Photos from the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park Wednesday, July 7, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The zoo exhibits over 40 animal species and hundreds of species of plant native to the Chihuahuan Desert.(Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
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Prairie dogs stand alert at the entrance of one of their dugouts Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A black bear named Maggie sits in the shade of her enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A greater roadrunner looks out it's enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A mountain lion looks out from it's enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A bobcat sleeps on a ledge within it's enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A javelina grazes it's enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico.(Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A bison eats grazes alfalfa hay Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico.(Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A female American Kestrel looks outside her enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A kit fox rest in it's enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A western diamondback rattlesnake coils within its enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A golden eagle sits perched on a platform Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A prickly pear flower in bloom Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A map of the the Living Desert on display at the welcome center Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Fossils and minerals on display Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Golden barrel cactus on display with the scucculents of the world greenhouse Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Succulents of the world exhibit features a variety of cacti and succulents Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A Harris's Hawk looks out from it's enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Prairie dogs stand alert at the entrance of one of their dugouts Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A prairie dog stands as he chews on food Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A desert massasauga rattlesnake Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A lotus flower blooms within the desert pond Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Bunny ears cacti in the desert uplands Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Desert uplands include tarbush, creosote, lechuguilla, New Mexico agave, yucca, cholla, ocotillo, prickly pear, and one seed juniper Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Desert uplands include tarbush, creosote, lechuguilla, New Mexico agave, yucca, cholla, ocotillo, prickly pear, and one seed juniper Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A SwainsonÕs hawk sits perched on a stick inside it's enclosure Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A Bolson tortoise hatchling cage offers visitors a unique opportunity to see North America's largest tortoise breed Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
Selenite, a crystallized form of gypsum, lines the trail after leaving the aviary Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A lotus flower blooms within the desert pond Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A turtle sun baths on a log in a waterfowl pond Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Parkin Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A striped plateau lizard rest on a ledge Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
An adult New Mexico whiptail lizard rest on a walking trail Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
A rainbow cactus along a walking trail Wednesday, July 7, at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Odessa American|Jacob Ford)
