Pets/Wildlife

Levi is a standard poodle who likes to run and romp with his friends at the dog park. His owner, Barbara Marbell, says Levi is the ‘love of her life.’

Michelle Mullis says this barred owl is a frequent visitor to a tree in front of her house in the Cypress Bayou, in Land O’ Lakes. On this particular day, it was happy to let her snap a few photos. The barred owl usually roosts quietly during the day. Mullis was excited for the opportunity to see the owl’s beauty up close.

Lexie (left) loves to dress up and prance around to show off. Abbie, on the other hand, tolerates her mom’s wardrobe selections. Lexie is 16 years old and Abbie is 13 years old. They are sisters to each other, but not by blood. Abbie and Lexie live with their proud owner, Debbie Wright, in Land O’ Lakes.

Female cardinals are pale brown overall, with warm-reddish tinges in the wings, tail and crest. The females have the same black face and red-orange bill as the bright red males. Cardinals tend to sit low in shrubs and trees or forage on or near the ground, often in pairs. These birds are common at bird feeders. Cardinals sing with a loud, metallic chip note. Marisol Fontanez snapped this photo at her home, in the Blue Jay Mobile Home Park in Dade City.

Lavender is a Rex and Lions Mane mix. She is kind, loving, cute and gentle. Lavender likes to cuddle and play, but especially loves attention! Lavender lives with her owner, Eva Jordyn Pagni, in Wesley Chapel.

Lillian Cucuzza, of Land O’ Lakes, has been taking advantage of the pandemic to snap some photos in her neighborhood and surrounding areas — wherever possible. Cucuzza’s neighbors have had a blue bird nesting box for the past 10 years, and this is the first year there were blue birds and babies.

Coco is a Yorkie that loves to travel. She spent three months on a cross-country adventure that included 22 states, 11 national parks, six national monuments, countless roadside attractions, hotels and campgrounds. Coco rides in between the front seats of her owner’s motorhome, in her bed. She is always ready for a road trip (and is probably planning another one) and loves the car rides. Coco lives with her proud owner, George Capaz, in Wesley Chapel.

Sharon Thompson noticed this moth on the outside of her lanai screen, at her home in Country Walk, in Wesley Chapel. Its common name is rustic sphinx, a moth in the Sphingidae family. These moths are called hawkmoths and the caterpillars are often referred to as hornworms, due to the horn-shaped protuberance found on the insect’s posterior end.

Jersey is an 8-year-old golden chow mix. He will sit for his treats and food. Jersey is a great walker and loves to stroll around the community, and then lay in front of the garage when he gets back, to relax. His favorite thing is to go for a ride in the car with his head out the window. Jersey was rescued from the kennel and he is the best fur baby ever, according to Phyllis Ferretti and family, with whom Jersey lives, in Land O’ Lakes.

This green anole (Anolis Carolinensis) sat on an orchid leaf on the back porch of Bruce Jones’ home in Dade City. This native anole can change its color when angry, frightened or during temperature stress. An invasive species of anole, the Cuban brown anole, is driving the native green anole out.