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The Three Moose-kteers
© 2012 - William C. Highsmith

Seward is one of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities. The town is situated at the head of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. Mary has lived here for most of her adult life.

Born in St. Louis, she came here as a young bride with her husband, Mark. Mark was a native Alaskan who met Mary when he served in the Army. It was love at first sight for both of the young people. As time moved on, Mark left the service and they decided to go back to his home state.

Mark worked as a game warden for the state of Alaska. He loved the land and its fauna and flora. He worked tirelessly to protect it - even to the risk of his own life and limb. It was this attribute that finally cost him his life. He was murdered by a poacher accused of hunting moose out of season. It had been twelve years since Mark's death, and Mary still lived in the same cabin he had brought her to many years before. She felt like a native Alaskan herself now with the same appreciation of the land as her late husband.

The accident happened on Alaska State Road 9. The seven hundred pound cow was crossing the road with her three calves. It is most unusual for a moose to have three calves. However, it was a fact. The big cow was leading her calves when she was hit by a car. Miraculously, none of the babies were hit. However, the cow was killed - leaving three little ones alone. Soon the state game warden - a young man called Jeff - was on the scene. He made the decision there was no way they could make it alone; and, since there was no place to care for them, he decided it would be better to put the youngsters down than leave them to the certain death by starvation or a predator. However, just in case, Jeff put out the word in the community.

Although Mary lived outside of town, she soon heard about the pitiful situation of the tiny orphans. She offered to take in and care for them until they could survive on their own. It would not be easy and could be dangereous. It meant she would have to protect them from the predators. The best place to do that was in the barnyard with the family cow and goats. It was surrounded with an electric fence to protect them. Also, just maybe the milkcow would adopt them and allow them to suckle. If not - she would feed them with the same bottle she had nursed several other animals with.

"I will call them Athos, Porthos, and Aramis -
The Three Moose-kteers."

By William C. Highsmith - June 20, 2012




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