencies said.

SRW spokesman Gavin Prior said the EPA ruled the carp deaths were from natural causes.

"How they died is not our decision," he said.

"Our [role] is to report our finding to the relevant authority and in that case it's up to the EPA to make that decision."

However an EPA spokesman told the ABC, SRW made the call about the cause of the dead fish.

A request to clarify this with the environmental watchdog had not been received before publication.

A Victorian Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning spokeswoman said the agency helped clean a few hundred European carp, which died on the shores of Lake Wellington last week in a separate event.

Love our Lakes spokesman Martin Potts also blamed the decline in the quality of the lakes on the diversion of water from the rivers, but said the death of carp was good for the lakes system.

However, he said mass deaths could cause further environmental problems and indicated native fish would also be affected.

"A large carp dying can deoxygenate a cubic metre of water," he said.

"We lose oxygen. [This] then causes a black water situation, so you can have quite a large lot of deaths all at once."

http://www.thebigwobble.org/2019/04/a-very-small-swarm-eats-as-much...

Wednesday, 17 April 2019

https://www.ndtv.com/science/lost-sea-creatures-wash-up-on-californ...

Lost Sea Creatures Wash Up On California Shores As Climate Shifts

The violet, thumbnail-size snails washing up in Horseshoe Cove in California have never been seen this far north. By-the-wind sailors, a tiny relative of warm-water jellyfish, sprinkle the tideline by the dozen.

April 18, 2019 08:54 IST

Bodega Bay, California: 

The Pacific Ocean off the California coast is mixed up, and so are many of the animals that live there.

The violet, thumbnail-size snails washing up here in Horseshoe Cove have never been seen this far north. By-the-wind sailors, a tiny relative of warm-water jellyfish, sprinkle the tideline by the dozen.

And in the tide pools along the cove's rocky arms, as harbor seals about to pup look languidly on, a slow-motion battle is underway between native Giant Green and Starburst anemones, a species common in Mexico. The southern visitors are bludgeoning their northern hosts with poisonous white-tipped tentacles.

Then there are the whales.

As many as five at a time have been foraging in the San Francisco Bay, the vast inlet about an hour south of here along the wild Sonoma and Marin coasts. The number is far larger than in a normal year, when one or two might wander in beneath the Golden Gate Bridge for a day or two at most.

These whales now are staying for as long as a month. And, for the first time ever, there are two species in the bay at the same time - grays and humpbacks, both usually speeding north to their Bering Sea feeding grounds this time of year.

Instead, whale-watching boats are having more luck in the opaque waters off Berkeley on the bay's eastern edge than in the open ocean. Three grays have also washed up dead on bay shores in recent weeks, their stomachs empty.

"Our guess is that they are superhungry, maybe looking for a little food before continuing north," said Bill Keener, a marine mammal biologist who has been tracking whales, dolphins and porpoises in the bay for decades as head of Golden Gate Cetacean Research. "But why are they staying this long? We can't really figure out what these guys are doing."

The likely culprits: "the blob" and "the boy."

Five years ago, the Gulf of Alaska warmed to record temperatures, likely due to a sudden acceleration in the melting of Arctic sea ice. Usually, a cold southern current flows along California. That year, the warm "blob" spread down the coast and, instead of blocking tropical species from moving north, it served as a balmy welcome to a variety of animals far from home.

Then came El Nino, the roughly once-a-decade temperate current that flows north and east from the equatorial Pacific to the California coast. The two warm-water events came together - one rare but understood, one unprecedented and baffling - to form an ocean heat wave whose real-time and lingering effects may have permanently scrambled California's coastal ecosystem.

"This was like opening a door temporarily for southern species to move northward," said Eric Sanford, a professor of biological sciences who runs a lab here at the Bodega Marine Laboratory of University of California, Davis. "And the longer you hold the door open, the more opportunity you give southern species to move north."

The door was not just ajar but wide open for several years. Today, there are still pockets of unusually warm water off California, doggy doors that continue to beckon tropical species that are strangers to its usually chilly 840-mile coastline.

Last year, scientists identified a yellow-bellied sea snake that had washed up on Newport Beach in Orange County, the first time the tropical species had been found in California in a non-El Nino year. Then, last month, an olive Ridley sea turtle was spotted by lobster fishermen off Capistrano Beach, in part because a sea gull was resting on its back. The turtle migrates on warm currents, one of which may have swept it so far north.

