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.