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The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest protected wilderness in the U.S, and in 1980, the U.S. Government banned new human occupation from the refuge, leaving only seven permits for families and trappers. These modern-day pioneers return in an all-new season of Discovery Channel’s THE LAST ALASKANS with more drive and passion than ever before. This season, they face obstacles brought on by the unforgiving environment, including rising predator competition and the aftermath of forest fires, as well as the deeply personal challenges of trying to raise small children in this world and even battling life-threatening illnesses. These families and trappers will be challenged like never before as they look to continue the unique life they’ve built in the refuge. THE LAST ALASKANS premieres Sunday, November 25 at 10pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel.

No one knows the refuge like Bob Harte. After 40 years in the Alaskan Wilderness, he calls it his country, but due to the return of his cancer, Bob must move away from the refuge and into town with his daughter and granddaughter. This season, we will follow Bob’s hard-fought battle to the end and get the chance to say goodbye. Bob’s journey in the refuge allowed him to live free – this was his home and where his heart will always be.

For Heimo and Edna Korth, this season brings an opportunity they have dreamt of for years: their daughter Krin and her family will attempt to survive a winter in the refuge. Heimo has raised all three of his daughters here, and he hopes for Krin to continue the tradition he and Edna have built over the decades. Heimo will do all he can to pass on the torch of survival to Krin, her husband Scott and their young son Colby, but it will come down to the success of their hunting and trapping season to convince her.

There’s also another new face this season, as Tyler and Ashley Selden bring their baby girl Sidney into the refuge. With a new and dependent member, the Seldens look to improve their property and try to turn it into a functioning homestead that can support a family, but they face the challenge of balancing the demands of being parents, as well as providers for their newest member.

Charlie Jagow faces one of his toughest challenges this season in the aftermath of the summer fires. He assesses the damage from a bird’s-eye view, which reveals miles of black forest. Charlie now must re-establish 40 years’ worth of family traplines, which could potentially take two decades to rebuild. It’s an impossible task, but with the help of maps and instructions Bob left behind, Charlie will follow in Bob’s footsteps and look to come out on top this trapping season.

The obstacles of this season, though significant, serve a great purpose for the families – they have a rebirth in the refuge. Through ingenuity, hard work and a bit of luck, the families work to overcome and rebuild their homes, trails and lives for the success of their future in the Alaskan wilderness. 

THE LAST ALASKANS is produced for Discovery Channel by Half Yard Productions, a Red Arrow Studios Company. For Half Yard Productions, executive producers are Abby Greensfelder, Sean Gallagher and John Jones. For Discovery Channel, executive producers are Joseph Schneier and Michael Gara and associate producer is Emily Baustien.

About Discovery Channel 
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information please visit www.discovery.com.

About Discovery

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps and Discovery Kids Play; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player and Motor Trend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media and a strategic alliance with the PGA Tour to create the Global Home of Golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Turbo/Velocity, Animal Planet, and Science Channel, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit www.corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.