Pets/Wildlife

This gator was heading from the 12th hole to the 11th hole at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club. As he walked out from between two houses, he came face-to-face with a family of sandhill cranes. Generally when there’s a young crane involved, a gator will get very hostile and the cranes will get very defensive and go after the gator. However, in this case, all the actors in this drama left the stage in good shape. In fact, the cranes cleared the way to the water and the gator just followed. Stan Lukasiewicz and his wife are enjoying the wildlife to its fullest in San Antonio.

Fanny is a 16-year-old Siamese. Her name came from the fact that she was found caught in a fan belt of a car. Fanny was adopted by Lloyd Firestone, of Lutz, about 16 years ago from a veterinarian who took care of her. She has very soft fur and loves sitting outside on the lounge chairs.

This American kestrel and a grackle didn’t seem to mind sharing the same spotlight when Lillian Cucuzza, of Land O’ Lakes, found them perched side by side at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway.

About a month ago Bonnie Caston, of Zephyrhills, found out that her 6-year-old dachshund, Dutchess, needed to have both her eyes removed. Bonnie said Dutchess amazes her every day, going up and down the stairs, and going back to her spunky self. Dutchess’ motto is: ‘I may be blind, but I am not handicapped.’

The Laker/Lutz News staff writer Mike Camunas snapped this photo of a beautiful monarch butterfly in his parent’s yard in Land O’ Lakes. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s addition of monarch butterflies to its “endangered” species list this past summer underscores the importance of protecting these winged creatures.

Grigio (Grai) will be 10 years old in January. He is smart and friendly, and he loves to roll over so he can get his cat massage. Grigio lives with Frank and Nicole Magazu, in Land O’ Lakes.

Barry White has two dogs, Mocha and Mia, that love the view from his back porch in Wilderness Lake Preserve — they can watch the variety of animals that come through on a daily basis, like this family of deer. 

Lily is a rescue from Hillsborough County, as part of a multitude of dogs seized from abuse. Lily is the first dog her owner, Marissa Walrath, has ever adopted. Marissa said the poodle changed her life forever, and Lily can now live her life in peace, love and safety.

The anhinga and cormorant are often confused. They share similar characteristics, such as long, snake-like necks, and can be seen perched along the coast, rivers, lakes or ponds, often cohabiting in the same areas. Cormorants have striking crystal-like blue eyes and anhingas display a striking blue-green eye ring in its breeding plumage. Betsy Crisp said she couldn’t get close enough to decide on which bird this was, when she snapped this photo on Treasure Lake in Land O’ Lakes.

Pixie is 5 years old and Chase is 15 years old. They both love going to the beach in their buggy. The pups are good at helping their owner relax. Pixie and Chase live with Rita Debeer in Zephyrhills.