A new invasive species of crab is regularly being caught all around western Iceland, a decade or less after it first arrived in Icelandic waters. Read the full story

Swedish residents need to be aware of an increased risk of wasps and snakes this year, officials have announced. Read the full story

(UPDATED) The crew of a fishing boat have reported seeing a polar bear at Haeluvik on the Hornstrandir peninsula in Iceland’s Westfjords region this morning. The Icelandic Coastguard is preparing to send a helicopter to search for the bear. Read the full story

A new animal welfare bill will be taken to Althingi — Iceland’s parliament — this autumn. Read the full story

Finnish Customs officials are investigating whether fishing tackle shops are illegally selling parts of endangered animals as lures. It is thought that some outlets are marketing bear fur and rare bird feathers as exotic flies. Read the full story

A 12 year-old boy, who disturbed a hibernating brown bear by skiing over its lair, is in hospital after being bitten on both legs and scratched down his back. Read the full story

The National Veterinary Institute in Sweden (SVA) has warned dog lovers to avoid canine kisses after a potentially fatal parasite was discovered in the country. Read the full story

A mother and baby who were trapped in a Stockholm apartment with several poisonous snakes have been rescued by police. Read the full story

The mayor of Reykjavik, Jon Gnarr has declared that Iceland should take more care to rehabilitate visitors from overseas than to shoot them. This, even though the visitors in question are the biggest and most dangerous land predators anywhere: hungry and dangerous polar bears stranded many hundreds of kilometres from home. Read the full story

Hopes in Denmark of discovering more about the invasive species, the raccoon dog, were literally crushed last week when the first ever live specimen was run over by a car. Wildlife experts who were eager to examine the habits of the raccoon-like animal have announced that their only captured beast had been turned into roadkill. Read the full story