Participate: Wild Animals & Nature

Full gallery »Golden Gate fire department triathlon

  • Participants in the 2008 Golden Tri assemble at Max Hasse Community Park, May 31. From the left firefighters Aaron Odum, Justin Beasley, Brian Rasmussen, Scott Wilson, Jason Sellers, Acey Edgemon, Bill Moyer, Trenton Mading, Matthew Zaleznik and Jason Borowski get ready to begin their event.
  • Golden Gate firefighters make their way across a busy Golden Gate Parkway, Saturday, May 31, to begin the 5K run in the first Golden Tri, an event to promote wellness among firefighters and their families.
  • Golden Gate Fire Lt. Jason Sellers made his way down Weber Blvd Saturday morning, during the 2008 Golden Tri. The 15K bike portion ended at the Golden Gate pool where the swim portion began.


Full gallery »Your Photos: Wild Animals & Nature May 2008

  • Petra Gustkey writes, 'this picture is of a fence about 15 miles north of US 41 in the Turner River area. I guess a long time ago people had livestock out there or so I was told, the fences still remain in a some of the areas.'
  • A prairie in the Florida Everglades.
  • Petra Gustkey snapped this photo of a storm rolling in near the Turner River area off of US 41.
  • Petra Gustkey snapped this photo of a rainbow over an orange grove near Immokalee.
  • Petra Gustkey captured these dolphins swimming in the Gulf of Mexico off of Caxambas Park.
  • Taken at Caxambas Park in Marco Island.

Photos submitted by our readers showing the unique wild animals and natural beauty in and around Southwest Florida. Submit your own photos at naplesnews.com/participate or send photos via email to webninjas@naplesnews.com.



Full gallery »Your Photos: Wild Animals & Nature April 2008

  • Gates Rodenfels writes, 'This is a short-tailed hawk and I took this picture on Saturday, April 5th at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.'
  • This frog was waiting patiently for his nightly feeding in a lighted entryway that attracts an array of flying insects.
  • This American Avocet in it's breeding plumage wonders up and down the beach at Delnor-Wiggins State Park in Naples searching for a mate. Although none of the same species is within miles, this American Avocet seems very content just strolling around on this beautiful day.
  • Dylan Kalvin writes, 'These photos were taken this weekend in the Moorings subdivision with our Kodak EasyShare z612 digital camera. My family has been debating whether the dark birds are Golden Eagles or young Bald Eagles. What do you think? Just thought these photos were more testament to the paradise we live in.'
  • Ray Mackmin writes, 'We found this Spotted Eagle Ray at our seawall last weekend on Marco Island and got some great pictures.'
  • This is a baby woodpecker I happened to catch a picture of.

Photos submitted by our readers showing the unique wild animals and natural beauty in and around Southwest Florida. Submit your own photos at naplesnews.com/participate or send photos via email to webninjas@naplesnews.com.



Full gallery »Your Photos: Wild Animals & Nature March 2008

  • Jean Guy writes, 'I found this limpkin on one of our small bridges where I live in Corkscrew Woodlands in Estero.'
  • Dan Almaral sends us this great photo of seagulls in action at the Naples Pier.
  • Anastasiya Felis writes, 'Animals are not the only attraction at the Naples Zoo.'
  • Shanna Fabbrini writes, 'A butterfly takes a break on our back porch.'
  • 'A windy day at the Naples Pier' - Shanna Fabbrini tells us that she 'took this picture at the Naples Pier a few years ago.'
  • Anna Perkins snapped this photo of a bee on a flower in the median of Lely Boulevard.

Photos submitted by our readers showing the unique wild animals and natural beauty in and around Southwest Florida. Submit your own photos at naplesnews.com/participate or send photos via email to webninjas@naplesnews.com.



Full gallery »Your Photos: Wild Animals & Nature February 2008

  • This little fellow seems to be saying 'Here's looking at you Islanders!'
  • Marco Island resident Liz Hembrook writes, 'This hawk sat on the fence for about 25 minutes while my husband and I played tennis at Beach View Condo.'
  • E.J. Haley captured these terns perched atop a piling in Collier Bay.
  • Pete Zepeda Jr., captured this lovely photo of a tulip at outside The Norris Community Center on February 8, 2008.
  • A parking lot sits vacant after six inches of rain fell on Tuesday, February 12, 2008.
  • John McWilliams writes, 'These three little guys were seen in a palm tree on February 7, 2008 in the Furse Lakes community on Radio Road and Santa Barbara Boulevard.'

Photos submitted by our readers showing the unique wild animals and natural beauty in and around Southwest Florida. Submit your own photos at naplesnews.com/participate or send photos via email to webninjas@naplesnews.com.



