Pets/Wildlife

Paul Langevin, of Land O’ Lakes, snapped this photo of two hawks at the Can AM Flyers field in San Antonio. 

Kass Claggett spotted this black-crowned night heron in her backyard on Drexel Road in Land O’ Lakes. These herons often spend their days perched on tree limbs or concealed among foliage and branches. They forage in the evening and at night, in water, on mudflats, and on land. These are social birds that tend to roost and nest in groups, although they typically forage on their own.

Bonnie Caston caught this red-shouldered hawk trying to hide in a tree, away from the mockingbirds that were dive-bombing it, in her backyard in Zephyrhills.

June Robinson caught this barred owl atop her bird feeder in Lakeshore Ranch. It appears the owl is listening to a ‘cardinal’ secret!

Ranger and Bear, 1-year-old pugs, and their friend Beef, an English bulldog rescue, enjoy a pool day together. Ranger and Bear live with Robin and John Phillips in Land O’ Lakes, and Beef resides with Amber and Sean Phillips in Tarpon Springs.

Paul Dinwiddie, of Wesley Chapel, snapped this photo of a monarch butterfly in his vegetable garden. The monarch butterfly, or simply monarch, has other common names, depending on the region, including milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. The monarch is among the most recognized, studied and loved of all of North America’s insects. 

Daysun Stewart snapped this photo of two sandhill cranes in his backyard near a preserve. Sandhill cranes are large birds that live in open habitats, so they’re fairly easy to spot. Their bugling calls are unique and can be heard from miles away, which can help alert people to this species’ presence, particularly as they pass overhead on migration.

Caitlyn Porter, of Zephyrhills, snapped this photo of a tobacco hornworm. The tobacco hornworm is a common pest of plants in the Solanaceae family, which includes tobacco, tomato, pepper, eggplant, and various ornamentals and weeds. Despite their alien appearance, these hornworms are native insects that contribute to local food chains and eventually transform into beautiful Carolina sphinx moths. These large-bodied moths have five-inch, coffee-colored wings that enable them to hover over flowers like hummingbirds

Maggie Mae is a 7-year-old Cavachon female who considers herself the mayor and primary greeter in Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club — saying hello with a furious tail wag and lots of conversation. Always a good citizen, Maggie Mae is seen here ‘reading and heeding’ the community dog park rules. A cart ride, lots of socializing, and a good chase of the ever-elusive lizard are a few of her favorite pastimes. Maggie is the home-run hit of Don and Diana Christman’s first attempt with a dog as a pet.

Will Kuhns captured this photo of an Eastern Meadowlark at Long Lake Ranch in Land O’ Lakes. Male meadowlarks sing beautiful, flute-like songs from exposed perches, such as fence posts, treetops and utility lines. Eastern Meadowlarks walk on the ground, often concealed by grasses or crops, and live in farm fields, grasslands and wet fields.