Spectators look at a beached whale in Coronado, March 8, 2016.
March 9, 2016 - EARTH - The following constitutes the latest reports of unusual and symbolic animal behavior, mass die-offs, beaching and stranding of mammals, and the appearance of rare creatures.
Dead humpback whale washes ashore at Silver Strand State Beach, California
A dead whale washed ashore at Silver Strand State Beach on Coronado Island on Tuesday morning.
The 23-foot carcass appeared to be a humpback whale calf that was dead
before it washed ashore, according to a San Diego National History
Museum employee.
Park workers taped off the area of the beached whale to keep spectators,
who were snapping photos, at distance for public safety concerns,
including bio hazard.
The whale had been found between the park entrance and parking lot 1.
Park officials told NBC 7 that they had contacted the National Oceanic
Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA), which will determine how to move the
beached whale.
NOAA was conducting a forensic investigation of the carcass to determine the whale's cause of death.
A park spokesman said Tuesday afternoon that the park is working on
plans to remove the carcass "as soon as possible," which will cost
several thousand dollars for contracted hauling.
WATCH: Dead whale washes ashore on Silver Strand State Beach.
A NOAA spokesperson said the whale would be removed on Wednesday.
A woman visiting San Diego from Utah said it was an unexpected and sad sight.
"I just came down to search for some seashells on the beach and I came across something different," Jeni Galbraith said.
"Just sad," she added. "You don't want to see anything like this."
Tina Matthias of the Living Coast Discovery Center said she suspects the
calf became separated from his mother during the El Nino storm.
"Probably got washed up with the storm, unfortunately," she said.
The whale was first spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard on Friday night nine
miles off shore dead in the water; since Monday night, witnesses on
Coronado have reported seeing it washed ashore. - NBC San Diego.
Rare beaked whale washes up dead in Zeeland, Netherlands
The dead body of a rare beaked whale measuring almost five metres has been washed up close to the Zeeland port of Vlissingen.
The body of the mammal, which weighed some 930 kilos, has been taken to
Utrecht University where vets will try to determine the cause of death,
local news website PZW says.
The last time a beaked whale washed up in the Netherlands was in 2013,
off the coast of Wadden Sea island Schiermonnikoog. The last one to be
found in Zeeland was in 1992.
Beaked whales are unique among toothed whales in that most species only
have one pair of teeth. There are 22 species of the Ziphiidae family
and it is not clear which sort was found in Vlissingen.
One of three whales which stranded on Ruakaka Beach. PHOTO/Imran Ali
Three rare Gray's beaked whales discovered dead on Ruakaka Beach this
morning will be buried at a sacred site just off the beach.
The whales stranded at high tide, possibly just before dawn, but marine mammal experts were unsure as to why they they swam close to shore as they are usually deep sea dwellers.Orca
expert Ingrid Visser, Whale Rescue's technical adviser Steve Whitehouse
and Department of Conservation marine ranger Marie Jordan travelled to
the site, about 2km south of the Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving Club, to
determine what type of whales they were and to make arrangements for
their removal.
Local iwi have given their permission for Dr Visser to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death. - New Zealand Herald.
Rare deep sea long-nose chimaera caught off Newfoundland
Greek mythology has stories about Chimaera, a monstrous fire-breathing
lion, goat and snake hybrid and one has been recently caught off the
coast of Newfoundland.
But this creature is a deep sea fish with a slimy body, green glowing eyes and ribbed fins that look like feathered wings.
This eerie catch is said to be a long-nose chimaera that branched off from sharks almost 400 million years ago.
The fish was caught during a commercial fishing excursion off the Grand Banks and St. Pierre and Miquelon, reports CBC News.Scott
Tanner, the Lunenburg man who pulled the lifeless creature from the
ocean, was about one month into the 40-day trip that was fishing for cod
and red fish.
'There's lots of other weird stuff that comes out [of the ocean] but that one definitely stood out ... I don't imagine many people have seen one,' he said in an interview with CBC News.
'All the production stopped and everything so everybody could check it out.'
'Even the older guys that are 50, 60 years old, they've seen maybe one
in their lifetime so they thought it was pretty neat and I snapped a
couple pictures.'
The chimaera weighed between two and five kilograms, but was already dead when it was pulled from the net.
WATCH: Rhinochimaeridae, commonly known as long-nosed chimaeras.
Tanner told News Nation that the sudden change in pressure was most likely the cause of death.
Andrew Hebda, curator of zoology at the Museum of Natural History in
Halifax, told News Nation that the chimera's eyes were likely bulging
out because of how fast it was pulled from the water.
Long-nose chimaeras are one of three chimaera species in North Atlantic waters, but seeing one is quite uncommon because they live more than several hundred meters below the surface.
The spooky fish has a long nose, menacing mouth and a venomous spine atop its gelatinous body.
Although this creature looks like something from of a nightmare, it
feeds on shrimp and crabs and is completely harmless to humans.
Like all chimaeras, the long-nosed species is a distant relative of
sharks and rays and is one of the oldest species of fish in the world.
They also have cartilaginous skeletons, but until their relatives they have one external gill opening that is covered by a flap.
Its beady eyes are designed to find food along the dark sea floor, which only glow if they are exposed to light.
Sometimes called the ghost shark, it has a whip-like tail and can grow to around three feet long.
Their pectoral fins are wide and flat, similar to wings, which makes them seem as if they are 'flying' through the water.
Another report of the alien looking fish came from northern Canada back in 2013.
Caught near the northernmost province of Nunavut in Davis Straight, it
was first believed the odd fish was the similarly freakish goblin shark
until researchers confirmed it was the long-nosed chimaera.
'Potentially, if we fish deeper, maybe between 1,000 and 2,000 metres
(3,000 to 6,000 feet), we could find that's there's actually quite a lot
of them there,' University of Windsor researcher Nigel Hussey told CBC.
'We just don't know.
Hussey, who is credited with finally identifying the fish, says the mystery comes from the strange creature's rarity.
'Only one of these fish has previously been documented from the Hudson Strait,' Hussey said. - Daily Mail.
Scotland's beached whales suffered from heavy metal poisoning
High levels of toxins mercury and cadmium have been found in all
organs of the whales recently beached on Scotland's North Sea coast,
including the brain. The research shows that rising mercury levels in
the oceans leads to toxic stress in the long-lived marine mammals.
A pod of whales stranded in Fife in 2012 had high concentrations of
toxic chemicals, some of which had reached the mammals' brains,
scientists have discovered.
The pod of long-finned pilot whales were stranded on a beach between
Anstruther and Pittenweem in Scotland, on 12th September 2012.
Out of the 31 mammals which beached only 10 could be refloated and 21 - 16 females and five males - died.
Scientists from the University of Aberdeen, in collaboration with the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, found mercury at levels high enough to cause severe neurological damage in humans. They also demonstrated for the first time that the toxic element cadmium can cross the blood-brain barrier.
"This pod of whales provides unique new insights because we were able to
look at the effects on a large number of whales from the same pod and
how this varied according to age", said author Dr Eva Krupp, an
environmental analytical chemist from the University of Aberdeen.
