Biologists struggle to single out a leading cause of the caribou population’s decline. Increased wolf predation, changed migration patterns and climate warming affecting food sources can all influence the herd. “It’s going to be another rough winter again this year without caribou,” Selawik resident Norma Ballot said.

An ice jam caused by warming spring temperatures near the village of Buckland has left most of the town underwater and cut off access to the airport road. Residents of the village of about 400 people are preparing to evacuate by boat if water levels continue to rise.

Mayor Clyde Ramoth says frozen pipes are a chronic problem due to issues with the initial installation of the above-ground water system. The warming climate isn’t making things any easier.

High water posed safety hazards and resulted in the removal of boardwalk but also allowed boats to go further up river than usual.

Warm water temperatures may be causing stress and increase the risk of infections and other illness in fish.

"Our temperatures reached 83 degrees, and seem to be getting hotter! We think that maybe the warm water has something to do with the humpy die-off?"

This comes just days after other reports of about 60 dead ice seals found from Kotlik to Kotzebue and Kivalina to Point Hope.

Thawing and eroding is destroying river bank, impacting access, threatening infrastructure, and causing safety concerns.

Many foggy days in Noorvik during the fall of 2017.

"Yesterday we came over to do an assessment of the high-water flood storm," said Northwest Arctic Borough Deputy Director of Public Services Dickie Moto, who grew up in Deering. "They lost a lot of ground on the front and on the back side of town because of the high water and rough seas.

Technology has changed, communities have moved, people have grown older, and the beluga whales the Kanigmiut have relied on for generations have all but disappeared.

For one day last week, the village of Deering needed to use a boat to get to the airport.

Unusual swallow species

Fishing this spring and caught a broad whitefish that had a growth.

7-23-13 Horntail wood wasp - Selawik, Alaska,

Permafrost thawing causing bridge damage.

5-23-12 Buckland River floods dumpsite - Buckland, Alaska, USA.

We performed a survey of community water lines to see how permafrost thaw and sinking foundations may be impacting homes, water and waste water systems. During the June visit we saw where foundation sinking was putting stress on pipe runs and junctions. Now in the winter we see evidence of freeze up in some of the homes where the junction boxes have been compromised, gaps in the insulation seal, and resulting freeze up and overflow of water.

The Arctic Sounder - Serving the Northwest Arctic and the North Slope