Pets/Wildlife

Nicole Hoffman was lucky enough to snap a photo of a barred owl in Seven Oaks, in Wesley Chapel. These owls lack ear tufts, and have a long, barred tail. Mainly nocturnal, its daytime roost is always well-hidden in deep woods. The barred owl also is known as the ‘hoot owl.’ It uses 10 different calls, each for a specific purpose. These calls include wails, whines, squeals, and even an eerie laugh. Its habitat is dense coniferous or mixed woods around rivers and swamps, and in upland woods.

Joe Macey caught this gator looking squarely at him from Reflections Lake in Villa Rosa, Lutz.

Luna is a rescued 4-year-old mix. She loves playing with her two human brothers, playing ball and taking naps. Luna is loved by all who meet her. She is the joy at the end of the day. Luna lives in Lutz with the Danaie family: Mazdak, Nina, Maz and Sevi.

Nicole Magazu and her husband, of Land O’ Lakes, spotted this group of mottled ducks swimming in the pond at sunset. Mottled ducks are known as ‘dabbling ducks’ because they feed at the surface or tip up to reach vegetation. On water, a group of ducks can be called a brace, raft, team or paddling. In flight, a group is known as a flock.

Milo is a Dalmation with brown spots. His three favorite things to do are: lay in the shade, jump in the water, and help pick basil. Milo resides with Elsie Rehberg, of Wesley Chapel.

Thomas Kolessar got a close-up of a female ruby-throated hummingbird at his backyard feeder in Lutz. These tiny birds, ranging in size from 2.8 inches to 3.5 inches, often visit hummingbird feeders and tube-shaped flowers, and defend these food sources against others. They may also be seen plucking tiny insects from the air or from spiderwebs.

Coco is a Brussels-Griffin mix, adopted in June from Hillsborough County Pet Resources. She absolutely loves to cuddle with her family. Coco quickly made her new home with JoAnn and Frank Rygiel, in Wesley Chapel.

Ray Martinez Jr., snapped this photo in his Lutz backyard of a male and female red-bellied woodpecker at their nest. If you live near any wooded patches, you may be able to attract them using feeders filled with suet, peanuts and sometimes sunflower seeds. The red-bellied woodpecker will even drink nectar from hummingbird feeders. Dead trees may encourage the birds to forage naturally or even nest in your yard, and they may feed on berry trees.

Jagger is a 4-year-old lab, greyhound, charpe mix, and also is a rescue dog. To beat the heat, Jagger just may need a bigger pool at his home. His proud owners are Randy and Pan Ayers of Land O’ Lakes, and Laurel Ayers of Wesley Chapel.

There are two types of vultures in Florida: the black vulture and the turkey vulture. Both are often called buzzards or carrion crows, but are not related to either family. A group of vultures is called a committee, venue or volt. In flight, a flock of vultures is a kettle, and when the birds are feeding together at a carcass, the group is called a wake. Sharon Thompson of Wesley Chapel caught this ‘wake’ cleaning things up on Mansfield Boulevard, off State Road 56.