"We were able to gather an unprecedented number of tissue samples from
all the major organs including the brain and as a result we can see for
the first time the long term effects of mammalian exposure to the
environmental pollutants."
Unique insights into mammalian response to environmental pollutants
Their report, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment,
shows a clear correlation between the increased levels and the age of
the mammals, suggesting toxic stress increases the longer the mammals
live.
This could demonstrate that this species of marine mammal are less
susceptible to mercury poisoning than humans, but that they cannot
entirely discount the possibility that it is a factor leading to whales
navigating off course.
"We can see clear evidence that mercury is being transported through the
blood stream to all organs where it accumulates over the lifespan",
explained Dr Krupp. "As well as an increased concentration of mercury in
the brain as the whales become older, we see a similar effect with
cadmium, which has not been previously reported.
"It is known that cadmium can penetrate the blood brain barrier in the
new-born or developmental stages but it was not thought to do so in
adults. Our findings are significant because we can demonstrate for the
first time that cadmium is in the brain tissue and that its levels
increase with age.
"Although the body has a natural defence mechanism in the form of the
element selenium, which detoxifies these harmful chemicals, we found
that the majority of selenium is not available for the synthesis of
essential proteins in older animals. This indicates that the longer mammals live, the less able they may be to cope with the toxic effects."
Pollution may be responsible for whale strandings
Dr Krupp collected and analysed samples from the whales together with
PhD students Cornelius Brombach and Zuzana Gajdosechova. Analysis of
samples revealed that the level of mercury in the whales increased in
correlation to the age of the mammals, which ranged from under a year to
36 years.
They found very high concentrations of mercury in the brain of all the
whales older than nine years and in three the concentration was higher
than levels at which severe neurological damage would occur in humans.
Previous scientific studies have shown that mercury
concentrations in the oceans have notably risen since the industrial
revolution and through goldmining activities, which may in turn lead to
an increase of mercury levels in marine mammals.
"So far, we have no indication that the mercury and cadmium levels in
the brain cause disorientation, which in some cases can lead to
strandings, but there is a potential for higher stress in these iconic
animals due to rising toxic metal concentration in the oceans", Dr Krupp
added.
"More research is needed to investigate whether this is a factor in
strandings, particularly where other explanations such as illness or
weather events cannot be found."
February 19, 2016 - LAKE ERIE, CANADA - The weekend cold snap in parts of Central and Eastern Canadawas so extreme, nearly 60 per cent of Lake Erie froze over two days.
Environment Canada issued cold or winter storm warnings on Saturday for provinces from Manitoba to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Temperatures in Windsor, Ont., for instance, dipped to - 17 C on Sunday.
On Friday, satellite imagery showed three per cent of the shallowest of
the Great Lakes to be covered in ice.
WATCH: 60% of Lake Erie freezes over in 2 days.
By Sunday, it was 64 per cent
covered, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).
February 19, 2016 - EARTH - The following articles constitutes several of the latest reports on heavy snowfall, low temperatures and snow storms as global cooling continues across the Earth.
Ice jam causes flooding in downtown Augusta, Maine
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Kennebec River in Augusta due to an ice jam.
The flood warning is in effect until 3:30 p.m.
At 10:23 a.m. Wednesday an ice jam formed quickly on the river, causing it to rise to 13.2 feet.
The river was at 14 feet as of 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and was expected to fall slowly.
At 5:30 a.m. Thursday the river was at 12.25 ft in Augusta, prompting
the National Weather Service to extend the flood warning into the
afternoon. Flood stage is 12 ft.
Augusta police said on its Facebook page at about 10 a.m. that the river
was rising and flooding the Front Street parking lot. Front Street was
closed.
Unseasonably warm temperatures earlier this week
caused an early breakup of ice on the Kennebec River, causing minor
flooding in low-lying areas
People came by to take pictures and stare at the ice jam all day
Wednesday, but employees in the building along the river had no time to
watch because there were only a few minutes to move.
A woman sprinted through the water this morning, rushing to save her car from fast-moving water.
"She went to close her vehicle and she couldn't close her door because
the water was rushing in, and the big chunks of ice," said Colleen
Tyler, owner of Vickery Café.
The woman got out just in time in the last of the cars to move from the path of the ice jam.
"Something happened, and it all backed up, and by 9:30 there's water in
the parking lot," said Dave Groder of the Augusta Fire Department.
Rain and warm weather over the last few days helped create a jam earlier than usual.
"As far as in February, having it jam up like this, I don't recall it," Groder said.
Deidra Consteanty said it's been quite a while since she's seen a jam this early, too.
"I'm watching, and the water's coming up a little big, a little bit
more, and it's like, 'OK, it's time to call these people,'" Consteanty
said.
WATCH: Ice jam floods Augusta.
"You just watched it, and you couldn't say anything because you
were just fascinated by watching it and the power of nature," Tyler
said.
The warm weather, rain and to a smaller extent, the high tide forced the closure of Front Street for the night, officials said.
The rising tide could redistribute some of the ice, making the situation worse or loosening the jam. - WMTW.
Early icebergs seen off Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
You can usually time the welcome of icebergs by the arrival of summer
and the tourism season, but this year the mighty bergs seem to be
hugging the coastline early.
In my 43 yrs here I don't recall ever seeing a iceberg in Logy Bay in Feb. there's a massive one offshore this morn! pic.twitter.com/3UuTOhHHLq
Icebergs usually show up off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador in May and June, and draws large swaths of people to the province each year. - CBC.
December 18, 2015 - CANADA - It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a meteor!
Maybe.
Social media was abuzz Thursday as many Newfoundland and Labrador residents reported seeing what seems to be a meteor.
While the possible meteor was spotted in several areas of the province,
Jamie Hickey of Muskrat Falls managed to record some video, which was uploaded to YouTube by meteorologist Eddie Sheerr.
But some people were skeptical about dubbing the burst of light as an official meteor.
One Twitter user called it "space junk," while another mused it might be a UFO.
Whatever it turns out to be, meteor sightings are not all that uncommon in the province.
Meteor showers peak during the August Perseids and December Geminids, the latter of which just occurred between Dec. 13-14 this year.
May 11, 2015 - EARTH - The following constitutes the latest reports of unusual and symbolic animal behavior, mass die-offs, beaching and stranding of mammals, and the appearance of rare creatures.
Dead whale found on beach at Bald Head Island, North Carolina
The UNCW Stranded Marine Mammal Team is determining the cause of death.
- WECT.
Wild animals in drought-stricken Western states are dying for a drink
As thousands of acres of grassland have turned to desert, the giant kangaroo rat has disappeared.John Roser/University of California at Berkeley
For the giant kangaroo rat, death by nature is normally swift and dramatic: a hopeless dash for safety followed by a blood-curdling squeak as their bellies are torn open by eagles, foxes, bobcats and owls.
They’re not supposed to die the way they are today — emaciated and starved, their once abundant population dwindling to near nothing on California’s sprawling Carrizo Plain, about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, where the drought is turning hundreds of thousands of acres of grassland into desert.
