Pets/Wildlife

Kevin Perridge, of Land O’ Lakes, snapped this photo of a male and female Eastern bluebird. These bluebirds eat mostly insects, wild fruit and berries. Bluebirds typically sit in the open on power lines or along fences, with an alert, vertical posture, according to AllAboutBirds.org. When these birds drop to the ground for an insect, they make a show of it, with fluttering wings and a fairly slow approach, followed by a quick return to the perch.

S’mores is 3 years old. He came home from Pasco County Animal Services when he was a puppy. He is a mixed breed who loves to play ball, go on walks, and get belly rubs. When he meets new people, his tail-wagging makes his whole body wiggle! S’mores enjoys living with the Fox family in Land O’ Lakes.

Betsy Crisp, of Land O’ Lakes, was delighted to see this male, red-bellied woodpecker (caught in the security camera) in her large oak tree, in her backyard.

Taco is a Laughing Kookaburra, a species from Australia, that hatched on June 16, 2016. Originally from Arizona, where he worked in educational animal shows, he moved across the country to Florida and is living in semi-retirement with a fellow Kook. Taco loves to perform flights, and eat all his favorite foods like mice and mealworms. He lives with his bird-nerd parents, Josh and Jenny Andress, in Lutz.

Lisa Vaile lives in Oak Creek, in Wesley Chapel, but takes her boat out often to a little island where a lot of birds live, including pelicans, snake birds, snowy egrets, herons, cormorants and more. Here, a snowy egret is poised for a photo and a great blue heron tends to its baby.

 

Ruby lives in Lake Forest, in Lutz, with her proud owner Shelley Stolbach, and dishes out unconditional love.

D G Moore snapped this pair of regal pileated woodpeckers in her backyard, in Northwood Palms in Wesley Chapel. It appears to be a male and a female because of their cheek markings. These woodpeckers have loud calls and drum on dead trees in a deep, slow, rolling pattern.

Ezrah Renee is a 3 ½-year-old Miniature Australian Shepherd. She is CGC certified and serves as a therapy dog. Ezrah Renee and her handler have Multi Discipline Therapy K9 Team and Law Enforcement Investigative Therapy Dog Training. Ezrah Renee loves people, especially children. She also loves belly rubs, herding her jolly ball and going to work with her human. Ezrah Renee lives in Dade City with her proud owner, Karen Gordon.

Armadillos are burrowing, chiefly nocturnal mammals with strong claws and a jointed protective covering of bony plates. Armadillos tend to like dark, enclosed places, like the space inside clumps of bushes or behind low-hanging brush. If you repeatedly notice armadillos in your yard, consider changing the landscaping to eliminate their potential shelter. The word armadillo means ‘little armored one’ in Spanish. Bernard Welton, of Land O’ Lakes, caught these two out and about behind his home.

Dudley will celebrate his first birthday on June 21. He loves his walks and bully sticks. He enjoys his play dates at Pet Paradise, with his fellow furry friends at day camp. Dudley lives with his ‘fur’ mom, Alison Camp, in Wesley Chapel and bring her tons of joy and happiness.