Steve Hadley snapped a photo of this two-tailed lizard on the screen outside his house, in Connerton in Land O’ Lakes. According to AnoleAnnals.org, two-tailed (or occasionally even three-tailed) lizards are not all that uncommon. Most lizards can lose their tails and regrow a new one. The middle of each vertebra in the tail is a zone of weakness (or breakage plane), pre-made to easily fracture. When this happens, the signal goes out, and new tail construction begins. Occasionally it doesn’t quite work; the tail is only partially broken, and doesn’t come off, but enough is broken that new tail growth begins. New tails do not regrow the original vertebrae made of bone. Rather, they grow as one long, cartilaginous rod, according to the website. So, one can easily tell the new tail from the old one.
Pets/Wildlife
Evie is a real sweetheart
Evie is the best pet ever, according to her owner, Madison Boatright. This 6-year-old rabbit loves to give morning kisses, friendly snorts, cuddle and play. She enjoys chilling out in her tunnel or hopping around in her pen. If she escapes her pen, Evie can be found lying on the couch. When she wants to play, she nibbles at her cage to be let out. Boatright is a student at Turner Bartels Middle School in New Tampa, and her teacher, Bryndi Colwell, said her students read the newspaper and asked if they could submit photos of their pets.
Dennis the menace?
This squirrel, named ‘Dennis’ by one of the staff at The Laker/Lutz News, hung around quite a bit in front of the office in Land O’ Lakes, as well as up in the rooftop!
Have a little ‘faith’
Faith is 1 ½ years old and a little too big to fit through the cat door, although she tries her best! She is a mixed breed that her mom, Charlene, rescued from a shelter when Faith was 6 weeks old. Faith lives with the Carl Milillo family, including four brothers; Sadie, a 12-year-old rescue sister; and Hope and Holly, sister cats, in Lutz.
A stunning portrait
Kimberly Collins lives in Meadow Pointe and plants her yard to attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds — and what better way to capture a photo like this, of a Monarch butterfly sitting for a portrait! Collins said she is thankful for the opportunity to share her love of nature.
Bella is a sweetheart
Bella is a 2-year-old girl that was adopted last year. At first, she was quite shy, but today she is more active and happier than ever. Bella starts her day around 4 a.m., chasing her toys around the house and making sure to not let her owners sleep in. She likes to wait all day at the window for her family to come home. She also has the cutest markings that make a heart on her nose. Bella lives in Land O’ Lakes with her proud owner, Austin McAdams.
An unmistakable image
This great blue heron was sitting in the pond at Steve Vinik’s home in Lexington Oaks, in Wesley Chapel, squawking at something. After gazing fixedly for some minutes and then swiveling its head when Vinik tapped at the window, the heron suddenly lifted off across the pond.
Life is ‘golden’ for this family pet
Miss Lucie is an 8-year-old golden retriever that arrived from Canada this past October. She happily spends her days chasing geckos instead of snowflakes in the backyard, loving the break from the winter weather. Her life as a snowbird seems to be pretty great! Miss Lucie lives in Dade City with her proud owners, Gilbert and Joanne Dionne.
Which way out?
This toad seems to be pondering how it got stuck on the back porch of the Rathman family home, in Land O’ Lakes.
Miss Mabel loves to shop
Miss Mabel is a 9-year-old Maltipoo that came running up to her owner on the Mississippi River levy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2019. Mabel was homeless and in need of care, so Ester Ragolta flew back home with her to Land O’ Lakes. Miss Mabel loves to dress up and if she hears, ‘Let’s go shopping,’ she gets more excited than her humans do. Miss Mabel shares her home with Jackie, the cat.
