Broadfoot

Broadfoot is the giant male moose of the island, a creature of imposing size and thick fur whose presence marks him as one of the most powerful animals in the wild. He appears throughout the story as a recurring figure in Roz's life, moving from a cautious visitor to a grateful survivor and finally to a decisive warrior. His arc traces the robot's growing integration into the island's ecosystem and culminates in a moment of spectacular violence that saves Roz from destruction.

Identity and Introduction

Broadfoot is introduced as one of the regular visitors to Roz's garden, the lush plot of growing things that the robot cultivates near her home. He is described as the giant male moose, a creature of such size that he stands apart from the other animals who come to enjoy the garden's bounty. Unlike the deer family led by Tawny and Crownpoint, who arrive each morning at dawn to graze, or the beavers who gnaw on a certain hardy shrub at the garden's edge, Broadfoot comes specifically to chew on tree shoots. His presence among the daily visitors marks him as part of the growing circle of animals who have come to accept Roz, a stark contrast to the earlier days when the robot's very presence sent birds scattering in fear. The garden becomes a meeting place where animals who once fled from Roz now linger simply to spend time with her, and Broadfoot is among the most prominent of these new friends.

The Winter Rescue and the Second Lodge

When the island's winter turns brutal, Broadfoot's size and thick fur prove insufficient against the freezing temperatures. He lives across the pond in a dense area of forest that shelters many animals, most of whom desperately need a good thaw. The second lodge that Roz builds is specifically designed to be larger than the first to accommodate him, a recognition of his imposing stature. To reach him, Roz tests the frozen surface of the pond by throwing a heavy stone into the air and watching it bounce off the hard ice before cautiously walking across. On the other side, she finds Broadfoot waiting for her, and the moose quietly leads the robot to the clearing in the trees where the new lodge will stand. Roz then lights a fire and watches as the cold creatures begin to emerge from the shadows, steam rising from their noses. She asks the gathered animals to collect whatever they can find that is useful — large stones, sturdy branches, pieces of frozen mud — and with the robot's construction expertise and the small army of assistants, the second lodge is built quickly. The animals joyfully accept Roz's truce and drag themselves into the warm wooden dome, where Roz explains that maintaining the fire will keep them alive but warns that fire can become deadly in an instant. Broadfoot's survival through the winter is thus directly tied to Roz's intervention, cementing his loyalty to the robot.

The Battle Against the RECOs

Broadfoot's most significant role comes during the battle against the RECO robots, the machines sent to retrieve Roz. As the conflict reaches its climax, the animals execute a coordinated plan against the blind and disoriented RECO 3. After the birds have bombarded the robot with droppings and the Fuzzy Bandits have stolen its gun, passing it to the deer Tawny and Crownpoint who carry it away on their antlers, the moment arrives for the final stage of the plan. Broadfoot emerges from the trees and places himself directly in the path of the blinded robot, which does not know that each of its steps brings it closer to the powerful animal. When the robot is within range, Broadfoot turns and kicks backward with his powerful hind legs. There is a violent crack as excrement flies from the RECO's head. The moose kicks again, and the robot's head falls to the side, a tear in its neck revealing a tangle of silver tubes. But the RECO's legs continue to pump, so Broadfoot keeps kicking, striking the robot's head with his heavy hooves, pounding and crushing it into an ugly shape. With a final crack, the head detaches, flies through the air, and crashes into the mud. The headless robot sparks and smokes, its legs stop, and it never moves again. Broadfoot's raw physical power, the sheer force of his massive body, proves to be the decisive weapon that the animals' cleverness and coordination could not alone provide.

Significance and Role

Broadfoot embodies the theme of the wild itself rising to defend Roz, the robot who has become part of the island's community. His journey from garden visitor to winter survivor to warrior reflects the deepening bond between the mechanical and the natural worlds. Where other animals contribute cunning, speed, or numbers, Broadfoot contributes pure strength — the elemental force of the largest land animal on the island. His victory over the RECO is not just a physical triumph but a symbolic one: the wild, which once feared and fled from the robot, now fights to protect her. The moose's actions demonstrate that Roz's patient work of building lodges, growing gardens, and learning the language of the animals has transformed her from an outsider into a member of the community worth defending with the full power of the natural world.