Pets/Wildlife

Echo is a tamed sun conure that was hatched on March 6, 2019. He came to his owners when he was 12 weeks old. Echo loves to chew natural balsa wood blocks, snuggle, play with other birds, and sleep on his back. He eats pellets, vegetables, some pumpkin seeds, and fruits. If you would like to see more of Echo and his flock, look him up on Instagram under apolo_birds. Echo lives with Wilmer Apolo in Land O’ Lakes.

Squirrels usually will try every trick in the book to steal from a bird feeder, and this one was caught in the act by Mario Arruda in his backyard, in Land O’ Lakes.

Rosie is a Doberman puppy and she is a little more than a year old. She is very tall and likes to poke her nose into everything. Rosie was originally the runt of her litter, but is now big enough that she was given the nickname, ‘baby giraffe.’ Her favorite trick is to ‘shake,’ and her favorite toy is her rubber giraffe. Rosie is the first one awake, bright and early at 5 a.m., to remind everyone it is time for her walk. Rosie’s favorite game is sneaking upstairs to the bedrooms, poking around in the laundry baskets to steal socks, and then being chased around the house so her owners can get the socks back. Rosie keeps life exciting for the Rowan family in Land O’ Lakes.

Sue Dowdie lives in Wesley Chapel, but took a jaunt down to Anna Maria Island where she snapped a photo of this snowy egret. She named him ‘Charlie,’ as he followed her around on the beach while she looked for seashells.

Piper is 7 years old and last year moved to Lutz from North Carolina. She enjoys swimming, napping, and going where her family goes. The Farrell family —  J.J., Rachel, Graysen, Ellie, and quadruplets Ava, Kate, Will and Jack — all love Piper.

Clara Urena submitted this photo of a male Muscovy duck at Bexley, in Land O’ Lakes. This strange, warty-faced duck causes confusion for some bird watchers, as it’s very distinctive and quite commonly seen, yet does not appear in some field guides. Wild Muscovy ducks are glossy black with bold white wing patches and are forest dwellers that nest in tree cavities. The word ‘Muscovy’ may refer to the Muscovy Company (incorporated in London in 1555), which transported these ducks to England and France.

Sammy, a chow retriever mix, is 11 years old and also known as ‘The Lion.’ He is Lindsay Roell’s best friend and follows her everywhere she goes. Sammy was not too keen on the idea of having a little brother, Arlee, who is a 10-month-old Australian shepherd. Arlee loves to ride in Roell’s daughter’s power wheels car and loves to swim. Sammy, on the other hand, just likes to cuddle. Sammy and Arlee live with the Roell family in Lutz.

Rachel Marietta Mills, of Wesley Chapel, caught this honey bee stopping by for a sip from a Florida tasselflower. Honey bees can thrive in natural or domesticated environments, though they prefer to live in gardens, woodlands, orchards, meadows and other areas where flowering plants are abundant. Even though the tasselflower is a weed, it’s also a pollinator magnet. Butterflies, bees and wasps are drawn to this lowly member of the aster family.

Beans, formerly known as ‘Frijoles’ (Mexican-style pinto beans), is from a rescue group in Texas called Lone Star Dog Rescue, which rescues dogs from puppy mills in Missouri. Beans is a French bulldog that lived for 6 ½ years in a small crate with very few creature comforts. Lone Star takes care of the animals’ medical needs and then finds homes for the dogs. Lindsey Paris was chosen just over a year ago to fly out to Dallas to pick him up. Every day she sees more of Beans’ personality come out and says it is a joy to finally see him chewing on a bone or playing with an old sock – luxuries he never knew before. Beans likes to nap, to cuddle with this big sister Lady (a yellow Labrador), and to beg for food. In addition to dog treats, Beans loves carrots and cantaloupe. Beans lives with Lindsey in Wesley Chapel.

Keith Oller lives in Land O’ Lakes and spotted this snake when he was walking on a horse trail in the woods behind the Stagecoach community, known as the Cypress Creek flood detention area. The coral snake is poisonous, as the old rhyme goes, ‘Red and yellow, can kill a fellow; Red and black, friend of Jack.’