Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, NM
April 22, 2008
In Carlsbad the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a state operated zoo and botanical garden specializing in native species of the Chihuahuan Desert and New Mexico. Beginning just outside the Visitor Center is the 1.3-mile self-guided walking tour. The first stop was the walk through mixed vegetation and sand dunes that naturally exist east of the Pecos River and into Texas. We recognized the Texas state tree, Honey Mesquite. Our favorite stop was the aviary where they have birds of prey so we could see the hawks and eagles up close and inside where we spent hours watching the roadrunners building a nest. Continuing the walk was the Gypsum Sinkhole with big rock crystals. That led us to the Arroyo. Just like a typical dry streambed we have walked through in the desert, this one had high walls to capture the flash flood waters, but this one was made of cement! You have to look closely to see it because it looks so real. The javelinas have a little exhibit here in the shallow cavities and pockets of the arroyo. The Pionon Juniper Zone is found at elevations of 4000-6500 feet. We saw the black bear, Oso, who is also an artist. They give her a brush and let her go! Her art is sold in the gift shop. Today Oso was napping near a pool of water. We watched the endangered Mexican Wolf; there were six wolves in the pack and they were up trotting about. The Nocturnal Exhibit has some really interesting exhibits and its own stalactites. We sat for some time watching the prairie dogs playing lookout or king of the hill, tumbling around together or just soaking up the sun. The return trail looped us past the hoof stock of bison, pronghorn and elk. We watched a hawk soar as we made our way past the cougar and bobcat, both napping, to the Greenhouse where they have exotic cactus housed. We learned that when they changed from the tradition zoo setting to this new exhibit setting they took out all the exotics that had been planted around and brought in natural plants, but kept the unique ones in the greenhouse. We walked past the desert pond with blooming lilies back into the Visitor Center and strolled through the exhibits and gift shop there. We spoke to one of the rangers about the gypsum and got to see into the office area. It was so friendly with each person’s desk filled with special things to them, more like an education center than an office. A really great place to spend the day, or a few hours. It opens 8am daily. http://www.nmparks.com/ 
In Carlsbad the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a state operated zoo and botanical garden specializing in native species of the Chihuahuan Desert and New Mexico. Beginning just outside the Visitor Center is the 1.3-mile self-guided walking tour. The first stop was the walk through mixed vegetation and sand dunes that naturally exist east of the Pecos River and into Texas. We recognized the Texas state tree, Honey Mesquite. Our favorite stop was the aviary where they have birds of prey so we could see the hawks and eagles up close and inside where we spent hours watching the roadrunners building a nest. Continuing the walk was the Gypsum Sinkhole with big rock crystals. That led us to the Arroyo. Just like a typical dry streambed we have walked through in the desert, this one had high walls to capture the flash flood waters, but this one was made of cement! You have to look closely to see it because it looks so real. The javelinas have a little exhibit here in the shallow cavities and pockets of the arroyo. The Pionon Juniper Zone is found at elevations of 4000-6500 feet. We saw the black bear, Oso, who is also an artist. They give her a brush and let her go! Her art is sold in the gift shop. Today Oso was napping near a pool of water. We watched the endangered Mexican Wolf; there were six wolves in the pack and they were up trotting about. The Nocturnal Exhibit has some really interesting exhibits and its own stalactites. We sat for some time watching the prairie dogs playing lookout or king of the hill, tumbling around together or just soaking up the sun. The return trail looped us past the hoof stock of bison, pronghorn and elk. We watched a hawk soar as we made our way past the cougar and bobcat, both napping, to the Greenhouse where they have exotic cactus housed. We learned that when they changed from the tradition zoo setting to this new exhibit setting they took out all the exotics that had been planted around and brought in natural plants, but kept the unique ones in the greenhouse. We walked past the desert pond with blooming lilies back into the Visitor Center and strolled through the exhibits and gift shop there. We spoke to one of the rangers about the gypsum and got to see into the office area. It was so friendly with each person’s desk filled with special things to them, more like an education center than an office. A really great place to spend the day, or a few hours. It opens 8am daily. http://www.nmparks.com/ 
We spent the rest of the day relaxing at the city park under a tree for shade, near the Pecos River for ambiance. Two Scottie dogs came to visit!
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