Throughout the history of sled dog mushing in Alaska, the tradition has been closely tied to the terrain teams race on. KYUK investigates the warming climate’s impact on the race trails themselves and what this means for the future of the on-snow sport.

Throughout its rich history in Alaska, the tradition of mushing has changed with the times and shifted to adapt to a changing climate. The salmon crisis along the Yukon and Kuskowim rivers is affecting dog nutrition and influencing the economics of the sport today.

While some changes in mushing come from development in the sport, others have been forced by a changing climate. One part of the story is told in the DNA of the dogs themselves.