Pets/Wildlife

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.

Steve Vinik followed this great egret from his yard in Wesley Chapel, where it was snatching little lizards from a tree. The bird wandered down the street, and in trying to escape Vinik’s prying eye, flew atop the pool house in the Lexington Oaks neighborhood. The egret then magnificently launched itself in another direction.

Arturo is a 2-year-old Coton de Tulear rescue. He loves cooling off on the patio floor. The Coton de Tuléar is a breed of small dog known for its cotton-like coat and named for the city of Tulear (also known as Toliara) in Madagascar. This breed is thought to have originated from a group of small white dogs that swam across the Malagasy channel following a shipwreck. Arturo lives with the Blomstrom family — Maddox and Jeff — in Land O’ Lakes.

Cathy Vitone found this anole on a crepe myrtle tree in her backyard, in Land O’ Lakes. These lizards inhabit many different types of ecosystems, including deserts, rainforests, scrublands, caves, and even urban areas such as parks and gardens. A variety of the species either live most of their life in trees, or part of their life in trees. The lizard’s colorful chin flap (a dewlap) is used to attract a mate, defend territory, or deter predators.

Maximus is 9 years old, and just always wants to be where his humans are. Maximus lives in Wesley Chapel with his owner, Heidi Davidson.