Another moose on the loose! Marty spotted in… New Mexico?

There’s a moose on the loose and it’s not the one in Russ and Tiña’s article. Marty the Moose, as he has affectionately been called, is loose in New Mexico and has quite the fan base of people who have been tracking his whereabouts. 

Moose live in New Mexico?

I have to admit I’m not the most savvy person about which critters live in which parts of the country but, apparently, moose tend not to live in New Mexico. So Marty’s presence in the Land of Enchantment is somewhat unexpected and a bit of a surprise. 

In fact, there are a lot of questions about why Marty made his way down to New Mexico to take up residence. I came here for the lower tax base and more wide open spaces, plus the better proximity to the RV industry. But it’s doubtful that Marty is here for those reasons. 

Where did he come from?

Some have speculated that Marty was cut loose from his herd and headed south. Others think he might be in search of a mate. But like the straight-laced preacher at a swinger’s club, it’s doubtful that Marty is going to find his soul mate here. You see, Marty’s the only moose that has surfaced. 

Moose are not native to New Mexico at all, so it’s very likely that he meandered south. Perhaps he knows where the best chiles are grown. Yeah, I wrote that. Prove me wrong, Colorado. 

Marty shenanigans

I think my favorite thing about Marty the Moose is that New Mexico Game & Fish were concerned for his well-being, as they should be. Marty has been seen near Santa Fe on more than one occasion and that’s not a small city, so Marty could get his antlers in a state. Cars, people and more are all things that threaten moose. 

So Game & Fish took it upon themselves to find Marty and tranquilize him. While he was taking a siesta, he got a purple tag on his ear. They then posted this on social media: 

We are happy to report the bull moose that was relocated from downtown Santa Fe this week is doing well in his new home in Northern New Mexico. We expect him to travel north into more suitable moose habitat with more stable moose populations.

But Marty knows a good farmers’ market when he smells one, so it wasn’t long before he returned to Santa Fe. 

Meanwhile, Marty, too, has a fan club on Facebook with folks sharing photos and sightings of the large, lumbering creature. Who doesn’t love a good moose boomerang story? 

Russ and Tiña’s article reminded me of our own moose tracks story but, based on the Facebook Group, it’s been a bit since Marty has made an appearance. In fact, members of the group are starting to get concerned. 

It should be said that the time of year that the chiles get roasted all over New Mexico has now passed so, perhaps, Marty has become disillusioned with the area and truly moved to greener pastures. Or, perhaps, he’s just taking a step away from the two-legged invasive species that writes articles and such and is laying low for a while. 

I know that wild animals in cities are a cause for concern for creatures of all sorts, especially non-native species like moose. So I will try to keep up with Marty’s whereabouts and let you know what the latest is with this moose on the loose. That’s the truth—it’s no bull. Winkle. 

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