Living Desert State Park, Carlsbad, NM
A photographic stroll
(All images and writing copyright Jody Harris, 2003)
The Living Desert State Park in Carlsbad, NM, is situated on a desert hill on the outskirts of town
The main building has an entrance full of informative, fun, educational and interactive exhibits for kids and adults.
Without even leaving the main building, you can get an excellent education on the people and animals that have inhabited this desert over time.
Barn owl
Burrowing owl
The Birds of Prey section is home to this gorgeous Golden eagle
Many of the residents of the aviary and bird exhibits are birds that have been rescued by park Volunteers and Staff.
Nesting doves in the Aviary
This turkey hen and her mate live in the aviary, as well.
Young children are engaged by the veriety of species in the aviary, as well as amazed by the size of the turkeys.
This is "Larry." He's a mocking bird, and quite the charactor.
A visiting insect on a prickly pear.
Many of the plant species in the park are labeled.
Nearly perfect prickly pear apples.
Plenty of informative guides are provided along the path through the zoo.
Looking for the javelinas...
and finding them.
The badger is a show off.
The nocturnal exhbit is full of the sites and sounds of the desert at night. Highly imaginative, and interactive.
Great horned owl.
The Desert landscape and a desert willow.
The coach whip snake was very active and very entertaining today!
Some very healthy bison live at the Living Desert.
This is an external view of the Large Cats exhibit.
And it's beautiful on the inside, too.
A pair of cougars and a pair of bobcats live in this exhibit.
The final leg of the tour, as you approach the Succulents of the World exhibit.
Succulents of the World exhibit.
The park is such a beautiful and comfortable place, that you get all kinds of visitors.
(All images and writing copyright Jody Harris, 2003)