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Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc. Travis Country West Homeowner's Association Newsletter - March 2010 1
Travis Country West
Official Publication of Travis Country West Community
Volume 5, Number 3 www.traviscountrywest.orgMarch 2010
TCW Neighborhood NeWsTCW Neighborhood NeWs
Many of us grew up watching Warner Brothers’ cartoons where the dull-witted Wilie Coyote was constantly outsmarted by the Road Runner. In reality, this could not be farther
from the truth for the coyote is one of nature's most cunning and clever predators. In the tales and traditions of Native Americans, the coyote is usually portrayed as a very savvy and clever beast - often referred to as "The Trickster.” Modern coyotes have displayed their cleverness by adapting to the changing American landscape.
Much of their adaptabilty can be attributed to the fact that they are both hunters and scavengers and will eat almost anything. They eat any small animal they can
capture, including mice, rats, gophers, rabbits, squirrels, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, birds, and small deer. They also happily dine on insects, fruits & berries, grasses, carrion, garbage, garden crops, poultry and pets (mostly cats). Because they sometimes kill lambs, calves, or other livestock, many ranchers and farmers regard them as destructive pests. Coyotes occasionally kill domestic dogs (and foxes) that they consider territorial intruders. They are very protective of their young and will attack dogs that get too close to their dens and pups.
Coyotes can vary in size, but the city-dwelling versions of these canines are still going to be larger than foxes, says urban wildlife biologist, Kelly Bender, of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. You might have seen a gray fox, as they do live in the Austin area. Though it can often be difficult to judge the size of an animal, Bender says, a coyote is generally going to weigh about 35 to 45 pounds, roughly the size of a border collie. A gray fox, on the other hand, is going to be much smaller, with shorter legs and a sleek, almost catlike appearance. They also have shorter muzzles than coyotes as well as reddish areas on their front legs, neck and head.
Coyotes are can run up to 40 mph and have a remarkable sense of smell, keen vision and hearing. Sightings of coyotes are most likely just after dinner and before dawn as most hunting activity takes place at night. They do not hunt alone, but are usually in groups of two or three. Undisturbed and hungry coyotes, however, will hunt or scavange during daylight hours. Although extremely shy and wary of human contact, when people provide food, coyotes lose their natural fear of humans and can become increasingly aggressive. In this way, they also become dependent on the easy food source people provide. Humans increase the likelihood of contact and conflicts with coyotes by deliberately feeding them or inadvertently feeding them by providing access to food sources such as garbage or pet food. Once a coyote stops hunting on its own and loses fear of people, it becomes dangerous and
Coyotes
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Calender of eventsMarch
14...........Daylight Savings Time Begins
17............................... St. Patrick's Day
20........................... First Day of Spring
28.....................................Palm Sunday
austin newComers
Club March Luncheon
Austin Newcomers is a social organization dedicated to introducing residents to the Austin Community and giving them the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Join us at our monthly luncheon as well as take the opportunity to learn about and become involved in many varied fun Interest groups.
Time:11:00 AM Social - 12 Noon Luncheon
Date: March 17, 2010 (Reservations required by Thursday, March 11th)
Location: Green Pastures Restaurant811 W. Live Oak Street, Austin, 78704luncheon Cost: $20 per person
(Continued on page 3)
2 Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - March 2010 Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc.
Travis Country West
CommiTTee membersboArD oF DireCTorsJohn Campbell .......................................................... PresidentGail Ow ............................................................ Vice PresidentSeth Prejean............................................................... TreasurerMarco Martinez ........................................................ Secretary
Carey Burnett ............................................................. Director
For information email: [email protected]
TCW CommiTTees The neighborhood has started the following committees and we are always looking for new volunteers. Please use the contact email for questions and volunteer opportunities.
Social Committee [email protected] Committee ........................... [email protected] Committee .......... [email protected] Committee [email protected]
Architectural Committee..... [email protected]
imporTAnT numbers
CiTY oF AusTin ConTACT numbersDead Animal Pick up ............................................... 947-9400Abandoned Vehicle ................................................... 280-0075Pothole Repair .......................................................... 974-8750Street Light Outage .................................................. 505-7617
neWsLeTTer pubLisHerPeel, Inc. ...........................www.PEELinc.com, 512-263-9181Articles .................................newsletter@traviscountrywest.orgAdvertising [email protected], 512-263-9181
Please support the businesses that advertise in the Travis Country West Community Newsletter. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all Travis Country West residents to receive the monthly newsletter at no charge. No homeowners association funds are used to produce or mail the newsletters. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512-263-9181 or [email protected]. The advertising deadline is the 8th of each month for the following month's newsletter.