Without grass, long-legged kangaroo rats cannot eat. And as they go, so go a variety of threatened animals that depend on the keystone species to live. “That whole ecosystem changes without the giant kangaroo rat,” said Justin Brashares, an associate professor of wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of California at Berkeley.
Endangered kangaroo rats are just one falling tile in the drought’s domino effect on wildlife in the lower Western states. Large fish kills are happening in several states as waters heated by higher temperatures drain and lose oxygen. In Northern California, salmon eggs have virtually disappeared as water levels fall. Thousands of migrating birds are crowding into wetlands shrunk by drought, risking the spread of disease that can cause huge die-offs.
As the baking Western landscape becomes hotter and drier, land animals are being forced to seek water and food far outside their normal range. Herbivores such as deer and rabbits searching for a meal in urban gardens in Reno are sometimes pursued by hawks, bobcats and mountain lions. In Arizona, rattlesnakes have come to Flagstaff, joining bears and other animals in search of food that no longer exists in their habitat.
“You think about it. In our urban environments, we have artificial water. We’re not relying on creeks,” said David Catalano, a supervisory biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. “We have sprinkling systems. We water bushes with fruit and water gardens. That’s just a magnet for everything.
“We’ve seen an increase in coyote calls, bear calls, mountain lion calls — all the way to mice and deer,” Catalano said of the distress calls made to his department by residents. “At your house, everything is green and growing and flowering, and they’re being drawn to it.”
The state wildlife agency said it is preparing for a deluge of calls reporting bear sightings from Lake Tahoe this summer when berries and other foods they eat disappear for lack of rain.
About 4,000 mule deer have vanished from a mountain range near Reno since late last year, probably because of drought. “Our level of concern is very high,” Catalano said. Nevada has placed low fiberglass pools called guzzlers that hold up to 3,600 gallons of water at more than 1,000 wilderness areas across the state to provide water for wildlife.
For a second year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department warned people in Flagstaff, near Grand Canyon National Park: “Don’t be surprised if you see more wild animals around town in the next few months. Drought conditions may cause creatures like elk, deer, bobcats, foxes, coyotes and even bears to wander further into town than normal, as they seek sources of food and water.”
California water regulators adopted unprecedented restrictions on how people, governments and businesses can use water amid the state's ongoing drought. (AP)
Don’t feed them, the department cautioned. Remove pet food, water bowls, garbage and other items that attract wild animals. It does more harm than good.
In California, where mandatory water restrictions were passed by the state water board on Tuesday, humans are already coming into contact with desperate wildlife from the 250,000-acre Carrizo Plain National Monument in the Central Valley, near Bakersfield.
“Just today, 20 minutes ago, four coyote cubs arrived” from Bakersfield’s outskirts, said Don Richardson, curator of animals for the California Living Museum, which has an animal shelter in the city.
“We actually get everything from reptiles to mammals,” Richardson said. “We have 13 San Joaquin kit foxes, an endangered species. They were abandoned, orphaned. The kit foxes’ health was impacted by the struggle to make it with reduced resources. Then, of course, we see a lot of birds of prey — owls and golden eagles.”
The animals are already suffering from the fragmentation of their habitat because of ranching and urban development. “It’s looking to be a very, very difficult year for wildlife,” Richardson said.
Endangered San Joaquin kit foxes, coyotes and birds in the wildlands outside Bakersfield all rely on the giant kangaroo rat to survive. But those rodents are struggling themselves.
“We fear that a semi-arid grassland is becoming a desert,” said Brashares. “The giant kangaroo rat can’t survive in desert.”
A study by the university recorded a 95 percent population loss since 2010.
Before the drought, 60 percent of their habitat was covered in grasses that they eat and seeds that they store for hard times in a network of underground burrows, Brashares said. Four years of little rain has reduced the cover to 18 percent.
“They simply lack food, so they starve,” Brashares said. As the state wildfire season approaches, the remaining grasses could be wiped out.
For a study, biologists caught a few kangaroo rats this year to study their condition. “They were skinny,” Brashares said. “We looked at females to see whether they had young, whether they were lactating.” They weren’t.
In this reality, where food is scarce and births are few, kangaroo rats are still a top prey, further shrinking their numbers.
The demise of this species would be unthinkable, Brashares said. There’s no overstating how important the rodent is in the ecosystem. Few others are around to feed snakes, badgers, weasels and animals already mentioned. Even the soil kangaroo rats dig for burrows creates moist habitat for insects.
A worse situation is hard to imagine, said Stafford Lehr, chief of fisheries for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. But there is one.
Chinook salmon are in great danger, he said. For two years, only 5 percent of their eggs have survived winter and spring migrations because the cold water their eggs need to survive drains from rivers and reservoirs.
“If you draw down a reservoir, cold water at the bottom drains first,” Lehr said.
To save them, wildlife officials tried to replenish cold water that drained from Shasta Lake north of Sacramento last year. “It didn’t work,” Lehr said.
“Ninety-five percent of eggs and juvenile brood in 2014 were killed,” Lehr said. “Those would be expected to return three years later. We also had heavy mortality in 2013, expected back in 2016. The 2015 fish are spawning right now. We’re trying everything in our power to have enough cold water in Shasta so we don’t have what we had last year.”
Salmon are only part of the problem. Smelt are at the lowest number ever recorded in the state. They are a major forage fish, feeding other fish and birds in the marine ecosystem.
“It’s part of the heritage resource in the state of California. It’s our responsibility to ensure they are protected,” Lehr said. “Every time you lose something, it puts pressure on the environment.
“You lose it and something else will replace it, but it will be lost. They’re part of the ecosystem. Millions of dollars have been invested in their survival.” - Washington Post.
Blue whale found decaying on Hunt's Island off Newfoundland's southwest coast
A dead blue whale has washed up on the southwest part of Hunt's Island.
Too often, scenes of dead whales are seen around shores. This whale,
believed by locals to be a giant blue whale, has died and will soon
begin to decay on the southwest part of Hunt's Island.
The temperature in Burgeo is still fairly cold and it is not composing
fast, there is a lot of meat and blubber to decompose there.
It is more than a mile from town so the smell hasn't had any effect.
After the gulls have picked holes in it, it is speculated it will sink
because the holes will release the air.
Times have changed since the days of Farley Mowat and Moby Joe, people
look at a dead whale now sadly, they love to see those huge beautiful
mammals swimming and spraying their mists into the air.
- The Gulf News.
A sunbathing seal has been spotted in a river 40 miles from the sea in Cambridgeshire.
Nathaniel Gore, 33, was out walking near his home in St Ives on Sunday when he spotted the animal splashing around in the water.
The editorial project manger stopped to film the seal and said it was not put off by the attention.
He added: "I've heard stories of seals being found inland before and he seemed perfectly happy so I wasn't too concerned.
"I stopped for about 20 minutes and he seemed to be enjoying the
attention. He was splashing around in the water and sunbathing by the
side of the river. I was able to get within three feet and it was a
great sight to stop and enjoy."
WATCH: Seal spotted splashing around and sunbathing - 40miles inland.
