Pets/Wildlife

Linny was found seven years ago covered in lint in a dryer vent hose. Back then, he was only the size of his owner’s hand. Linny was born with a missing eye, but his family knew they had to keep him. Whether he is sleeping on the couch or chasing geckos outside, Linny has a quirky personality that always prompts laughter. Michele Wyatt and her family, in Wesley Chapel, are so happy that Linny chose them.

This mockingbird found a place to perch and rest on a budding branch of a crape myrtle tree in Steve Vinik’s yard in Lexington Oaks, Wesley Chapel. The Northern Mockingbird (state bird of Florida) is common in backyards, but doesn’t often visit feeders. You can encourage mockingbirds to visit your yard by keeping an open lawn and providing fruiting trees or bushes, including mulberries, hawthorns, and blackberry brambles.

Grai (Grigio) celebrated his seventh birthday in January. He is an extremely friendly feline that greets his family and friends when they come to the house. Nicole Magazu and her husband, of Land O’ Lakes, rescued Grai three years ago.

Sheila Spradlin snapped these shots of African Brown Geese at Zephyr Park in Zephyrhills. The African Goose or African Brown Goose is a breed of domestic goose, and is a hybrid of a Swan Goose and Chinese Goose, according to BeautyOfBirds.com. Two varieties are found in North America, the colored variety known as either grey or brown, and the white variety. The adult male makes a high, long double-syllable honk that is said to sound like a tug boat.

 

 

Dudley is a 6-year-old Pomeranian mix that likes to dress up for special occasions. He is loved by his owners, the Lohr family, in Land O’ Lakes.

Karen Whitenton, of Lutz, often sees a Mallard duck family in her yard eating sunflower seeds the birds have dropped. However, this time she caught them in the Willow Bend subdivision pond looking underwater for things to eat.

Louis is a 13-year-old Pomeranian. He is very sweet and always has a smile on his face. Louis loves to run around the house barking and enjoys playing with his toys. He lives in Tampa, but has a very special bond with his grandma, Patty Lohn, of Wesley Chapel. Louis visits often, unless there is a pandemic.

Ring-billed gulls often congregate around humans, parking lots, at garbage dumps, and freshly plowed fields. While the species is common on coastal beaches, particularly during winter, many ring-billed gulls lead inland lives, never setting eyes on the sea. This ring-billed gull, taken by Lillian Cucuzza of Land O’ Lakes, looks like it’s voicing its opinion on a touchy subject.

Bailey is a 3-year-old terrier hound mix. She was adopted as a puppy from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Bailey lives with two other rescue dogs and one cat. She loves to play with her siblings, eat treats, ride in the car, and go on adventure walks where she can see the sights. Bailey lives with the Enright family — April, Matthew and Haley — in Lutz.

Doris G. Moore snapped this photo of a few birds sharing space by the pond in the Northwood subdivision in Wesley Chapel. From left: a roseate spoonbill, a white ibis and an anhinga.