The violet, thumbnail-size snails washing up in Horseshoe Cove in California have never been seen this far north. By-the-wind sailors, a tiny relative of warm-water jellyfish, sprinkle the tideline by the dozen.

An elephant seal pup at the Marine Mammal Center in California

continues................

https://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article229457174.html

Dolphins, endangered sea turtles, oysters dying as fresh water invades Mississippi Sound

April 19, 2019 12:05 PM

Gulfport

https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/post/why-are-gray-whales-washing-dead...

Why are gray whales washing up dead on Pacific Northwest beaches?

April 24 2019

Beetles invade Israel, but ministry says let them be

APRIL 29 2019

All together now: Swarms of big, black and annoying — but harmless — Calosoma olivieri beetles are infesting Israel

https://www.timesofisrael.com/beetles-invade-israel-but-ministry-sa...

The Calosoma olivieri beetle

Hordes of large black beetles have invaded Israel, descending upon homes and leaving a foul stench in their wake.

The Environmental Protection Ministry confirmed Monday that the bugs are being found in large quantities in many communities around the country.

Dr. Leibele Friedman of Tel Aviv University identified the creatures as the common Calosoma olivieri, which grow up to 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) in length, a ministry statement said.

The insects tend to arrive in urban areas in the evening and after landing on the ground, search for a hiding place and usually die within a few hours.

The pestilence, which comes on the heels of a much less icky butterfly migration, is expected to end soon as the weather turns hotter after a particularly rainy winter.

There have also been reports of large quantities of moths invading areas.

https://www.facebook.com/wazcam/photos/a.1081759211918409/243650572...

After the invasion of areas in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, the arrival of black cockroaches to the city of Jerusalem, where the worshipers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque noticed its presence in the courtyard.
This insect is called black grasshoppers or so-called night-time insects from migratory insects. The night's noise sounds annoying during the night, due to the friction of its wide wings together, and people are often disturbed by hearing it.

https://philnews.ph/2019/05/02/thousands-dead-danggit-fish-found-za...

Thousands of Dead Danggit Fish Found in Zamboanga

11:23 AM May 2, 2019

Dead Danggit Fish Found in Coastal Areas of Zamboanga

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) would investigate the thousands of dead Danggit fish found in the coastal area of Zamboanga.

On Wednesday afternoon (May 1, 2019), the authorities spotted thousands of dead Danggit fish floating along the waters of R.T. Lim Boulevard.

Mayor Beng Climaco advised the public to refrain from swimming or picking dead fish in the area due to the incident.

Climaco together with City Agriculturist Carmencita Sanchez and OCENR head Engr. Rey Gonzales proceed to R.T. Lim Boulevard after discovering the mysterious fish kill.

BFAR Charlie Repana gathered samples of waters and fish for laboratory tests to determine the mysterious cause of death of Danggit fish in the area.

The Zamboanga Mayor also urged the residents to report such incidents and not consume the dead fish along the coasts.

The agency also concluded that the dry spell and sudden rain produced dissolved oxygen level concentration caused the Zambo fish kill but they would still wait for the lab test results.

https://www.coastalreview.org/2019/05/lower-neuse-river-seeing-dist...

 Lower Neuse River Seeing Distressed Fish

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Division of Water Resources is currently investigating the numerous dead or dying fish found recently in the lower portion of the Neuse River, the state Department of Environmental Quality announced Thursday.

A photo from the state Division of Marine Fisherie shows a 2018 fish kill in 2018 on the Neuse River between Flanners Beach and Slocum Creek. Photo: Lower Neuse Riverkeeper Facebook

Staff observed the numerous dead or dying menhaden with 3- to 5-inch-long severe lesions during the past several days in the Neuse River from Flanners Beach to Carolina Pines. Dead fish may continue to surface in the area over the coming days and holiday weekend.

Staff and other scientists are are working to analyze the fish to learn the cause, which does not appear to be water quality parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, according to the release. Conditions will continue to be monitored and updates will be provided when information is available.

The public is being advised to avoid contact with water where the distressed fish are being observed.

The state Department of Health and Human Services recommends not going in the water while these conditions exist; do not eat, use or collect any fish, crabs, other animals or items from these waters; and do not let pets swim in or eat fish from these waters.