In 2013, another seal was found 50 miles from the sea in Fen
Drayton Lakes, near St Ives. It is believed the animal swam along the
Great River Ouse from Norfolk.
While the animals often survive quite happily before returning to their
habitats, one seal found in a field in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside,
shortly before Christmas was not so lucky.
The animal, later named Dumbledore, died at the RSPCA East Winch
Wildlife Centre, Norfolk, in January after suffering from pneumonia. - Daily Telegraph.
Animal weirdness: Wild boar drops through roof of store in Hong Kong
Surprise: Wild boar gets trapped inside a children's clothing store
Shocked shoppers were given quite the surprise on Sunday when a wild
boar fell through the ceiling of a children's clothing store.
The unusual customer had wandered into a Hong Kong shopping centre where it was then trapped and unable to get out.
Video aired by local TV stations showed the boar, which had apparently
climbed up a ladder, punching a hole through the showroom's false
ceiling with a trotter.
WATCH: Who said shopping was boar-ing? Customers squeal as wild pig drops through roof of store.
News reports said the animal was a 25kg, metre-long young female.
A crowd of shoppers, watching from behind a line of police, squealed in
amazement as the boar clambered down onto the top of display case,
jumped to the floor and skittered around the shop, knocking over
mannequins and signs.
The boar was eventually tranquillised by a vet and taken to an animal rehab centre, the South China Morning Post reported.
Wild boars are common in Hong Kong, where they are often found roaming the forested hills of the southern Chinese city. - Mirror.
Officials have yet to confirm the carcass is that of a killer whale
The carcass of what appears to be a dead killer whale has washed up in Burrard Inlet next to downtown Vancouver.
Officials have yet to confirm the species of the whale, but Biggs killer
whales, also known as transients, have been spotted in recent months
heading through the busy harbour on their way to nearby Indian Arm,
where they are known to prey on seals.
- CBC.
Angry elephant leaves water to kill a man on shore
Tragic: The elephant viciously throws the onlooker in the air
A rampaging elephant in India has been filmed trampling a man to death after it was provoked to charge them.
Horrific footage shows the animal stamping and throwing him after he fell and twisted his ankle as he attempted to escape.
As the attack unfolds onlookers desperately attempt to distract the enraged animal.
A few minutes earlier someone had launched a firework at the animal, sending it running along the opposite bank.
WATCH: Angry elephant comes on shore to kill a man in front of many people.
The clip shows a man then being helped out of a river and carried along
the shoreline with two dozen more people scattered around nearby.
As the injured man limps along, the elephant can be seen in the
background, wading out of the water, and for a few seconds it looks as
if everyone is safe.
However, the elephant then begins charging, sending the people nearby running for their lives.
Tragically, one man falls down and the elephant brutally attacks him, tossing him into the air to the shock of the onlookers.
One man runs forward and waves his arms in the air in a bid to lure the elephant away, but it proves fruitless.
The clip ends with the elephant circling in rage by the water. - Daily Mail.
Mystery of giant yellow rat snake seen slithering in suds by the seashore in Mayport, Florida
Lifeguards said snakes on the beach are rare, but the tides have been unusually high in recent days
A Florida surfer sparked a little bit of a panic after he spotted a
large snake on the beach and posted pictures of it slithering through
sea foam on the internet.
Swimmer and surfers alike were alarmed to see the reptile, believed to
be a yellow rat snake, in the online photos from the seashore in
Mayport.
They needn't have worried as yellow rat snakes are nonvenomous and mostly harmless.
Pictures of this snake were first posted on 911surfreport.com.
Surfer Bo Miller said: 'It's definitely sketchy.'
Lifeguards said snakes on the beach are rare, but the tides have been unusually high in recent days, News4Jax reported.
The tides may have caused the snake's arrival or it's possible it was
accidentally dropped by a bird of prey that was trying to eat it for
dinner.
Photos of the reptile, believed to be a yellow rat snake, were posted online and scared swimmer and surfers
The snake's arrival, however it occurred, caused some exits.
Swimmer Teresa Quin said: 'I think I'd rather stay in the pool.
'I'm a fish girl. I like to go to the beach, but it's kinda scary.'
Although the snakes are not poisonous, they will bite if provoked, according to First Coast News.
Photos of the reptile, believed to be a yellow rat snake, were posted online and scared swimmer and surfers
WATCH: Surfers shocked after giant yellow rat snake appears on beach.
Mike Taylor with Jacksonville Zoo said: 'I've been bitten by them before.
'If you grab it, they will bite you.'
They usually live near water, but like to hang out in trees and grassy area.
However, some yellow rat snakes have been spotted in dunes near the beach in the past.
That is where animal control officers put the snake after they captured it. -
Daily Mail.
Man killed by bull shark in New Caledonia waters
Shark
A man has died after being bitten multiple times by a shark while
swimming off the Pacific Ocean island of New Caledonia, famed for its
idyllic turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, police said Sunday.
The man, described as around 50 years old, who was on a cruise with friends in the south of the archipelago, was swimming just metres from the boat when he was attacked by a bull shark, a military police spokesman told local radio.
"It was really a savage and sudden attack.Most people
onboard were health workers, the first aid given was significant but the
injuries were such that unfortunately there was not much that could be
done," said the spokesman, without giving the dead man's nationality.
New Caledonia, off north-eastern Australia, is a French overseas
territory but formulates its own tax, labour laws and trade policy.
The sun-drenched island, which boasts the world's largest enclosed
lagoon with magnificent coral, is a popular tourist destination. - The Peninsula.
Camper killed by black bear near Mackenzie, British Columbia
A young northern B.C. man was killed by a black bear at a remote
campsite this weekend while his fiancée slept inside their motorhome,
say authorities who are now warning people to exercise extreme caution
in the province's backcountry.
Daniel Ward Folland O'Connor and his wife-to-be were in a small
campground near MacKenzie Saturday night when the fatal mauling
apparently occurred.
The BC Coroners Service said O'Connor fell asleep near a fire pit, while his fiancé went to bed in their motorhome.
"After getting up in the morning, [she] realized something was wrong and went for help," said spokesperson Barb McLintock.
The incident was reported to RCMP at 10 a.m. Sunday, and conservation
officers located the bear believed to be responsible a short time later.
The 300-pound male black bear, as well as a wolf, were shot dead after
the 27-year-old's body was found on a remote logging road.
"The injuries Mr. O'Connor suffered were consistent with a black bear
attack," said McLintock, adding that campers need to be well aware of
the risks that wildlife can pose in remote campgrounds.
- CTV News.
Dead sperm whale found floating off the Bermuda coast
Straddling a dead whale floating on the open ocean as its carcass is
ripped apart by three species of shark isn't something you can expect to
do every day but it's something Bermudian videographer Choy Aming can
now add to his bragging rights.
He received a text on Sunday from a fisherman telling him that there was
a dead adult sperm whale floating in the water about 12 miles off shore
on the eastern side of Challenger Banks. Within an hour Mr Aming, along
with photographer Chris Burville and a small group of friends, were
able to watch the drama unfold as about a dozen tiger, blue and dusky
sharks made a meal of the 30-35 feet leviathan.
