Painted Pathways

"Reach for the top."

This baby raccoon did just that.

His mom and five siblings had been making their way through the woods when they spotted my husky and me. While the rest of the family scrambled up one tree, this little guy panicked and chose a tree of his own—racing all the way to the very top of a splintered snag.

As the family called back and forth to each other, I snapped a few quick photos before continuing on my walk so they could settle down and reunite in peace.

Sometimes the best wildlife moments happen completely by accident—and sometimes they come with their own motivational headlines. Who remembers the old school motivational posters?

I’m glad that all the spider webs I’ve walked into and roots I’ve tripped over from always staring into the trees were worth it. This was a pretty charming discovery!

For weeks, I kept noticing the same barred owl in this area of the forest. Every time I visited, she seemed to be watching me, and I honestly thought she was just curious about the human wandering around with a camera. Every day, I looked around for my new friend.

Then one day, I discovered the real reason.

Tucked away in the trees were two juvenile barred owls, one p*eking shyly from behind its sibling. Suddenly it all made sense. Mom wasn't just curious about me—she was keeping a close eye on her babies and making sure they stayed safe.

These little fluff balls were so unbelievably cute that when I shared this photo, my sister was convinced it had to be AI-generated. Thankfully, I had taken a video on my phone too, because these owls were 100% real and every bit as adorable as they look.

When I returned the next day, the babies were gone. They've likely moved on and started exploring the world beyond their nest, but I feel lucky to have witnessed them for a day. I think many times they stay within a 6 mile territory. Maybe I'll see them again since it's a trail that Im on every day. 🦉❤️

While I’m out here sweating on these 90 degree days, this tiny tenant is living his best life in a bromeliad… shade, water, and an all-you-can-eat mosquito buffet 🐸🌿

These brown anoles can change from light brown to nearly black depending on mood, temperature, or camouflage—and when they’re feeling bold, they flash a bright throat fan, bob their heads, and do pushups to communicate, defend territory, or impress a mate.

Tell me this doesn’t remind you of someone 😅

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🦉Spotting this Barred Owl on my daily walk felt like I hit the wildlife lottery.

I hike 4–6 miles with my husky and my camera almost every day and this is only my second Barred Owl sighting. They’re incredibly elusive, and honestly just as rewarding to photograph as a hummingbird (photographers, you get it). They also blend right in with the tree.

I was surprised to see him so late in the morning and noticed he looked sleepy—eyes fluttering like a kid trying to pretend they’re not tired— The lighting wasn’t perfect, but moments like this don’t wait, so I gave it a shot.

Fun fact: Barred Owls are known for their call that sounds like “who cooks for you?” They’re one of five owl species native to Florida, don’t migrate, and tend to be a bit curious—which might explain why he stuck around long enough for this shot.

And one of my favorite little facts… they often mate for life, calling back and forth to each other in the forest. 🦉

Wait… there are wild monkeys in Florida? 🐒🌴

Back in the 1930s, a tour boat captain released a few rhesus macaques on an island at Silver Springs to spice up his jungle cruise…

One small problem—he didn’t know they could swim 😅

Fast forward to today: hundreds now roam the riverbanks and treetops. A pretty wild surprise whether you're hiking or kayaking.

I suggest keeping your distance, since they like to throw their poo at you for sport. 💩🎯

Nature’s camouflage is unreal. Can you spot what stopped me in my tracks? 👀🌿

Baby White-tailed fawns like this typically have around 250-350 spots, are odorless, and excellent at remaining perfectly motionless. I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t seen them until I’ve already startled them… and then we both jump. 😅

I love encountering all the babies during spring! 🌷

What animals have you encountered?

🐢 This healthy Florida softshell turtle looks like it’s whistling…

But recently we found one that was barely hanging on during this drought.

The little guy had tried to bury himself in the dirt to wait for rain and was barely hanging onto life. 🥺

My husband and I felt bad for the little fella and couldn’t just leave him there, so we came back with a tote and about 6 inches of water and transported him to the crystal clear springs at Rainbow Springs State Park.

The moment he hit the water he took off like he had just checked into a turtle resort. 🐢💦

If you ever see a struggling softshell during dry conditions, helping them reach water can save their life. So many of the ponds and reservoirs around here have dried up.

If you must move one:
• Grab the very back edge of the shell
• Keep it away from your body
• Gloves help avoid bites & claws
• Their necks are long and can reach halfway back
• And yes… they might p*e on you 😅

A few cool facts about these fascinating turtles:
• Their shells are covered in leathery skin instead of hard scutes
• Females grow twice as large as males
• One female can lay 200+ eggs per year
• Sometimes they even lay eggs in active alligator nests for protection!
• They are carnivorous and feed on things like insects, fish, and sometimes even small birds!

Nature is wild.

Have you ever seen a Florida softshell turtle before?

👇 Tell me where!