If you come in contact with the water where fish or shellfish are dead, dying, appear sick or have sores take the following precautions:

• Remove wet clothing and keep it separate from other items until it has been washed.
• Wash any body part, except the eyes, that comes into contact with the waters, using soap and clean water. Rinse eyes with lots of clear, clean water.
• Use waterproof gloves when handling pets and items that have come into contact with the waters.
• See your doctor or health provider if you experience any symptoms such as confusion, vomiting, diarrhea or skin rash that might be caused by exposure to these waters.

Residents can use the DEQ fish kill app to report fish kills to DEQ staff for investigation. A map of all fish kill events occurring in 2019 is on the Division of Water Resources’ website.

Major die-off of Common Murres under way along the Mendocino Coast, CA

https://www.advocate-news.com/2019/05/24/major-die-off-of-common-mu...

Starting on Wednesday, May 22, hundreds of Common Murres, an ocean-going bird native to the Pacific Coast from the Channel Islands to the tip of the Aleutians in Alaska, have been reported washed up dead or dying on beaches along a 10-mile stretch of coastline in Mendocino County between Noyo Bay and Seaside Beach.

Local wildlife observers say it’s too early to tell what is causing the die-off.

The Common Murre looks a little like a penguin, but is more closely related to terns or gulls. It spends most of its time in the water. Murres can and do fly, but like penguins, they maneuver best in the water. Normally, the likelihood of a casual beachgoer seeing one ashore is slim.

More than 300 found

But more than 300 Murres have been counted over the past two days washed up on local beaches. On Wednesday, May 22, a beach walker at MacKerricher State Park called Sarah Grimes, who works with the Noyo Center for Marine Science under a grant from the California Academy of Scientists.

The man told Grimes he had counted 65 dead birds near his home in Inglenook. Grimes investigated and counted another 65 birds in the Ward Avenue area. She then reported the discovery to the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), a program run out of the University of Washington that trains local volunteers to survey beaches at least once a month and count and tag dead seabirds.

COASST put out a call to their volunteers on Wednesday night to mobilize for a “wreck,” the term bird surveyors use to describe a mass mortality event. By 8 a.m., May 24, Grimes reported the count at 300 birds, primarily between Noyo Harbor and Seaside Beach.

Probably just a fraction

“The carcasses that wash ashore are a small fraction of the dead birds,” said Prof. Julia Parrish, the executive director of COASST and associate dean of the College of the Environment at the University of Washington. “It could be 10 percent to 20 percent, depending on wave action and scavenger activity.”

COASST and other volunteers, along with California State Parks personnel, are continuing the count, and the number of carcasses could rise.

According to Grimes, it’s not clear what has caused the die-off. Murre die-offs in Alaska in recent years happened in fall and winter, and were tentatively attributed to disruptions in the food chain, with birds found emaciated.

Recent rains along the Mendocino Coast, Parrish said, could be a factor but are unlikely to be the sole cause.

“Murres are in the middle of their breeding season. They lay their eggs on high rocks above the wave line. They live their life on the open seas and are pretty scrappy,” Parrish said. “Typically, you would find one dead carcass per kilometer this time of year. It’s doubly alarming because this is the wrong time of year and the wrong species to be washing up on shore.”

Volunteers overwhelmed

Grimes said she has seen the birds walking out of the water and perishing. Rescue teams have been unsuccessful in transporting the birds to the Humboldt Wildlife center as they are dying within an hour of collection.

Because the carcass numbers are so high, COASST volunteers are clipping wings to ensure birds are not counted twice. Typically, volunteers document each carcass and tag it, but there is no time for the normal process now.

Grimes, who also volunteers at COASST and the Audubon Society, has collected six birds and frozen them. They will be shipped to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a necropsy which, it is hoped, will shed light on the cause of the die-off.

“Seabirds have robust plumage to protect them from the cold and to seal a layer of air next to their bodies. This keeps them warm and dry. When birds are sick, they lose this ability and could be walking out of the water to get away from the cold,” Grimes said.

She added that one of the birds she collected still had an egg intact, highlighting that this is breeding season, which typically runs from late May through June.

