Warming Winters Bring Deadly Ice Risks in Alaska

Unpredictable ice conditions disrupt traditional hunting and travel for Indigenous communities

Mar. 17, 2026 at 5:06pm

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As winters warm, falling through the ice is becoming more common and deadly, especially in Alaska. Elmer Brown, 45, died of hypothermia after falling through the ice while hunting caribou with friends. His death highlights the growing risks as climate change shortens and destabilizes ice seasons, eroding generations of traditional ice safety knowledge. Indigenous communities in Alaska are facing difficult choices as they struggle to adapt to the changing conditions.

Why it matters

The unpredictable ice season is disrupting traditional hunting practices for Indigenous communities in Alaska, pushing people to take dangerous risks. With average fall temperatures warming by 10°F over the last 50 years, the ice is becoming less reliable and more treacherous, leading to a surge in ice-related drownings across the Northern Hemisphere.

The details

In November, Elmer Brown was following two friends on his four-wheeler, hunting caribou across a frozen channel in northern Alaska, when the ice gave way and all three plunged into the frigid water. One friend drowned, and Brown later died of hypothermia, leaving behind five children. The Brown family has lost several members to ice-related accidents over the years, as warming winters make conditions thinner and less predictable for those who fish, hunt and recreate on frozen lakes, rivers and coastal waters.

  • In November, Elmer Brown fell through the ice while hunting caribou.
  • Elmer Brown later died of hypothermia from the incident.

The players

Elmer Brown

A 45-year-old man from Kotzebue, Alaska who died of hypothermia after falling through the ice while hunting caribou.

Jimmy Brown

Elmer Brown's brother, who is still adjusting to life without him.

Roswell Schaeffer

A 78-year-old Inupiaq man from Kotzebue who is one of the few remaining seal hunters in the community.

Alex Whiting

The environmental program director for the Native Village of Kotzebue, who discusses the difficult choices the community faces due to the changing ice conditions.

Andy Mahoney

A professor of sea ice geophysics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who discusses how the changing ice is impacting Arctic ecosystems.

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What they’re saying

“He was always helping other people and sharing his catch with the elders. It's been tough, not seeing him. I keep expecting him to walk in and tell me about his day.”

— Jimmy Brown

“Each winter, it gets more and more dangerous to be out on the ice. Our native food is really key in terms of how we survive the Arctic. The ice is changing too much, and it's not going to slow down.”

— Roswell Schaeffer

“Every day that people can't go hunting or fishing is one more day of the year where the community is more food insecure, because a whole day of opportunity is lost.”

— Alex Whiting, Environmental program director, Native Village of Kotzebue

What’s next

The judge in Elmer Brown's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the growing dangers of unstable and unpredictable ice conditions in Alaska due to climate change, which are disrupting traditional hunting and travel for Indigenous communities and leading to a rise in deadly accidents. As winters continue to warm, communities will be forced to adapt and find new ways to access their traditional food sources and way of life.