 Car...Moose...Calamity |
December 5, 2008Arcticulates ®Focusing on Alaska's BeautyAuthor: K. FieldsCar + Moose = CalamitySeems strange that I am writing about this now after several posts about the dangers of driving at night in Alaska with very large wildlife like Moose, Buffalo, Caribou, and Bear on the roads at any given time. Last night my hubby and dad were on their way home from Anchorage, they were about 90 miles away from home, when they came around a blind curve and there were two moose in the road. My hubby who was driving at the time thinks he hit both of them, one of them slid onto the hood of the car and up and over the top, and he thinks he sideswiped the other one, it was an icy road, there was no way they could stop in time. The Moose that flew over the top of the car died and the one that he thinks was sideswiped ran off. And since he was blinded by the broken windshield the car ended up sliding into a snow band on the side of the road. A car verses a Moose always equals calamity The car was totaled from the impact, but my dad and hubby were able to get out and walk away. My hubby says it was miraculous that they both survived unhurt except for some scratches on their faces and arms from the shattered windshield. Car Totally Wrecked After Hitting a Moose!
Moose verses vehicles are a common occurrence in Alaska, seeing how we have approximately 180,000 Moose that live here, we are bound to have some territory problems. The most vehicle accidents with Moose occur in November through February, because of the extended darkened days. They are so hard to see, they blend right into the darkness, and you don't see them until they are right in front of you, which is usually too late. It is common for the calves to be hit too, because people are busy trying to avoid the big cow moose on the road, they don't see the calf that usually jumps up behind her until too late. Moose damaged Car
There are so many aspects to how people survive a moose/car run in... In my hubby's case ; the roads were icy which had caused him to drive a lot slower, even so he was going around 40 mphs at the time of impact. Faster speeds can cause the Moose to be lifted upon impact and slammed through the windshield, terribly injuring or killing the driver and front passenger by kicking and the weight, or decapitation from shearing off the top of the car, or just being crushed to death by the weight of the Moose on the top of the car. Plus it just happened to have warmed up to about 20 above, (normally it is around -30) which was really good since they had to wait an hour and a half, for another car to drive by so they could flag them down for assistance, because that area is a dead zone for cell phones. I personally have known 3 people who have died from Moose and vehicle accidents. But I have also known countless people who have managed to walk away without being hurt, and it always seems to be... that the vehicle will be totally ruined... and the Moose ends up dying or being shot because of injuries. Roof of Car Crushed Into the Front Seat!
In Alaska we are not allowed to harvest the meat ourselves if we do hit a large animal, the troopers are called in to write up a report and they contact salvage crews that come out and butcher the moose right on the roadside, and then they deliver the meat to places like the food bank, and soup kitchens for the needy. In more remote areas like ours, volunteer church groups and other groups are called and they go salvage the meat and then distribute it to the families in need in our areas. My husband was a volunteer for this for many years! So the meat of Moose, Caribou, and Buffalo are not wasted. Which is a good thing! Later... K Fields See Also: Bunch of Bull!
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