Unanswered questions

According to Terra Fuller, Senior Environmental Scientist for the California State Parks Coastal Region, the Common Murres that are washing up on Mendocino Beaches could be from an established colony off the Mendocino Headlands. The Headlands is part of the Coastal National Monument and under Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction. BLM did not immediately respond to an inquiry whether it knows if the birds are from that colony, and if the colony is being monitored.

“The lack of northwest wind in May reduced upwelling and the cold water that feeds the ecosystem,” Fuller said, noting that any explanation of causes now is speculative. “The birds, which typically feed well offshore, may have moved their feeding closer to shore where the upwelling was still in effect. If that is the case, they may have been caught in the storm.”

Fuller went on to say that Parrish and COASST are the experts on collecting data and determining cause.

COASST conducts surveys from Elk in Mendocino County to the Canadian border. Beach Watch surveys the coast from Elk to Monterey. COASST has been in contact with Beach Watch and they have not found an unusual number of dead birds in their area, indicating the die-off is concentrated in Mendocino County at this time.

Among the many questions raised: is this die-off tied to El Niño, climate change, deforestation of the kelp or warm waters off the coast? Is there a toxic algae bloom; did the birds eat fish that were full of toxins?

According to Grimes and Parrish, it is too soon to know and only time and testing will shed light on the death of Common Murres in Mendocino County.

https://nationalpost.com/news/world/they-just-keep-washing-in-scien...

'They just keep washing in': Scientists see evidence of climate change in deaths of thousands of seabirds in the Bering Sea

'They didn't get where they were going. They ran out of gas. They ran out of time'

May 30, 2019 10:14 AM EDT

For months beginning in October 2016, carcasses of tufted puffins turned up one after another on the shores of St. Paul Island, a tiny Alaskan outpost in the southern Bering Sea.

“It was very apparent that something strange was happening. They just keep washing in and washing in,” said Laura Divine, director of the Aleut Community of St. Paul Ecosystem Conservation Office, who helped oversee the collection of the birds. “Every person in our community knew something was wrong.”

The odd-looking seabirds – with their rounded heads, golden head plumes and distinctive bright orange bills – typically migrate south to warmer waters that late in the year, so having any puffins wash ashore was rare enough. But the arrival of hundreds of emaciated puffin carcasses, as well as of a second species known as the Crested auklet, alarmed and astonished local residents and scientists.

“Part of the mystery is what in the heck were those guys doing there? Why hadn’t they left? … That means there’s something going on in the system that’s not too good,” said Julia Parrish, a professor at the University of Washington who also runs a large citizen-science project known as the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, or COASST. “We know month in and month out what is normal, what to expect.”

The mass die-off of the widely beloved birds off Alaska was anything but normal — even as it is one of a growing number of “mass mortality events” affecting seabirds in recent years.

Parrish and a group of colleagues used weather data to estimate that between 3,150 and 8,500 birds likely died, most likely from starvation. And in a paper published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE, the authors argue the die-off is at least partially attributable to the changing climate.

“This mortality event represents one of multiple seabird mortality events that have occurred in the Northeast Pacific from 2014 to 2018, cumulatively suggestive of broad-scale ecosystem change,” they write. Such episodes, they add, “are indicators of a changing world, and particularly of climate change.”

Tufted puffins breed in the Bering Sea off the Alaskan coast, feeding on various fish and marine invertebrates, which themselves rely on plankton for food. But several years of significant warming and a reduction in sea ice has resulted in troubling changes, such as the migration of certain “forage fish” such as capelin, juvenile Pollack and other energy-rich prey that puffins and other birds depend on to survive.

The authors suggest the climate-fueled shifts that likely affected the food supply, as well as the fact the birds were in molt – a process that replaces their feathers but also hinders their ability to fly – ultimately doomed the puffins that washed ashore on St. Paul Island.

“They didn’t get where they were going,” Parrish said. “They ran out of gas. They ran out of time.”

Similar circumstances appear to have fueled an unprecedented die-off of Common Murres – a thin-billed sea bird – between 2015 and into early 2016 off Alaska and other parts of the U.S. Pacific coast. The following year, another seabird die-off happened in the Bering and Chukchi seas of Alaska and Russia, affecting Northern Fulmars, Short-tailed Shearwaters and other species.

In fact, 2018 marked the third year in a row that scientists documented “massive” seabird die-offs, according to the National Park Service.

