There is no shortage of moose in Alaska; in fact, these massive creatures have a population of about 200,000 that roam freely throughout The Last Frontier. One of the sad truths is that these huge and beautiful animals are often the very thing that a causes a road accident. But what happens when 3,000 pounds of metal plows into 1,000 pounds of beast? In Alaska, the recycled roadkill program allows these creatures to benefit the community in a very charitable way.
An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 moose die ever year as a result of being hit by a vehicle. When you include occasional caribou, bear, mountain goat, and deer collisions, it results in over one million pounds of decomposing animals strewn across the state.
Cleared roads during the winter months become the sought after trails that animals need to traverse snowy landscapes and find food. Its much easier for them to walk down a plowed road then make their own path through deep snow.
December, January, February, and March are the months where roadkill tallies are at their highest. Icy road conditions and limited visibility make it almost impossible to stop on roadways before you hit a moose.
In the 1970s, Alaska created a roadkill salvage program that converts all of the potentially wasted meat into something better for the community. Moose is widely consumed and highly appreciated. One moose can feed one person for an entire year and in a state that has high food insecurity, it seems a shame to waste any good food source.
Troopers keep a list of organizations and individuals who have applied to receive recycled roadkill. When they find a big animal dead on the road, they alert dispatchers who then find the first person or group that can come salvage the kill.
This recovery system is unique to Alaska. The low temperatures ensure that the meat does not spoil and the animals have far less disease than those in the continental United States.
Moose as well as other game meats tend to be very lean and wiry. They are typically ground up to use in burgers or sausages or chopped into smaller pieces for stew.
But a moose burger cooked right can be one of the most delicious meals you can imagine. Chefs around the world and especially in Alaska know just how much flavor you can bring our of this game meat.
The uniquely Alaskan roadkill salvage program does not celebrate the death of animals on the roadways. However, if the accidents are going to happen, why let thousands of pounds of great meat rot on the side of the road? Recycled road kill can feed families and groups across the state.
So would you consider eating recycled roadkill? Or have you already taken the plunge and dined on a roadside salvage animal? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.
The roadkill salvage program is not the only thing unique to Alaska, if you are going to be late to work you can use one of these 17 Alaskan excuses.
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