City Services

The elk at Spring River Zoo may not be a full herd yet, but they are definitely a family. The zoo welcomed a new animal addition June 13 with the birth of a baby elk – and it’s a girl!


The new arrival, named Alexis, weighed 36.2 pounds and was 30 inches tall at birth. Since then, she has been adding weight and growing taller just as a healthy young elk should. Her parents – mom Patty and dad Garrett – are the two adult elk (the zoo’s only two) that came to Spring River Zoo in 2018. The new baby is Patty and Garrett’s first offspring at the zoo.

 The zoo thanks the local chapter of Safari Club International for donating cameras that allowed zoo staff to better monitor the newborn’s development and take care of her.

 Alexis had an extra health challenge in the days following her birth when she broke a leg when it got caught in a picket fence. She was taken to Albuquerque for surgery by a veterinary specialist and is expected to make a full recovery under the continuing post-surgery care of a local veterinarian. 


 Anyone who would like to contribute to the care of Alexis is asked to donate gift cards from Tractor Supply, Roswell Livestock or Paul’s Vet Supply. Zoo staff will use these to purchase needed items. People can also donate monetarily to assist with the elk exhibit. To arrange to drop off donations, call (575) 624- 6760 or email a.cole@roswellnm.gov.