“Seabirds are good indicators of ocean ecosystem health. Recent mortality events are concerning in that they may be pointing to significant changes in marine ecosystems,” the agency wrote in an update late last year.

As recently as this month, dead and dying Common Murres have been reported along the Mendocino County coastline in California, though the cause of that die-off remains undetermined.

“We are now just bracing for what is going to wash in next,” Divine said. “It’s kind of terrifying.”

Such episodes have also unfolded elsewhere in the world in recent years.

In the Gulf of Maine, puffins have been found dying of starvation and losing body weight – although scientists there have helped aid breeding in an effort to boost populations. Across the Atlantic, puffin populations also have been in decline, partly due to human factors such as hunting, but also, scientists say, because of changes to food supplies.

Wednesday’s study also comes on the heels of a United Nations report earlier this month, which found that roughly one million plant and animal species are on the verge of extinction, with alarming implications for human survival. That report by seven lead co-authors from universities across the world goes further than previous studies by directly linking the loss of species to human activity. It also detailed how those losses are undermining food and water security, as well as human health.

Parrish acknowledged that many questions remain about precisely what led to the puffin die-off in 2016, as well as others documented before and since.

“People often think you can point to climate change the way you can point to a person with a gun who had just shot somebody,” she said.

The reality, she said, isn’t so simple when it comes to figuring out all the forces shaping a complex ecosystem such as the Bering Sea. But she said that each die-off offers clues that significant changes are underway, and that more troubling patterns might lie ahead.

“Each one of those is like a bell going off,” she said. “And there’s been a lot of ringing lately.”

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/random-bird-deaths-cam...

New Brunswick

Birds are dying in Campbellton area and hunger could be cause

Birds have been flying into windows, cars and fences and then dying on lawns in the area

CBC News · Posted: Jun 08, 2019 1:31 PM AT

In Campbellton and surrounding areas, birds are flying into windows, cars and fences and then dying.

Campbellton, N.B., resident Geniva Anderson says she's found four dead birds in the past two days.

"We've been having a problem where little birds would fly into our window, into our cars," Anderson said. "Even if the vehicles were parked they'd fly into them, and they'd fly into our fence.

"Some do survive and then they're kind of knocked out for a little bit, but some die. They just don't make it."

Anderson said birds began "dropping like flies" earlier this week in Campbellton and surrounding areas.

She said the birds look disoriented and can't fly well. The phenomenon prompted her to make a Facebook post this week, which garnered comments from others in the community with their own bird mortality stories.

Some birds exhausted from hunger have survived after crashing into objects. Others, have died. (Submitted by Geniva Anderson)

Joe Nocera, an associate professor of wildlife management at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, said the birds are likely exhausted from hunger.

"The reason that they seem so disoriented, sluggish — unacrobatic, let's say, is likely because they don't have the energy and they're in some kind of starvation mode," he said.

He said the bird deaths could be the result of environmental or physiological factors.

The birds may have encountered bad weather during their migration, causing them to expend their energy reserves. The birds may also have reached their destination only to find a lack of food, which could be the result of cool temperatures.

"The cold weather would keep the insects down and they wouldn't be flying around. They'd be immobile and so the birds wouldn't have access to them," Nocera said.

He said events like the one in Campbellton happen every year across the globe. He said they are also sometimes caused by pesticide use, too.

"Several years ago, there was a famous case in Arkansas where about 5,000 black birds died in one single night and that was likely due to local pesticide use."

Nocera said he's not sure whether pesticide use is a factor in Campbellton's case.

https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2019/06/12/fish-drown-in-sittee-...

Fish “drown” in Sittee River: DOE explains

Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2019. 3:53 pm CST.

Today, the Department of the Environment (DOE) explained that the fish discovered floating dead in the Sittee River died from a lack of oxygen.

The DOE contacted Breaking Belize News (BBN) explaining that several samples of the water in the area were collected and tested, along with one of the dead fish found in the area. Based on the analysis, the DOE concluded that the water’s oxygen content was very low, and is suspected to be the cause for the phenomenon.

The DOE added that fertilizer in the water was one of the suspected causes for the low oxygen content; however, that suspicion was ruled out as the water’s nitrate levels did not indicate the presence of fertilizers.

