Banana Slug

A large wild Pacific banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) makes its way slowly through a grassy area in rural Douglas County near Roseburg, Ore., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010.  The Pacific banana slug is the second largest species of land slug in the world.  They grow up to 9.8 inches long. (Credit Image: © Robin Loznak)

Shall We Pray?

A praying mantis stands on a plank of wood near a pond in Roseburg, Ore., on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010.  Mantises are exclusively predatory. (Credit Image: © Robin Loznak)

Elk Hunter

Jack Fisher skins a female Roosevelt elk in a barn on  the Fisher Ranch near Elkton, Ore., on Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.  Fisher shot the elk on his cousin's ranch with a state permit which allows landowners to kill some female elk.

Goatloo

A large goat sits in an igloo shaped doghouse in a field along a country road near Green, Ore., on Friday, Oct. 15, 2010. According to an advertisement on a pet products website, the large Dogloo brand doghouse is designed for large dogs such as German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, and pointers,  but fails to mention goats.  (Credit Image: © Robin Loznak)

Night of the opossum

I found this young wild opossum on a branch on an apple tree in our orchard in rural Douglas County near Kellogg, Ore., early on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010.  Growing to about the size of a large house cat the Virginia opossums of North America are commonly called possums.  Opossums, which are marsupial, were once a favorite game animal in the United States. (Credit Image: © Robin Loznak)

Oregon sunrise

Geese relax on the bank of a pond in Roseburg, Ore., as the morning sun highlights low clouds in the eastern sky on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010. (Credit Image: © Robin Loznak

Prickly perch

A finch steps lightly as it feeds on a teasel along a country road near Roseburg, Ore., on Wed. Oct. 6,  2010. The common teasel was introduced to North America from Europe in the 1700's and is considered an invasive plant species. (Credit Image: © Robin Loznak)

Windy owl

A wind blown great horned owl sits on a utility pole in Great Falls, Mont. I shot this a couple of years ago while I was working as the photo editor at the Great Falls Tribune.  The owl was spotted in downtown by an alert reader who called the newspaper.

By land and by sea

A Chinook salmon and a small dog eye each other at the Winchester Dam fish ladder on the North Umpqua River near Roseburg, Ore.  The fish ladder is a fun place to take pictures.  The species of fish passing through change depending on the time of the year.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Critters

Earlier this year I traveled to the Gulf Coast to photography the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  I was mostly interested in documenting the effects on the animals.  Here is a slide show I put together with some of my work from the spill.  My photos are represented by Zuma Press.

Barn owl

I spotted this barn owl sitting on a fence post along Interstate 5 north of Roseburg, Ore., a few months ago.  My mother loves this image and I recently ordered her an 11x14 print.  Prints of my animal and nature pictures are available.  Check this gallery for online print ordering.

Critters of the Week

 I have two photos in the Animal Tracks online slide show on msnbc.com this week. They picked up a couple of photos via my photo agency Zuma Press.  My animal and nature pictures are often published in magazines, books, and websites worldwide.

Smiling lizard

A wild western fence lizard, also know as a blue-belly, basks in the sunshine on a fence post along a pasture in rural Douglas County, Oregon. With a little stealth it's easy to sneak up on these cool little lizards.  They often use the time honored method of not moving to avoid predators.  I easily could have picked this one up and taken him home as a pet.

Fox kits

Earlier this year my friend Evan Kruse, of Kruse Farms, told me about a fox den in an alfalfa field on his family farm west of Roseburg, Ore. Using my car as a blind I captured some fun pictures. I used my super-long telephoto lens to capture this little moment.

Fence sitter

I love shooting in twilight with a bit of fill flash.  This little guy was climbing on the deer fence around my raised beds.  I'm not sure what type of critter he is.  Any guesses?

She mates and then she kills

I found this little lady near my photo studio in Roseburg last week.  From what I've read, the western black widow spider does not eat her mate. This makes me want to rent 1987's Black Widow staring Debra Winger and Dennis Hopper.

Critter conversation

A katydid and a beetle meet on a sunflower.  Sounds like the setup for a joke.  What do you think they're talking about?

Guess the Critter

 

Can you guess the species?