Marty the moose relocated again after Santa Fe capture

SANTA FE, N.M. – Marty the moose once again captured the attention of Santa Fe.

“To have one right in the thick of an urban area is so rare,” said Darren Vaughan with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.  

Vaughan says Game and Fish officials cornered Marty just outside of Fort Marcy Park and moved in. This was days after he reappeared in Tesuque.

In the Facebook group “Where’s Marty Moose,” it shows someone drew a cartoon showing Marty’s to-do list was to walk down to Tesuque, and wind up all over Facebook.

Officials say this is the same moose that trotted up Hyde Park Road on the way to Ski Santa Fe this winter. Sadly, Marty had worn out his welcome.

“It was also showing little or no fear of humans or pets, or anything like that,” said Vaughn. 

Citing safety concerns, Game and Fish decided to relocate Marty. He was shot with a tranquilizer dart, and a couple of minutes later he was down for a nap. 

Officials had a vet check him out. Marty is a healthy 4-5 year old, weighing in at over 900 pounds. 

Marty the moose looked happy to be released in far northern New Mexico where he has a better chance to run into more moose.

“If it does make its way back to across the state line it will be back with a good size moose herd,” said Vaughn. 

This might very well be the end of the story for New Mexico’s southernmost moose.

Game and fish officials want to remind folks to keep their distance, these animals – even Marty the moose – can be dangerous. There is no moose hunting in New Mexico.