The department believes that it was a combination of backed up biodegradable material in the water due to high tide and high water temperatures that gave rise to an increase in bacteria that depleted the oxygen in the water.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Sea-Turtles-Dying-at-Record-Rate-...

Sea Turtles Dying at Record Rate in Texas, Advocacy Group Says

June 13 2019

A record number of sea turtles are stranded along the Texas coastline at the height of sea turtle nesting season, a marine wildlife advocacy group says.

A total of 159 stranded sea turtles were recorded in April — the highest number of strandings in one month since monitoring began in 1980, according to Turtle Island Restoration Network. Strandings have continued at a rapid pace, with 186 turtles stranded through May 21. Most of the turtles were dead when they were discovered.

Among the dead were 68 Kemp's ridley sea turtles, the Texas state sea turtle and the world's most endangered sea turtle, the group said.

A stranded sea turtle is one found alive on land, or in the water that is dead, injured or exhibits any indication of ill health or abnormal behavior. According to Turtle Island Restoration Network, it is often difficult to determine why a turtle become stranded. In some cases, turtles have interacted with fishing vessels and are found with gill net wrapped around their flippers.

"We know turtles are drowning in illegal longline and gillnet fishing operations along the United States-Mexico border in southern Texas," Turtle Island Restoration Network Gulf Program Director Joanie Steinhaus said. "We need government agencies on both sides of the border to make this a priority. The reasons for stranding may be different in other areas like along the upper Texas coast, but the numbers are still alarming."

According to Turtle Island Restoration Network, shrimp trawling is one of the primary threats to sea turtle survival in the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico. Every year, the shrimp trawl fishery captures and kills thousands of sea turtles, including the critically endangered Kemp's ridley. Migration of the Kemp's ridleys in the shallow waters of the Gulf Coast coincides each year with shrimp fishing.

"Better law enforcement by both state and federal agencies is only part of the answer," Steinhaus said. "Another simple step that would save thousands of ridleys would be closing shrimping in state waters during the nesting season."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/14/like-a-horror-film-va...

'Like a horror film': vast swarms of flies plague Russian villages

Local residents in Urals describe sweeping bucketfuls of dead flies from their homes

Fri 14 Jun 2019 12.30 EDT

Villages in Russia’s Urals region have been invaded by vast swarms of flies that have sparked health concerns and fears for local harvests.

“You can’t hang out your washing to dry or open your windows, let alone go outside,” a woman in Lazorevy told state television, which aired images of thick clouds of flies crawling and buzzing through the village.

Another local was shown sweeping up piles of dead and dying flies from the floor of his home. “Every day or two there’s enough to fill a bucket, half a bucket,” he said. Residents described scenes as “like something from a horror film”.

“It’s unbearable, the flies are everywhere,” said a woman holding a wailing child in her arms. “I’m afraid for my children. We need to poison the flies constantly [with chemicals], but then we all have to breath that air. It’s frightening.” State TV also said the flies could infect people with diseases.

Reports said the invasion began after a farmer illegally used tonnes of chicken droppings from a local poultry farm as fertiliser, in which flies laid millions of eggs. Some reports said dead chickens and chicken entrails had also been used. Investigators confirmed they had opened a criminal investigation into the unsanctioned use of “environmentally hazardous waste”.

Maxim Maksimov, the head of the poultry farm, admitted supplying chicken droppings to the farm for use as fertiliser, but said it was normal practice. “This is much better than chemicals,” he told the Ura.ru news website. “We were just unlucky with the weather. A wet spring and then a sudden increase in temperatures created favourable conditions for flies to breed.”

He said that he had ordered his workers to cover the farmer’s fields in a bid to prevent flies laying more eggs in the droppings. “If this doesn’t work, we are prepared to use special agrochemicals on the villages.”

The farmer, Andrei Savchenko, denied he was to blame. “Flies have existed for millions of years, and they are everywhere,” he said. “This is just a question of the amount of them. But no one can tell me what the acceptable or cut-off number of flies is.”

A deadly fungus is killing millions of bats in the U.S. Now it’s in California

https://www.latimes.com/style/pets/la-me-white-nose-fungus-kills-ca...

A mysterious fungus that has killed millions of bats in the eastern United States and left caves littered with their tiny carcasses has arrived in Northern California and appears poised to spread throughout the state, according to officials.

