TLDR: Gary Muehlberger was a trapper and the village elder of Port Protection, Alaska, on the National Geographic series. He died in a house fire on March 17, 2021, at age 75, and the fire marshal ruled it accidental. Checked October 23, 2026.
Gary Muehlberger was one of the original seven central characters of Port Protection Alaska. NatGeo billed him as the village elder.
Here is who he was, what the show captured of him and what officials found after the fire.
A Trapper and Former Logger
Distractify says he lived in the Alaska wilderness for 39 years and appeared on the show from 2015 to 2020. NatGeo’s bio, as summarized by Reality Blurred, credits him with self-taught survival and trapping skills.
Alaska Explored describes him as a former logger. Republic World says he fished from a 100-year-old boat called the Margaret T.
Gary Rigs and Frozen Pipes
Fans remember him for fixes he called Gary rigs. In the episode “Dark Days,” frozen plumbing kept him from flushing his toilet and he crawled under his house to repair it.
He also fished with his close friend Litzi Botello.
Storylines Worth Remembering
In “Dead Standing,” a season 1 episode from 2015, TheTVDB says Gary traps a beaver while Mary Miller hunts her first black bear. In “Tiny Terrors” in 2016 he fishes for river trout.
In the 2017 special “Knock on Wood,” he deals with a dead standing tree.
The Fire of March 17, 2021
Alaska State Troopers received a report around 11:30 a.m. on March 17 of a fully engulfed residential fire with one person unaccounted for, per the P.O.W. Report trooper log. He had not been seen since before the fire.
Bad weather delayed the deputy fire marshal, who had to travel from Anchorage and reach the remote town by boat, according to the Anchorage Daily News. The marshal arrived on March 18.
Identification and the Fire Marshal’s Finding
Human remains were found in the burned structure and sent to the State Medical Examiner. The trooper log says the examiner positively identified them as Gary on March 25, while the Anchorage Daily News reports March 26.
The deputy fire marshal ruled the fire accidental. His age was 75, and his next of kin were notified.
How the Show Remembered Him
The Life Below Zero account announced his death on March 19, 2021. Distractify reports that his dog Trapper died a few months later.
Producer Mickey Ramos told Reality Blurred she spoke with him the night before the fire. She says he mentored her on scheduling around tides and handling cast members.
A Friend’s Loss
Litzi’s husband said on a fan Facebook group that she had surgery the day Gary died, according to Distractify. Her story is in our profile of Litzi Botello.
Dates and Spellings
Authorities did not announce the identification until about a week after the fire, which is why some reports give later dates. One update spells his name Muehlenberger, but nearly every report uses Muehlberger.
For the other residents, see our Port Protection cast guide and the profile of Sam Carlson.
Gary Muehlberger Frequently Asked Questions
How did Gary Muehlberger die?
He died in a house fire in Port Protection on March 17, 2021, which the deputy fire marshal ruled accidental.
How old was Gary Muehlberger?
He was 75, according to the Anchorage Daily News and the trooper log.
What happened to Gary’s dog Trapper?
Distractify reports that Trapper died a few months after Gary.
How long was Gary on the show?
Distractify says he appeared from 2015 to 2020.
