Pets/Wildlife

Nick Marek has lived at Eagle Island in Lake Padgett Estates East, in Land O’ Lakes, for 25 years. He loves the variety of wildlife that comes through the area.

Midnight is a 16-year-old outdoor/indoor cat that was rescued by the Carmack family when they lived in Hudson, back in 2005. She loves going outside during the day, mostly to sunbathe and work on her tan, and also to guard and protect her humans. Midnight likes to go for short walks with her owners; she doesn’t even need a leash! When she was young, Midnight used to bring presents to the family all the time, in the form of mice and lizards. She is the definition of perseverance because she will meow for food ‘until the cows come home’ when she is hungry. Midnight loves to steal Kelli Carmack’s pillow in the middle of the night, which is a battle Kelli can never win. (Kelli is the Digital Content Manager for The Laker/Lutz News.) Midnight still resides with the Carmack family but now in Grand Oaks, in Land O’ Lakes.

May was born on Feb. 22, 2019, and is part poodle and part Bichon. She likes to go on walks and lay by the pool, and her favorite toy is Mr. Pickle. May loves when her dad, Reggie, gets home from work, so she can greet him with a 100-mph wagging tail and kiss him for at least five minutes. May enjoys celebrating the Fourth of July, and is a huge Lightning fan. She says, ‘Way to go Bolts!’ May lives in Lake Bernadette, in Zephyrhills, with her parents, Reggie and Leighanne Rose.

Darlene Raudabaugh snapped this silhouetted hummingbird through her front door window, in Carpenter’s Run in Lutz.

Noel has been with her owner since he was 5 years old. She seems like a grumpy cat a lot, but really is very sweet. Noel loves to be scratched under her chin and petted. She is afraid of strangers at first, but if you give her some time, she will come up to you and rub her head against your leg. She helps Christian Morales and his brother, of Wesley Chapel, by ‘acting’ in their movies.

Rylee is a 4-year-old golden retriever. She gets to see her fur family (mom, dad, sister and brother) during family reunions, and it is the cutest and craziest thing when they get together. Rylee enjoys long summer days soaking in the pool, hunting lizards, and playing with her favorite snorting-pig toy. She lives for endless back scratches and treats before bed. Rylee lives the good life with her owners, Dan and Kelly Hicks of Land O’ Lakes.

Deanna Demspey, of Dade City, said this purple gallinule was very interested in what she was doing during a fishing trip she took at Lake Pasadena. Gallinules mostly are found near freshwater, of which ponds with emergent vegetation are their favorite for nesting.

Bella is an 8-year-old Springer Spaniel. On hot days, she loves swimming in the pool with her family.  Bella loves to do tricks. When presented with a treat on the floor, Bella will sit and wait until she is told she can have the treat. Bella lives with the Eisenberg family in Wesley Chapel.