Road kill moose put to use

This winter has been a difficult one for Alaska’s moose.

Some estimates state that more than 600 moose have been killed in Southcentral Alaska so far this winter. This number far exceeds the normal amount of moose killed in vehicle collisions during the winter. According to Tim Lundt, educational director for the Alaska Moose Federation (AMF), the culprit is higher than average snowfall rates. The city of Anchorage normally receives about 70 inches of snow each winter. By mid-January, Anchorage had received 81.3 inches.

During winters with higher snowfall, moose tend to go toward areas with less snow to conserve energy in the long Alaska winters. Unfortunately, the clear areas are usually roads or railroad tracks. More moose around roads and other high-traffic areas mean more moose killed by cars, trucks and occasionally trains.

The AMF has taken some measures to help reduce the damage done by moose on the roads. This includes making trails and feeding areas for the animals. These measures are expected to reduce the amount of collisions. Though these changes will not stop all of the collisions, some good will come from the moose that are hit.

The AMF helps out Alaska State Troopers by getting dead moose off the road and delivered to charities and organizations on the road kill list. This is a list of charities and organizations that receive donations of moose that have been killed by vehicles. Last week, one of those organizations was Mat-Su Career and Technical High School (CTHS).

According to Lundt, moose can benefit the school in many ways. For one, they are used as an educational tool. In the Alaska wildlife class at CTHS last week, they were field dressing the moose. Field dressing is the process of removing the internal organs from game. There was a video being made that would show teachers how to field dress a moose and how to teach students to do it.

Shastina Ralston is both a culinary and Alaska wildlife student.

“The best part was learning about and seeing the moose calves inside her,” Ralston said. “The worst part was definitely taking the hours to cut it all up into chunks so we could use the meat.”

The meat was used by the school’s culinary arts department and by Lundt’s science classes. The bones were boiled and whitened to make what Lundt calls a “moose in a box” kit.

The “moose in a box” is a kit that schools in the Valley can use to assemble the skeletons of animals for educational purposes. Lundt worked with Burchell High School in 2003 to make six kits — two moose, two bears and two wolves. The kits are put together with hot glue and rubber bands.

Lundt said the kits are a great learning experience for students, but they are wearing out.

Lundt said moose salvage is the perfect opportunity to make more kits.

In the future, Lundt hopes to use the moose that both the AMF and Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service bring to the school in more classes. Lundt said there are many ways to use the moose, like using the organs in biology classes.

Sophie Harris is a senior at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School.