Strange ‘watermelon snow’ appearing on Washington mountains

A strange phenomenon is appearing in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Big, pink ponds are dotting the higher elevations -- a result of something called "watermelon snow."

"Everyone was confused," said Dr. Robin Kodner, an assistant professor of biology at Western Washington University. "We wondered, what is this? Is this contamination? Is this a toxic thing?"

Kodner is the first to study the phenomenon. It stems from an algae that turns snow pink at seemingly random times and places.