Mr Aming told The Royal Gazette: "I had two sharks within two
feet of my face while I was sitting on the back of a dead whale just
ripping flesh out of it. I have never been able to get that close. It's
not the largest number of sharks I have seen at once but it was just
pretty intense over all because the feeding was quite ravenous.
"We were on Chris's boat but once I saw the sharks sticking their heads
out of the water I thought, 'I've got to climb on the whale'. I was
probably sitting there for 45 minutes with my GoPro camera but it was
very shaky and unstable — when the swells came the whale would roll.
"I wore my mask and fins because I genuinely thought there is a
good chance I would roll off and if I did at least I would have a good
chance of seeing everything and be able to move out of harm's way."
Mr Aming spent eight years satellite tagging sharks along with the late
Neil Burnie as part of the Bermuda Shark Project and said he was able to
observe feeding behaviours that were new to him.
"They were really in a different mindset — I have never been able to put that much chum out before.
"Probably the biggest tiger was probably in the nine to ten feet range
and at one point I saw him bury about three feet of his head inside the
whale.
"When we go out tagging and put a marlin head in the water, the sharks
take in turns in a sort of pecking order. This time because it was so
large three or four could feed uninterrupted — if you give them enough
bait they will all have a go."
Mr Aming said that above the water — aside from severe sunburn on its
skin — the carcass was relatively unscathed but from below the surface
massive bite marks had opened up the body. - The Royal Gazette.
Young girl dies in possible bear attack at Garden Hill, Manitoba
Sources say the girl was Theresa Robinson from Garden Hill First Nation.
A northern Manitoba community is in shock after an 11-year-old girl was
found dead, her body showing signs of a possible bear attack.
Teresa Robinson went missing on May 5. Her body was discovered six days later, on Monday.
David Harper, Grand Chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, said
Robinson's remains were found near her Garden Hill First Nation home. He
told The Canadian Press that it appears the girl was mauled by an animal, and that a bear in the area could be the culprit.
"Bears were seen wandering there Tuesday night on the east side," he
said. "It's just awful ... no one's heard of this happening before."
Investigators have yet to release an official cause of death for the
girl. Harper said wild dogs also live in the area, and it could be up to
48 hours before it's clear exactly what killed Robinson.
In the meantime, First Nations leaders have already gathered in
the community, and Harper plans to accompany Robinson's grandparents as
they travel from Winnipeg to pay their respects.
A black bear is also suspected in the death of a camper in northern
British Columbia this weekend. Daniel Ward Folland O'Connor fell asleep
near a fire pit at a remote campsite near MacKenzie, B.C. His body was
later found near a logging road, with injuries consistent with a black
bear attack. - CTV News.
Winter proves tough on deer, states weigh hunting limits
In this Dec. 1, 2014, file photo, a pair of deer move along the edge of
the woods during the first day of Pennsylvania's white-tailed deer
hunting season in Zelienople, Pa. A
tough winter across the northern
states killed off many deer, and wildlife regulators in many states are
implementing or considering deep cuts to hunting
permits. In
Pennsylvania, wildlife officials are reducing the number of hunting
permits for antlerless deer in 2015 by 30,000, or about
4 percent,
following a 7-percent reduction the previous year. (AP Photo/Keith
Srakocic, File)
Wildlife regulators in states where deer hunting is a way of life and an important tourism draw are implementing or considering deep cuts to hunting permits after a tough winter killed off many of the animals.
Severe winters are perilous for deer because they risk running out of fat reserves and dying. Fawns, whose health determines the future stability of the herd, are especially susceptible.
A winter of heavy snow and bitter cold may have resulted in increased mortality rates from the upper Midwest to New England.
In Maine, biologists are recommending a cut of 23 percent to the state's deer hunting permits. In Vermont, the number of antlerless deer permits is being cut nearly in half. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, deer hunting could be halted altogether.
"This last winter was one of the worst that I can remember. I suspect that we lost a lot of deer," said David Trahan, executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine. "Although it's disappointing to see permits go down, I would have to agree."
Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists are recommending the state issue 28,770 "any deer" permits, which allow hunters to harvest bucks or does. The cut would come a year after the state reduced permits from 46,710 to 37,185, a 25 percent cut that was also motivated in part by winter die-offs.
Maine's deer herd was about 200,000 a year ago. State biologist Kyle Ravana said this year's estimate should be ready soon. The state Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council is expected to vote on the permit recommendations this spring or summer.
"Generally you can expect a higher level of mortality than an average year," Ravana said. He added that the damage to the state's deer herd might not have been as bad as some fear because the heavy snow didn't arrive until late in the season.
In this Dec. 1, 2014, file photo, Pennsylvania Game Commission Officer
Terry Beer, right, checks the hunting licenses of Dante Bauccio, center,
and Aaron Rech during the
first day of Pennsylvania's white-tailed deer
hunting season in Butler, Pa. A tough winter across the northern states
killed off many deer, and wildlife regulators in many
states are
implementing or considering deep cuts to hunting permits. In
Pennsylvania, wildlife officials are reducing the number of hunting
permits for antlerless
deer in 2015 by 30,000, or about 4 percent,
following a 7-percent reduction the previous year. (AP Photo/Keith
Srakocic, File)
In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where the fall deer hunt is an annual ritual, the population has dropped as much as 40 percent after two bitterly cold and snowy winters. The state's Natural Resources Commission will discuss the situation Thursday during its monthly meeting in Lansing.
A memo prepared by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources lists six options, including canceling this year's Upper Peninsula deer hunting season. Spokesman Ed Golder said it's doubtful the commission would go that far, but the report says many hunters want something done in response to the peninsula's lowest deer numbers in about 30 years.
In Pennsylvania, wildlife officials are reducing the number of hunting permits for antlerless deer this year by 30,000, or about 4 percent, following a 7 percent reduction the previous year. One commissioner said the harsh winter weather factored into his decision, but there's also a broader effort to boost deer populations in certain areas.
In Vermont, officials estimate there will be a deer population of 115,000 to 120,000 at the start of the fall hunting season — a decrease of more than 11 percent from a year ago. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is cutting its antlerless deer permits nearly in half, to 9,250.
New Hampshire officials are also concerned about the possibility of above average deer mortality and might consider trimming hunting days in 2016, said Dan Bergeron, a state wildlife biologist. Minnesota and Wisconsin also have taken steps in recent years to try to replenish deer herds hit hard by winter. - Yahoo.
Snow delays airline, bus and ferry travel, St. John's cancels garbage collection, MUN closed for day
A March blizzard hammered most of Newfoundland Monday morning, on a day
when most schools and many offices were already closed for the St.
Patrick's Day holiday.
RCMP
and the Department of Transportation and Works were advising drivers to
stay off most of the province's roads and highways, with conditions
deteriorating due to the heavy snow and strong winds.
In western Newfoundland, two vehicles were reported to be stranded on
Route 480, also known as the Burgeo Road. RCMP said they tried to reach
the drivers but had to turn back, given zero visibility and heavy
blowing and drifting snow. Further attempts will be made when the
weather improves.
