Snowmobiles allowed Inuit hunters to travel faster and further when they were introduced half a century ago.

With no paved roads connecting most of Canada's northern communities, many local residents rely on them now to get around, roaring along ancient hunting trails, across frozen lakes and rivers.

But average winter temperatures have crept up by 2.8 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit) in this region in the past century, creating new ice hazards for travelers.

"We recommended that people take more precautions when traveling because of thin ice in many parts," researcher Martin Tremblay, based in Kuujjuaq, about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) north of Montreal, told AFP.

Tremblay, who recently released a study on the impact of climate change in northern Quebec for the Kativik regional government, suggested the people in the region go back to dog sleds for at least part of the winter.

"At the beginning of winter, especially, when the ice is not as thick, it would be better to use dog sled teams because dogs can smell unstable ice conditions, and will try to avoid it," Tremblay said.

"As well, if a sled falls through the ice, the dogs would be able to pull the sled out of the water," and could save the rider from drowning.

Inuit traditionally hunt for seals, caribou, walrus and polar bears in cooler months, traveling across the barren tundra and along old trails between dozens of Arctic communities to find their prey.

The quarry is crucial to their diet because food flown into the remote regions from the south is expensive.

Sam Omik, an Inuit ranger from Pond Inlet, Nunavut, has been using sled dogs for most of his 55 years. He owns 12 huskies.

But he is among only a few in his community who have retained the special skills, passed on to him by his father, to lead a dog sled team. "Most people use snowmobiles nowadays," he said. "They're all in such a hurry."

Omik said he prefers dogs because they are "more fun" and "quieter" than snowmobiles when approaching prey.

As well, dogs offer some protection from predators such as polar bears. "They'll bite 'em," he said.

But, with fuel costs reaching record highs -- snowmobiles used daily guzzle an average of 40 gallons of gasoline per week -- and a renewed interest in traditional Inuit culture since global warming put a spotlight on the North, many here are starting to rethink their preferred choice of transportation.

"Of course, it would be a lot of work to maintain a dog sled team," Tremblay conceded.

"You have to feed them," he said. A team of 12 dogs typically eats one seal every three days.

"And most people work during the week and only go hunting on weekends. To have a dog team only for weekend use is not very practical," Tremblay said.

"But we have to adapt to the climate changes."

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