Pets/Wildlife

Taz is 12-years young, and loves going on walks and opening presents, especially on Christmas. Taz was adopted from the Land O’ Lakes animal shelter at 7 weeks old. Taz is loved by her owners, Trinna and Ty Van Nostrand, of Land O’ Lakes.

Don Howard, of Meadow Point I in Wesley Chapel, takes quite a few photos of squirrels in his backyard. This one didn’t seem to mind posing for a snapshot.

Bandit is a 1-year-old Alaskan Malamute. His hobbies include chasing all of the birds out of the yard, digging in any hole he can find, devouring bones, and eating puppy ice cream on hot days. Bandit lives with his proud owners, Kelly and Matt Toomey, in Wesley Chapel.

Ashley Hessbrook, of Wesley Chapel, spotted this frog hanging out on her fence on a beautiful afternoon.

Mason is a 10-year-young Norfolk Terrier. His hobbies include barking at birds, trying to eat frogs, chasing lizards and working on his tan. He has the eyebrows of a wise old man. Mason lives with the MacKay family in Land O’ Lakes.

Marisol Fontanez snapped a photo of this turtle popping its head up out of the water, possibly to say hello, at the Blue Jay Mobile Home Park in Dade City.

This 5-year-old hound named Aileron is a New York shelter rescue. He is a ‘snow dog’ that also spends time in Wesley Chapel. While in Florida, Aileron loves to sunbathe, go for walks and visit with the neighborhood kids. In New York, he likes to chase rabbits and play in the snow. Aileron’s parents, Tim and Alma Shutt, say his nose gets him in trouble, but Aileron just likes to feel useful and keep an eye on the house, and his toys. Girls call Aileron ‘cutie’ and ‘handsome.’ A neighborhood photographer even asked Aileron to model for her.

This photo of three juvenile bluebirds huddled together was taken by Lorna Baker in her backyard, in Meadow Pointe 1 in Wesley Chapel. The birds seemed to anxiously scan the area for ‘mom,’ maybe wondering where the next meal is.

Smokie is a 9-year-old Russian blue. He is very vocal, and sometimes it’s like carrying on an actual conversation with him. Smokie came to his owners, Peter and Kelley Caporice, five years ago when Kelley’s mom passed away. The family could not let him go anywhere else, and Smokie quickly made himself at home. He loves snuggling on the couch, in his own time, of course, and enjoys going outside on the screened porch to nap and watch birds. Smokie mainly just watches the birds, but lizards better beware, and squirrels that dare to get on the screen will be told off in no uncertain terms. Smokie lives with the Caporices in Lutz.

The sweetbay silkmoth, named after the host tree (sweetbay magnolia), can be seen in Florida between February and October. This female made an appearance at the home of Meagan Rathman-Urena, in Lutz. This particular moth only has a lifespan of about two weeks, just long enough to mate and lay eggs. The female usually lays its eggs in short rows on the host plant leaves, but this one laid eggs on one of the homeowner’s window screens. Its habitat includes coastal swamp areas and moist areas in pinewoods.