How many people does it take to move a life-size stuffed moose through the hallways of the Hart Senate Office Building? Four at a minimum, as the staff of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen discovered on Tuesday. 

Huddled around the giant moose waiting for a freight elevator, the group discussed their options.

“It’s going to be precarious,” one staffer said.

“Can someone hold the door open?” another asked.

“He probably needs to go in butt first,” a third decided.

Earlier that morning, the moose had been tucked in the back of a U-Haul truck. Standing at 8 feet tall, Marty made the journey to the Capitol from the White Mountains Visitor Center in North Woodstock, N.H. Kodak the bear, who is 6 inches shorter, rode next to him. 

The two traveled more than 500 miles squeezed in with pallets of drinks, boxes of snacks and ice chests filled with food, all from different New Hampshire organizations. Once the truck pulled into the loading dock, a dozen staffers from Shaheen’s office swarmed to begin the unpacking process.

Kodak rested easily on one furniture dolly, but Marty required two. Both are plush stuffed animals, not taxidermied ones.

Marty and Kodak will maneuver the halls again on Wednesday to star in the annual “Experience New Hampshire” event in the neighboring Russell Senate Office Building. Neither provided comment on Tuesday about their duties in Washington, D.C.

Marty is relatively new to the Capitol, making his first trip in 2022. His predecessor Max, who currently lives at the New Hampshire Department of Education, began the job in 2010, when Shaheen started hosting the reception, according to a spokesperson for the senator.

Shaheen, who chaired the Senate Small Business Committee in the 118th Congress, said the event gives New Hampshire businesses a stage. Each year they display their wares, touting beer, hot sauces and handmade furniture.

“From our world-famous maple syrup to tourism in the White Mountains, Experience New Hampshire showcases the businesses, institutions and entrepreneurs that make the Granite State a uniquely wonderful place,” Shaheen said in a statement on Tuesday.

While Shaheen did not attend Marty and Kodak’s disembarkation, the Democrat did flash an affirmative smile in the hallways earlier in the day when asked if she was ready for their arrival. This will be one of her last times hosting the animals, as she’s announced she won’t run for reelection next year.

For maximum movability, Marty traveled to Shaheen’s office without his antlers attached. Carpenters with the Architect of the Capitol watched staffers maneuver the moose through the office’s glass doors. Paul Bosch, who has worked on the Hill for more than two decades, has helped with the move in the past.

“I accidentally bumped into them once and figured out how to screw the antlers on,” he recalled.

Bosch offered his assistance once more on Tuesday, bringing in a ladder and a screw gun. He helped lift the antlers into place and fastened them to Marty’s head.

Safely ensconced in Shaheen’s office waiting room, the moose and bear caught the attention of many passersby.

“Every year,” Bosch chuckled, watching people stop and look inside with surprise.