WATCH: Blizzard slams Newfoundland.
The Burgeo Road is known for white-out
conditions, and there is no mobile phone service for the entire 148-km
stretch between the Trans-Canada Highway and the town of Burgeo.
The Stephenville Access Road and the Hearts Content Barrens sections of
the TCH were also shut down and impassible due to drifting and poor
visibility.
RCMP Staff Sergeant Boyd Merrill told the St. John's Morning Show that drivers should heed their advice and stay off the roads.
"The message is very clear — don't go out," he said.
"The road conditions are absolutely terrible."
Many
flights in and out of St. John's were cancelled or delayed Monday
morning, and mail delivery was cancelled for both St. John's and Gander.
Blizzard warnings stretched from the Avalon Peninsula in the east all
the way to Port aux Basques on the southwest coast. The system has been
moving across Atlantic Canada since Sunday, causing travel disruptions
and closures throughout the Maritime provinces before hitting
Newfoundland early Monday.
Up to 40 cm of snow is expected in eastern regions of the island, which will combine with wind gusts of up to 100 km/h.Snowfall
amounts are expected to taper off further west, with central possibly
seeing up to 30 cm and western Newfoundland seeing between 10-20 cm fall
before the system loses strength overnight on Monday.
Whiteout conditions were reported on the Avalon Peninsula Monday morning, and CBC's Adam Walsh posted a short video of the scene on Topsail Road in St. John's, showing the poor visibility.
The wind and snow made for dangerous driving conditions in on both
municipal roadways as well as highways, with drifting and poor
visibility causing the RNC and RCMP to advise drivers to stay off all
roads.
The heavy snow caused headaches for drivers on the TCH,
including an incident east of Gushue's Pond, where a tractor trailer
became stuck in about 30 cm of snow. Plows could seen clearing a path
around the truck.
CBC meteorologist Ryan Snoddon said the snow
should change over to rain and freezing drizzle on the Avalon and Burin
Peninsulas sometime Monday afternoon, while the snow will gradually
taper off on the rest of the island.
In St. John's, Metrobus
announced that there would be a delayed start to service, with an
announcement coming later in the morning. Garbage and recycling
collection in the capital was cancelled before 6:30 a.m.
Memorial University of Newfoundland also announced that their St. John's
campus and the Marine Institute would remain closed for the morning and
afternoon with an update at 4 p.m. for evening classes.
The
Corner Brook area, which has been hit with a number of snowstorms so far
this winter, should see another 10 to 20 cm by the time the system
passes.
Marine Atlantic announced that sailings between North
Sydney and Port aux Basques on Sunday were cancelled due to the storm,
and that there was a possibility that the cancellations could continue
through Monday as well. The same was true at St. John's International
Airport, where many flights were cancelled or delayed Monday morning. - CBC.
Blizzard warning in effect for eastern Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
A winter storm is expected to drop as much as a foot of snow across parts of Southcentral Alaska Sunday night into Monday,
but forecasters say the blizzard is unlikely to reach Anchorage, where
warm temperatures are expected to return after a brief cold spell.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the Portage
Valley, about 50 miles southeast of Anchorage, and eastern Turnagain Arm
Sunday. Areas that could be affected stretch from Whittier to Seward
and include parts of western Prince William Sound. The warning goes into
effect at 7 p.m. Sunday and lasts until noon Monday, and predicts
winds gusting up to 50 mph and heavy snow, reducing visibility on the
Seward Highway to less than a quarter-mile at times.
Snow-starved Anchorage residents, meanwhile, are not expected to get a
late winter dumping of snow. The Anchorage NWS office said current cold
temps -- which were hovering in the single digits on Sunday -- would
warm to almost 40 degrees by Monday.
"The forecast predicts a
mixture of rain and snow coming to Anchorage," said NWS Meteorologist
Joe Wegman. "The temperatures look to be too warm to get too much snow."
Wegman said a light dusting with up to an inch of accumulation
could hit the Anchorage bowl area by Monday, but it won't stick around.
"The forecasted highs will be around 40, so that will generally preclude much in the way of accumulation," Wegman said. - Alaska Dispatch News.
California reverts to desert conditions
Drought conditions.
Once
upon a time, much of the state of California was a barren desert. And
now, thanks to the worst drought in modern American history, much of the
state is turning back into one. Scientists tell us that the 20th
century was the wettest century that the state of California had seen in
1000 years. But now weather patterns are reverting back to historical
norms, and California is rapidly running out of water. It
is being reported that the state only has approximately a one year
supply of water left in the reservoirs, and when the water is all gone
there are no contingency plans. Back in early 2014,
California Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency for the
entire state, but since that time water usage has only dropped by 9
percent. That is not nearly enough. The state of California has been
losing more than 12 million acre-feet of total water a year since 2011,
and we are quickly heading toward an extremely painful water crisis
unlike anything that any of us have ever seen before.
But don't take my word for it. According to the Los Angeles Times,
Jay Famiglietti "is the senior water scientist at the NASA Jet
Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech and a professor of Earth system science at
UC Irvine". What he has to say about the horrific drought in California
is extremely sobering...
As
our "wet" season draws to a close, it is clear that the paltry rain and
snowfall have done almost nothing to alleviate epic drought conditions.
January was the driest in California since record-keeping began in 1895. Groundwater and snowpack levels are at all-time lows. We're not just up a creek without a paddle in California, we're losing the creek too.
Data from NASA satellites show that the total amount of water stored in
the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins — that is, all of the snow,
river and reservoir water, water in soils and groundwater combined —
was 34 million acre-feet below normal in 2014. That loss is nearly 1.5 times the capacity of Lake Mead, America's largest reservoir.
Statewide, we've been dropping more than 12 million acre-feet of total water yearly since 2011.
Roughly two-thirds of these losses are attributable to groundwater
pumping for agricultural irrigation in the Central Valley. Farmers have
little choice but to pump more groundwater during droughts, especially
when their surface water allocations have been slashed 80% to 100%. But
these pumping rates are excessive and unsustainable. Wells are running
dry. In some areas of the Central Valley, the land is sinking by one foot or more per year.
Are you starting to understand why so many experts are so alarmed?
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor,
essentially the entire state is suffering drought conditions right now.
And as you can see from the map below, most of the state is currently
experiencing either the highest or the second-highest classification of
drought...
Nearly 40 million people live in the state of California at the moment.
What are they all going to do when the water is gone?
In
some rural areas, reservoirs are already nearly bone dry. And in other
areas, the water quality has gone way down. For example, in one Southern
California neighborhood black water is now coming out of the taps...
Residents
of a Southern California neighborhood are concerned about the fact that
the water flowing out of the taps in their homes is the color black. That's right; the water coming out of their faucets is indeed black — not gray, not cloudy — but black. Inky, opaque black water that the water company says is okay to drink.
Those who live in Gardena, California, are understandably skeptical
when asked to consume water that strongly resembles crude oil or
something emitted by a squid. The water reportedly also has an "odor of
rotten eggs or sewer smell," according to one resident.
Perhaps you don't care about what happens to California.
Perhaps you believe that they are just getting what they deserve.