A cluster of little brown bats hibernate in New Mammoth Cave near LaFollette, Tenn. (Amy Smotherman Burgess / AP)

Scott Crocoll holds a dead Indiana bat in an abandoned mine in Rosendale, N.Y. White nose syndrome is killing more bats over a larger area. (Mike Groll / AP)

https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/flock-of-over-50-n...

Flock of over 50 native birds die after falling from sky bleeding from eyes

July 15, 20198:18am

A large flock of native birds has died after a mysterious illness caused them to fall from the sky, bleeding from their eyes and beaks.

Dozens of native corella birds have died overnight after they fell from the sky in an Adelaide outer suburb.

Bleeding from their eyes and beaks, more than 50 gravely ill birds began falling from the sky at a soccer oval in One Tree Hill, a suburb on the outskirts of Adelaide, about 2.30pm yesterday.

Volunteers from Casper’s Bird Rescue, founded by Sarah King, desperately tried to help the long-billed corellas, running to the oval and calling out for extra help on Facebook.

Ms King originally received a tip the birds had been shot, but vets working on the birds suspect they may have been poisoned.

Children at a nearby school who were attending vacation care saw a number of the sick and dying birds bleeding from their eyes and beaks, according to Yahoo.

According to Ms King, 11 volunteers arrived on the site yesterday at 2.30pm and stayed until 11pm collecting the 58 injured birds that were suffering and in great pain.

The volunteers took the birds to two different vets. Of the birds collected, 57 have now died, with “one possible survivor”, Ms Hill told news.com.au.

A conclusive necropsy has not yet been performed to detect poisons, news.com.au understands.

Ms King said she would be returning to the area with other volunteers tonight to check for more birds.

Another volunteer in the local corella welfare Facebook group said the birds were suffering and vets were forced to euthanise most of the ailing flock.

“All (birds) at Para Hills have passed as far as I am aware,” one woman wrote. “The kindest thing to do for the ones we collected was to euthanise, otherwise it’s a slow painful death.”

Corella birds are considered “unmanageable” by the Alexandrina Council, who recently proposed a new plan to kill the birds by poisoning, according to the ABC.

The Alexandrina Council is a local government area that includes the Fleurieu peninsula and Kangaroo Island.

The council wrote to SA Environment Minister David Speirs, saying nonlethal methods to control the birds had failed, and the council should be allowed to use poisonous gas.

Yesterday in SA, a parliamentary inquiry was told the koalas, corellas, and other native animals were reaching unmanageable levels across the state and needed to be culled, poisoned and euthanised, according to Adelaide Now.

“Unless we act to manage the problem by culling abundant animals, there will not be a lot of other biodiversity in the state,” the Natural Resources Committee told the inquiry.

The recommendations come despite the inquiry hearing “a genuine reluctance to communicate with the public about culling,” had been reported, “as some community stakeholders find the concept … an abhorrent approach”.

The Natural Resources Committee said their recommendations to Mr Speirs was to cull “abundant” species like koalas on Kangaroo Island.

They inquiry also heard that the kangaroo population on should be halved by killing, and many corella populations need to be removed from current habitats.

The inquiry also addressed the culling of long-nosed fur seals, according to Adelaide Now, with interested parties urging the government to consider culling native species.

Long-billed corellas are a native Australian bird and a type of cockatoo. They are a light pink bird with a blue marking around their eyes. They are known to dig on ovals for roots and other food.

They are considered a pest in the agricultural industry, as they can tear up crops and destroy powerlines.

http://www.thebigwobble.org/2019/07/mass-die-off-of-pilot-whales-wa...

Saturday, 20 July 2019

EMF causing worldwide animal sickness and death

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-49045742/mystery-surrounds...

Tuesday, 23 July 2019A mystery! Animal deaths on France's farms, coincides with electromagnetic fields killing musher dogs in Alaska and causing cattle to flee in panic in Holland

A mystery surrounds animal deaths on France's farms, strangely coincides with electromagnetic fields killing musher dogs in Alaska and causing cattle to flee in panic in Holland.

Farmers in France are claiming that electromagnetic fields created by wind farms and other electrical installations are leading to low productivity and high rates of mortality.
But scientists who’ve looked into it have failed to detect any chain of cause and effect.
The BBC went to western France to investigate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-5VfBsY5RI

http://www.thebigwobble.org/2019/07/a-mystery-animal-deaths-on-fran...

