A sighting of a moose back in December 2022 has caused a frenzy in the Ski Santa Fe community, mainly because it’s rare to see the hulking mammal roaming around this medium-sized ski resort.
Jack Dant, mountain manager of Ski Santa Fe for 20 years, which sits 16 miles from Santa Fe, is one of the most popular destinations in the US, he said.
“Having a moose showing up was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever witnessed,” Dent told KOB. “This is my first time seeing a bull moose in this area. “My jaw hit the floor. I could not believe it. It’s one of the most exciting things I’ve ever experienced here.”
The animal is said to be 3-4 years old and close to 1,000 pounds. It’s believed to have wandered south from Colorado.
“You could still see him sometimes if you skied by. He’d be laying down or wandering around at the tree edge,” Dent said. “Then, about a week later, there was no more sign of him. The tracks were last seen headed northeast a couple of weeks ago. “
Dent suggested that it’s been a very long time since the last moose sighting.
“This is the farthest south recorded sighting of a moose in modern history,” he said. “It is the year of the moose, and we want to try and remember it somehow. While several runs at the ski area are named after different animals, we are still deciding on how to commemorate the year of the moose.”
The moose was also spotted near Chile’s Glade – a double black diamond in the ski area.
“Don’t be surprised if you find yourself skiing down Bull Moose Run sometime soon,” Dent said.