And you might be right about that.
But the truth is that this is a crisis for all of us, because an enormous amount of our fresh produce is grown in the state.
As I discussed in a previous article,
the rest of the nation is very heavily dependent on the fruits and
vegetables grown in California. The following numbers represent
California's contribution to our overall production...
-99 percent of the artichokes
-44 percent of asparagus
-two-thirds of carrots
-half of bell peppers
-89 percent of cauliflower
-94 percent of broccoli
-95 percent of celery
-90 percent of the leaf lettuce
-83 percent of Romaine lettuce
-83 percent of fresh spinach
-a third of the fresh tomatoes
-86 percent of lemons
-90 percent of avocados
-84 percent of peaches
-88 percent of fresh strawberries
-97 percent of fresh plums
Without the agricultural production of the state of California, we are in a massive amount of trouble.
And of course there are other areas all over the globe that are going
through similar things. For instance, taps in Rio de Janeiro and Sao
Paolo are running dry as Brazil experiences the worst drought that it has seen in 80 years.
The world simply does not have enough fresh water left at this point,
and that is why water is being called "the new oil". The following comes
from CBS News...
It's
been said that the wars of the 21st century may well be fought over
water. The Earth's population has more than doubled over the last 50
years and the demand for fresh water — to drink and to grow food — has
surged along with it. But sources of water like rainfall, rivers,
streams, reservoirs, certainly haven't doubled. So where is all that
extra water coming from? More and more, it's being pumped out of the
ground.
Water experts say groundwater is like a savings account — something you
draw on in times of need. But savings accounts need to be replenished,
and there is new evidence that so much water is being taken out, much of
the world is in danger of a groundwater overdraft.
And
if scientists are right, what we are experiencing right now may just be
the very beginning of our problems. In fact, one team of researchers
has concluded that the Southwestern United States is headed for a
"megadrought" that could last for decades...
Scientists had already found
that the Southwestern United States were at great risk of experiencing a
significant megadrought (in this case meaning drought conditions that
last for over 35 years) before the end of the 21st century. But a new study published in Science Advances added some grim context to those predictions.
Columbia University climate scientists Jason Smerdon and Benjamin Cook,
and Cornell University's Toby Ault were co-authors on the study. They
took data from tree rings and other environmental records of climate
from the Southwest and compared them to the projections of 17 different
climate models that look at precipitation and soil moisture. When they
made the comparison between past and future, they found that all the
models agreed: the next big megadrought is coming, and it will be way
worse than anything we've seen in over 1,000 years - including droughts
that have been credited with wiping out civilizations.
Needless to say, along with any water crisis comes a food crisis.
Virtually everything that we eat requires a tremendous amount of water
to grow. And at this point, the world is already eating more food than
it produces most years.
So what is going to happen to us as this water crisis gets even worse? - The Economic Collapse.
Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea
USGS shakemap intensity.
A
magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the Papua New Guinea island of New
Britain on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
The
quake struck 6 miles (9 km), northwest of the town of Rabaul, on the
northeast tip of New Britain island, it said. There were no immediate
reports of any damage or casualties. - Reuters.
5-mile long wildfire breaks out in St. Joseph, Missouri
St. Joseph wildfire prompts evacuations
Mandatory
evacuation orders are in place for part of St. Joseph because of a
5-mile long wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon.
People
have been ordered out of homes along Elwood Street in St. Joseph, and
firefighters want people to stay away from an area between Wyeth Hill
south to River Front Park downtown.
The St. Joseph Frontier Casino has also been closed.
Those forced to evacuate can go to the American Red Cross for shelter at 401 N. 12th St.
WATCH: St. Joseph residents back home after grass fire.
People
in the area said the fire started in Elwood, Kansas, and jumped the
Missouri River into St. Joseph, Missouri, where Elwood Street is being
threatened. It has already burned hundreds of acres and firefighters
said they expect it to burn all night.
Concerns about brush fires have been up in recent days because of warm temperatures, low humidity and gusty wind.
Firefighters said grass fires usually start when outdoor burning gets out of hand.
"They think 'Well, it's a nice calm day out. I'll go and light this off
to burn off the field,' and all of a sudden the wind kicks up and it
get's really out of control," said Eric Allen of the Overland Park Fire
Department. - KMBC.
Jammu-Srinagar highway in India closed after heavy snowfall triggers landslide
A
4-year-old girl was killed in a landslide triggered by snowfall and
rains in the last 24 hours in Kashmir, which also forced closure of the
Srinagar-Jammu National Highway even as air traffic remained suspended.
Huda Jan was killed when she was buried under a landslide at Sunergund
in Awantipora area of south Kashmir, Pulwama district last evening, a
police spokesman said.
While
incessant rains lashed most parts of the Valley yesterday, moderate to
heavy snowfall was reported since wee hours this morning.
A
traffic department official said the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu Highway has
been closed for vehicular movement following landslides at several
places due to the heavy downpour in the Valley and along the Pir Panjal
mountain range.
He said with adverse weather forecast for the next 24 hours, the road is unlikely to be opened for traffic today.
The arterial highway is the only all-weather surface link between
Kashmir and rest of the country and gets closed during winter months due
to landslides.
An
official at Srinagar International Airport said no passenger flights
have arrived here since morning due to inclement weather.
The
downpour has led to snapping of electricity supply in many parts of the
Valley, including Srinagar city, the summer capital of the state,
officials said.
Waterlogging has also been reported from nearly two dozen areas of the city, they said.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Lone said dewatering operations have been launched at 17 sites so far.
"We are making arrangements for dewatering from all areas where waterlogging has been reported," he added.
Traffic jams reported from several areas of the city even as traffic moved at a snail's pace in other parts of Srinagar. - NDTV.
Twice as much snow falling in the Russian Ural mountains than 100 years ago... Leading to more tree growth
Climate change does not only mean that the temperature is increasing, it can also change the precipitation patterns.
In the Ural Mountains of Russia significantly more snow is falling in
the wintertime than 100 years ago. The development is having surprising
consequences: The bigger amounts of snow is causing the tree line to
rise. [...]
In the summertime in the Urals its has not gotten notably warmer over
the past 100 years. The wintertime temperatures, however, have increased
from minus 18°C to minus 16°C. Warmer low pressure systems are bringing
more precipitation to the mountains. In the Urals today twice as much
snow is falling than 100 years ago. And that is having an impact on the
treeline."
According to the DLF, a
team of German and Russian scientists say the tree line is currently
rising at a rate of about 4 to 6 meters per decade.
The
scientists believe that the doubled snowfall serves to protect young
saplings during the winter and allow soil conditions that foster growth
during the summer time. Photos of the region has allowed the scientists
to determine treelines that today are up to 60 meters higher than 100
years ago. - NoTricksZone.
Heavy snowfalls cause dearth of essential goods for 3 months in Mugu, Nepal
Snow-covered roads have hampered movement in Mugu.
An acute shortage of daily essentials has been felt in the district due to the halt in transport services for the past three months.
