Pets/Wildlife

Bonnie Caston, of Zephyrhills, sent in this photo of American Kestrels in her backyard. She said the pair has been mating and she is excited to see the babies in the near future. According to the Audubon Society, these kestrels inhabit any kind of open or semi-open space, from forest clearings to farmland to desert, wherever they can find adequate prey and some raised perches. During the breeding season, they may be limited to habitats that also provide appropriate nesting sites.

Cooper and Charlotte enjoy long walks, chasing balls and playing with each other. They are great company for each other and they love cuddling with their human ‘golden’ mama. Cooper and Charlotte live with Dar Keppel in Land O’ Lakes.

Sue Dow snapped this group of pelicans at Zephyr Park. Unlike the brown pelican, which is found year-round in Florida, and non-breeding white pelican juveniles, healthy adult white pelicans are winter visitors to the state. And did you know that a group of these birds can be known collectively as a brief, a pod, a pouch, a scoop and a squadron?

Lonna Vizzari has a menagerie of beloved pets at her home in Lutz. Here, Mittens shows Dust how to drink out of the sink, and Blaze tells Shadow and Honeybear what they can and can’t do in the house. Vizzari said her pets are very attentive.

 

John Oddo spotted this belted kingfisher at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club in San Antonio. The belted kingfisher often is first noticed by its wild, rattling call as it flies overhead. It can be seen perched high or hovering, then plunging headfirst into the water to grab a fish. These birds sometimes come into backyards that contain ponds or goldfish pools.

Loki came into his owners’ lives as a baby, five years ago. Although he looks like a chihuahua, he is a taco terrier (chihuahua and fox terrier mix). Loki takes his job protecting his family very seriously. He loves car rides and visiting outdoor dog-friendly restaurants. Loki lives in Land O’ Lakes with his mom and dad, Lainey and Jeff Steward.

Nicole Magazu, of Land O’ Lakes, captured this cute portrait of a tufted titmouse. According to the Audubon society, titmice are related to chickadees, and like them, readily come to bird feeders, often carrying away sunflower seeds one at a time. These birds open acorns and seeds by holding them with their feet and pounding them with their bills. Tufted titmice are little seed hoarders and will stock-pile hulled sunflower seeds in a tree cache as close as 130 feet from the feeder location.

Freddie is a 7-year-old Old English Bulldog. He has the cutest face and he will tilt his head and look at you like, ‘Do you seriously want me to do that?’ He ‘talks’ to his family when he is not getting enough attention. Freddie will carry on a conversation, talking back and forth. He knows the sit and come commands. Freddie does things in his own time, which is slow! He definitely is stubborn, like a bulldog. Freddie is such a sweet boy and lives with Sherrilyn Norcross in Zephyrhills, who can’t imagine her life without him.

Brenna Hicks snapped this photo of a honey bee against a sunny floral backdrop in her backyard in Lake Padgett Estates, in Land O’ Lakes. According to Pollinator.org, bees are very gentle creatures whose only desire is to fly from one flower to the next in search of pollen and nectar food for themselves and their developing larvae.

Gracie Lynn just celebrated her first birthday on Jan. 27. She weighs 5 pounds and loves to chase her ball. She also loves cuddling, going for walks and chasing squirrels. Gracie Lynn lives with Viviana Guerra and Jennifer Spinelli in Land O’ Lakes.