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

11-24-14 Winter spider - Togiak, Alaska, USA

8-1-14 Unusual spider - Wales, Alaska, USA

Mystery mite

9-11-13 Unusual spider - Chignik, Lagoon, Alaska, USA

Spider webs covering vegetation along the Noatak River Delta resemble a mass "ballooning" event reported in Unalaska.

Participants in the expedition of the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Clean Arctic - East - 77” reported the appearance of more southern species of spiders and birds in the Arctic Circle. The unevenness of their appearance at the same geographic latitude showed that the northern border of their ranges did not shift along the entire length, but formed several protrusions in the northern direction in the form of petals. "Petal thawing” referrs to the emergence of zones with a width of 50 to 200 kilometers at the southern base where permafrost is thawing.

The mild winter and fluctuating spring temperature appears to have led to a tick boom in Quebec, a province where cases of Lyme disease have been steadily climbing for years.