In 2018 The Big Wobble received a similar story from a very concerned Bill Laughing-Bear from Alaska, however, Bill believed he had discovered the true problem: Bill Laughing Bear reported,
EMF is the electrical intensity or "pressure" developed by a source of electrical energy such as a battery or generator.
A device that converts other forms of energy into electrical energy (a "transducer") provides an EMF at its output.
Bill as regular readers of The Big Wobble knows, works with professional dog mushing teams in Alaska, discovered, 13 of his dogs died of different kinds of cancers over a short period of time.

Footage shows grasshoppers swarming around the Las Vegas strip as the insects invade the city due to unseasonably wet weather

• Large swarms of grasshoppers have descended on Las Vegas in recent days 
• The insects are travelling north to Central Nevada due to changing weather patterns and an unseasonably wet first six months of the year in the state  
• Footage shows pallid-winged grasshoppers flying around the Las Vegas strip
• An expert claimed they do not pose a risk and will soon migrate northwards 

Footage shows swarms of grasshoppers flying around the Las Vegas strip as people shield their heads and look on bewilderment.  

A large amount of adult pallid-winged grasshoppers have descended on Las Vegas and wet weather is to blame for the invasion.

Footage shows the insects flying around outside a business on the Las Vegas strip, right across from the famous Mirage Hotel and Casino late on Thursday night.  

The footage was uploaded by a user called @365inVegas and shows people shielding their heads from the creatures as they walk along. 

Methane Bubbling From Sea Floor Off Outer Banks  7-29-2019

Deep-sea explorers investigating a spot 39 miles off North Carolina’s Outer Banks found a gigantic field of methane bubbling out of the seafloor.
The bubbles of methane, seeping “continuously and others turning off and on over periods of less than a minute,” were discovered off Bodie Island, at a depth of about 1,300 feet.
In some spots, the bubble plumes are plentiful enough to resemble florescent lace curtains in the glow of a camera deployed by NOAA Ocean Exploration and Research.

Adding to the spectacle: The bubbles rise amid “dense” beds of mussels that are seen in a video stretching as far as the camera lens could penetrate.

The bubbles are methane gas, seeping constantly from the ocean floor off Bodie Island, at a depth of about 1,300 feet, according to a report by the NOAA-backed team.

Evidence of a “seep field” off the island was first detected on sonar in 2012, but the expedition this month marked the first time visual proof was established that the seeps remains active and plentiful, officials said.

“These methane seeps had never before been visited … and scientists were excited to watch as (a camera) made new discoveries during its progress up the ridge,” noted a report by marine and geology experts.

Among the surprises was an abundance of sea life in the extreme environment, including spider crabs, quill worms, sea stars, anemones and several fish species, the report said.

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Birds mysteriously falling from sky in UK city are Biblical sign of 'end of days'

BIRDS falling from the sky in a British city are feared to be a Biblical sign of the end times

Published 30th July 2019

Pigeons have been found lying dead in their droves around the centre of Wells, in Somerset.

Many of the dead birds were found scattered on rooftops, in fountains and around the historical Cathedral Green.

It has sparked fears of a widespread epidemic.

And birds falling from the sky is seen by some as a sign of the end times as foretold in the Bible. 

Birds were also pecked to pieces and half-eaten by other animals and birds including seagulls.

Former Mayor of Wells, Celia Wride, suspected something strange was happening in the city after members of the public reported sightings of dead pigeons on pavements and roads.

Mrs Wride said: "For the last few weeks, dead pigeons are appearing everywhere.

"One lady found three dead in her garden and my daughter and I saw one late one evening just lying on the pavement near our house.

"They have no apparent injuries and are intact.

"Several ladies told of an incident where one poor bird fell out of the sky and landed on a lady carrying a cup of coffee."

Mrs Wride went on to rule out foul play but speculated the reason behind the deaths could be due to a parasitic disease.

"According to my local informant who is also the current Beat Manager, PC Dan Williams, we have discovered what may be the cause - 'canker'.

"The RSPB say that the disease is easily passed within the pigeon population as they are such sociable creatures."

Canker is caused by a tiny organism called a protozoan. It is a disease that is easily transmitted from bird to bird.