As heavy snowfalls have blocked the roads that connect the remote
mountainous district with the rest of the country, businessmen in
district headquarters Gamgadhi havenot been able to replenish their stocks and have started running out of
daily essentials such as rice, lentils, flour, edible oil, spices, and
noodles, among others.
Around
two dozen trucks laden with daily essentials and other goods from
Surkhet and Nepalgunj have been stranded in Ghucchi, Bulbule, and Dablek
due to the blockade, causing a severe shortage of daily essentials in many parts of the district.
"We have been compelled to turn away customers coming in to buy daily
essentials as there is nothing available except for clothing," said
Harimun Bhandari, operator of the Harimun store, lamenting that he had
to bear a huge loss due to the road blockade.
"Five of my
trucks have been stranded due to halt in transport services because of
snowfall and my store has run out of essential commodities. But even
though the problem has been escalating, the authorities concerned have
not taken any initiative to re-open the roads," complained Rabi Rawat of
Rabindra Trades and Suppliers. While the only airport serving the
district had been shut down for three months for blacktopping of its
tarmac, the shortage of daily essentials was mostly brought about by
heavy snowfalls crippling transport services in the district at about
the same time.
Meanwhile, people reaching the district
headquarters from far-flung villages along with their mules have started
lining up outside Nepal Food Corporation's depot for rice after being
unable to find any in the market.
Similarly, the halt in
transport services in the district have also affected various government
and non-government projects as essential equipments and other goods
have been stranded en-route. While District Agriculture Office said that
the seeds meant to be distributed among the farmers in the district
have not reached the village, text book distributor Nupendra Malla said
that books and other educational materials have also been stuck in
Ghucchi, Bulbule and Dablek owing to the halt in transport services.
"We have been trying our best to remove the blockade and resume
transport services by working in close coordination with the Division
Road Office, Jumla and other government authorities," said Chief
District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi. - Ekantipur.
6.2 undersea quake hits Indonesia, no warning yet
USGS shakemap intensity.
An
undersea earthquake with 6.2 magnitude hit Indonesia's North Maluku
province on Wednesday but did not trigger a tsunami warning, disaster
officials said.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency.
People in West Halmahera, and in Ternate and Maluku - two cities in North Maluku province - felt a strong jolt for three to five seconds, Nugroho said.
"But they were able to remain calm since they are used to quakes. They responded by getting out of their houses," he added.
The region is highly prone to earthquakes. A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the area in November 2014.Wednesday's earthquake struck West Halmahera district at 05:12 am at a depth of 10km. - News 24.
Yet another cyclone heading for Australia's northeast coast
The category two cyclone is heading towards the north-east of Cairns.
A cyclone in the Coral Sea is forecast to intensify before slamming into Australia's northeast coast later this week,less than a month after the area was pummeled by one the most powerful cyclones on record to hit Australia, the national weather forecaster said on Tuesday.
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology expects Cyclone Nathan to turn toward
the coast in the next 24 to 48 hours, with the storm's epicenter
reaching land about 300km (185 miles) north of the Great Barrier Reef
city of Cairns in Queensland state, driving winds reaching as high as
224km (135 miles) per hour.
On Feb 20, Cyclone Marcia slammed
into the Queensland coast carrying winds as strong as 285km per hour,
causing billions of dollars in damage and leaving thousands homeless or
without electricity. It was just the sixth category 5 (maximum-strength)
cyclone recorded in Australia.
Some 2,000 km (1,250 miles) to
the east, international aid agencies began emergency flights on Tuesday
to some of the remote outer islands of Vanuatu, which they fear have
been devastated by Cyclone Pam, which tore through the South Pacific
island nation at the weekend. - Reuters.
Heavy rain and high winds pummel Portland, Oregon, leaving thousands without power
Heavy rain and high winds combined to create problems in the Portland and Vancouver metro areas Sunday.
Area residents reported trees down, along with some power lines. On Sunday, Portland General Electric reported 45,000 customers without power.The number dropped to about 1,700 by 5 p.m. Monday.
In Vancouver, crews responded to more than 30 reports of downed trees or large branches that were blocking streets, including the busy East Mill Plain Boulevard.
"Crews concentrated on quickly cutting up and clearing out a big fallen
tree so traffic could get through safely on the busy arterial, a major
route for emergency services," said Loretta Callahan, a spokeswoman for
the Department of Public Works. "Meanwhile, Operations Signal crews
spent the day restoring traffic signals that were entirely out of
service or operating in flashing red due to windstorm power outages and
surges."
She said traffic signals at 15 intersections were impacted.
In Portland, a tree fell on a car with a woman inside in the Park
Blocks. Firefighters had to cut her out of the vehicle but amazingly,
she was not seriously hurt.
"All the trees were blowing, but it
was just regular wind, just blowing like 'Shooo!' I couldn't believe
that one tree landed on that car. It was just incredible, almost
impossible," said onlooker Davond Dade.
The
winds packed such a wallop in downtown Portland that scaffolding was
also partially torn off a building on the corner of Southwest 4th Avenue
and Washington Street.
Ben Shumlin was in disbelief as the scaffolding fell.
"I
suddenly heard some screams and I looked up and I just saw this wall,"
he said. "I immediately thought it was from a movie, it felt like I had
seen it before. It was crazy. Everyone just started running, it was one
of those crazy, hectic things."
On Portland's busy Northeast Cesar Chavez Boulevard,
near Davis Street, a large tree fell and knocked out power to the area.
Authorities closed the roadway, from East Burnside to Northeast Glisan
Street, for several hours on Sunday.
Portland
police and Portland Fire & Rescue responded to several reports of
large trees down, blocking roads throughout the area. Residents were
urged to use caution when going outside as large, falling trees could be
very dangerous.
In Northwest Portland, heavy rains caused a landslide that came within inches of tumbling onto a home.
Portland officials said the heavy rainfall also caused sewage to overflow into the Willamette River early Sunday.
An
advisory warned that people and their pets should avoid contact with
river water between the Sellwood Bridge and Kelley Point Park, where the
Willamette and Columbia rivers meet. That means no jet skiing or
swimming, because water could be swallowed, according to the Bureau of
Environmental Services. Anyone who chooses to fish within 48 hours of
sewage overflow, should cook the fish thoroughly to kill bacteria.
WATCH: Scaffold falling off building downtown Portland, Oregon.
WATCH: City still cleaning up after storm.
Further out, along Walker Road in Beaverton, a downed tree blocked a neighborhood street and nearly smashed a car.
In St. Helens, high winds sent eight trees crashing down on the Gable
Park Apartments (pictured at left) and two parked cars. No one was hurt
but 33 people had to find somewhere else to stay overnight, due to the
damage to their apartments.
"It
was kind of shocking because I've lived there almost three years now
and that's the worst I've ever seen," said Deborah Stratton.
There was also widespread damage in Lake Oswego and Salem.
The wind and rain had died down by Monday morning and conditions were
expected to stay relatively calm at least through Thursday night.
"Tuesday another weak weather system will push over the area leading to increasing showers or some light rain," said KGW Meteorologist Nick Allard. "Temperatures will stay in the lower-60s and I expect really nice and sunny weather through Thursday." - KGW.