Full gallery »Your Photos: Wild Animals & Nature January 2008

  • The fog rolls up along Marco Island's beaches on Saturday, January 19, 2008, first Tigertail Beach, then Residents Beach and the private condo beach areas.
  • After a long day of enjoying the sites of Key West, this iguana - along with the rest of us - was ready for a nap before venturing out for another round.
  • Naples resident Steve Wright snapped this photo of fog blanketing Goodlette-Frank Road just before daybreak on Sunday morning.
  • Steve Sowders snapped this photo. He writes, 'This woodpecker apparently liked the Trail Acres neighborhood but needed a larger front door. Probably for the large screen plasma TV he got for Christmas!'
  • Steve Abbett snapped this shot of a pelican at rest on an old piling along Naples Beach in November of 2007.
  • Steve Abbett snapped this shot of an egret standing guard on an old piling along Naples Beach.

Photos submitted by our readers showing the unique wild animals and natural beauty in and around Southwest Florida. Submit your own photos at naplesnews.com/participate or send photos via email to webninjas@naplesnews.com.



Full gallery »Your Photos: Possible red wolf sightings

  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believes the animal seen wandering through Pelican Marsh and other areas of North Naples recently probably isn’t a red wolf, but rather a wolf-hybrid or coyote. Pelican Marsh resident Amanda Smith captured this photograph of a wolf around 1:20 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 near Troon Lakes Drive in her North Naples gated community.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believes the animal seen wandering through Pelican Marsh and other areas of North Naples recently probably isn’t a red wolf, but rather a wolf-hybrid or coyote. Pelican Marsh resident Amanda Smith captured this photograph of a wolf around 1:20 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 near Troon Lakes Drive in her North Naples gated community.
  • Seth Burnett writes, 'As a photographer I always take my camera with me when I go for a walk or bike ride. This time I was able to get a shot of this endangered red wolf in North Naples.'
  • Edythe Harney writes, 'We sighted this wolf today at the Kraft complex Pine Ridge Road. The wolf has a torn left ear and a head injury. Shy Wolf Sanctuary was called but only confirmed it a wolf and took pictures. I recollect a picture in the NDN of a wolf in Naples Park. It may be the same one. Could you pass it on to the journalist that wrote that story ? I hope the wolf gets the medical attention it needs.'

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believes the animal seen wandering through Pelican Marsh and other areas of North Naples recently probably isn’t a red wolf, but rather a wolf-hybrid or coyote. At least three readers have sent in photos of the animal in the past few months. Send your photos to newsupdates@naplesnews.com or go to naplesnews.com/participate



Full gallery »Your Photos: Wild Animals & Nature 2007

  • Steve Wright snapped this shot of Seagate Beach in Park Shore on Christmas morning. This photo looks north. Steve emails 'lowest tide I have ever seen there.'
  • Just out for a leisurely walk. When Bob Ferris came home from Tennis Monday morning he couldn't believe his eyes. At first he thought it might be a snake curled up, but on closer inspection it was a 'very large' snapping Turtle. Needless to say, he let it pass through.
  • Flaming-Goes (photo by Bill Schiller)
  • Grasshopper closeup.
  • This little opossum fell from the shelf into the vase in our garage.
  • Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Photos submitted by our readers showing the unique wild animals and natural beauty in and around Southwest Florida.



Full gallery »Your Photos: Lightning Storm

  • Gene M. Koetting took this shot of lightning looking south over Roberts Bay during a summer storm on July 20, 2007.
  • Gene M. Koetting took this shot of lightning looking south over Roberts Bay during a summer storm on July 20, 2007.
  • Gene M. Koetting took this shot of lightning looking south over Roberts Bay during a summer storm on July 20, 2007.
  • Gene M. Koetting took this shot of lightning looking west over Roberts Bay during a summer storm on July 20, 2007.
  • Gene M. Koetting took this shot of lightning looking west over Roberts Bay during a summer storm on July 20, 2007.
  • Gene M. Koetting took this shot of lightning looking west over Roberts Bay during a summer storm on July 20, 2007.

Reader Gene M. Koetting writes “I have been trying for quite some time to get some really good photos of the incredible lightning we get here in Southwest Florida.” Gene says “Early in the evening of July 20th the sky got dark as the summer storm clouds started rolling in and the lightning started flashing.” Gene grabbed his digital SLR and tripod and went out to the seawall behind his house. “Looking south over Robert's Bay, I took the first three pictures. An hour and a half later, after the storm, I looked directly to the west and took the next four pictures. I guess my patience and persistence finally paid off!”




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