Pets/Wildlife

Rowdy is a 15-year-old mini dachshund. Rowdy was eight weeks old, when his owner, Nicki D’Souza, adopted him. Rowdy likes playing with his squeaker toys and taking walks around the neighborhood, and now that he is a senior, he enjoys lots of naps. Rowdy lives in Land O’ Lakes with D’Souza and has been a loyal companion through life’s many ups and downs.

Jack Olson, of Dade City, snapped this shot of a sandhill crane and its two youngsters in his backyard. Olson said his wife likes to feed the birds and squirrels at their home on the northeast shore of Lake Iola.

Ten-year-old Precious, a Lab-Border Collie mix, is absolutely crazy about water! Although she is reaching her golden dog years, she is still a playful puppy at heart. Precious lives with her proud owner, Kathleen Brunet, in Land O’ Lakes.

Donna Church snapped this photo of a wood stork at Zephyr Park in Zephyrhills. Wood storks forage mainly by wading in shallow water and can locate prey (mostly fish) by touch or sight. Wood storks are on the endangered species list, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in February proposed removing the bird from that list because it has recovered.

John Oddo, of San Antonio, captured these incredible photos of a bald eagle at the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club. These regal birds of prey measure 30 inches to 40 inches from head to tail, with a 7-foot  to 8-foot wingspan, and weigh from 8 pounds to 14 pounds. The distinctive white head and tail feathers appear when the eagles mature at 4 or 5 years old. Bald eagles are believed to live 30 years or longer in the wild.

Don Keeley and his pet skunk, Tazer, live in Zephyrhills and they both love the U.S.A.! Pet skunks can be trained to sleep during the night and be active during the day. When not sleeping, skunks need lots of love and attention.

Lorna Baker had fun watching the acrobatics of this red-bellied woodpecker on the bird feeder in her backyard, in Meadow Pointe in Wesley Chapel. Red-bellied woodpeckers are primarily a bird of the southeast, but in recent years have expanded their range to the north, as they adjust to life in suburbs and city parks. Despite its name, the belly is not often visible in the field.

These two felines — Peeta and Katniss — are 3-year-old siblings. They enjoy sharing toys and treats, and love washing each other’s faces, playing tag, wrestling, and curling up together for naps. Peeta and Katniss are the proud owners of Cathy and Roger Quackenbush of Land O’ Lakes.

Dennis Smith, of Land O’ Lakes, snapped a photo of this beauty — a pileated woodpecker — just one of four that he said has been coming to his yard to eat berries from a cherry laurel tree.