Hatcher was rescued on May 27, 2025, by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Ninilchik. The crying calf was next to its deceased mother when found. They named the orphan moose after Hatcher Pass near Palmer, Alaska.
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Fish and Game staff determined the orphan moose to be around two to five days old. He is settling in nicely at Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer. They will bottle-feed him for about six months, supplemented with grazing as he grows. He is adapting well to the farm environment. Visitors can see Hatcher, but only from a distance right now. Staff requests that people remain calm and quiet to avoid startling the baby.
Farm personnel are over the moon to have another moose baby to raise. Lily became an orphan at around the same age. Surprisingly, her introduction video is very much like Hatcher’s. She even booped the camera the same way, too.
Lily is now two years old. She will remain at the farm for her entire life. Hatcher will likely stay on the farm, also. The farm holds a special permit that allows it to care for orphaned moose.
Moose are solitary animals, so they won’t be forming a herd. Hatcher will be largely independent once he is completely weaned. He will grow antlers during his first year, but won’t reach sexual maturity for a couple of years. Cows tend to prefer senior mates, so having the two in the same area should not be a problem.
Baby moose are adorable. We’ve seen them playing in kiddie pools on their wobbly legs with their Mom nearby. Workers at an Alaska hospital got to witness a calf’s first few steps, which was a magical experience.
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