ADverTising inFo
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Recipe of the Montheasy GuaCamole
4 ripe avocados 3 limes, juiced 1 packet Guacamole Mix 8 oz container Sour Cream Salt and ground black pepper
Halve and pit the avocados. Scoop out the avocados with a tablespoon into a mixing bowl.Mash the avocados with a fork. Add the remaining ingredients, and fold everything together to gently mix. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
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Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc. Travis Country West Homeowner's Association Newsletter - March 2010 �
Travis Country West
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
(512) 336-8687www.aqua-tots.com
Lessons For LifePrivate and group classes starting weekly!•Small Classes•Convenient Locations•Indoor and Outdoor Pools
REGISTERTODAY!
luncheon - (Continued from Cover Page)
For Luncheon reservations email: [email protected] or contact Marilyn Amey, 473-0118 For more newcomers information visit www.austinnewcomers.com or call 512-
314-5100
march program: Get to know Austin Monthly and how it informs and entertains it’s readers in the capitol area
Speaking to us this month will be Melissa Delaney, editor-in-chief of Austin Monthly and assistant editor Austin W.G. Morton.
Austin Monthly is a glossy full color, urban lifestyle magazine which depicts Austin’s culture with stories, event listings, fashion, shopping, dining, the arts, restaurant reviews and reflective personal essays. The magazine continues to grow at a rapid pace since it’s initial publication in 1992.
Melissa Delaney, is an award winning journalist who worked as a reporter and editor at Boston area newspapers, then joined the staff of Computerworld during the height of the tech boom. After years of freelancing at several national magazines, Delaney joined Austin Monthly where she steers the staff through the planning, creation and production of the magazine.
Austin Morton is a 2008 Virginia Tech graduate. She currently edits the Events, Scene and Style sections. Austin says although she has been here 2 years, she still learns something new just about everyday while reporting on all the City of Austin has to offer.
Travis Country Stork Report
Congratulations!Let us help celebrate...email info on the arrivalof your little one [email protected].
� Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - March 2010 Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc.
Travis Country WestTCW Hike and Bike Trail Map
Gravel Trail and Blacktop Lap include Short LoopBack Milage = 1.77 miles
(Diamond marked at every half mile)
Gravel Trail OnlyShort LoopBack = 0.2 miles
Main Trail = 0.9 miles(Diamond marked at every one-tenth mile)
Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc. Travis Country West Homeowner's Association Newsletter - March 2010 �
Travis Country West
Located at the Hill Country Galleria12800 Hill Country Blvd. • Bee Cave, TX 78738 • 512-263-1176
10% off your purchase when youpresent this coupon. Limit 1 per customer.
Contemporary Fashions for Women
may attack without warning. As humans share more and more space with coyotes, this has become more of a problem in some urban areas. Wildlife authorities say that minimizing contacts with coyotes (and other types of wildlife) is the best way to prevent such occurences. Below are some of their suggestions:
Do not leave small children unattended where coyotes are frequently seen or heard. If there are coyote sightings in your area, prepare yourself and your children for such a possible encounter. Explain to them: DO NOT RUN and BE AS BIG, MEAN, AND LOUD AS POSSIBLE. By shouting a phrase such as “go away coyote,” they also inform any nearby adults of the coyote’s presence better than a general scream. If you are with your children when approached, pick up the child, if possible, and act aggressively. Wave your arms, throw stones, and shout at them. Try to appear larger; e.g., if you are sitting down – stand up. If you are already standing – step up on a rock or bench. You want to convince the coyote that you are not prey, but are a potential danger to it. If encounters occur regularly, keep noisemakers and other scare devices nearby. Vinegar water in a squirt gun, pepper spray, or a paintball gun are powerful deterrents at close distance. Never feed coyotes and do not give them access to garbage. Prevent access to fruit and compost. Keep compost piles securely covered and cover new compost material with soil or lime to prevent it from smelling. Never include animal matter in your compost. If burying food scraps, cover them with at least 12 inches of soil. Clean and put away any stinky tools used to turn the compost such as your shovel. Feed dogs and cats indoors. If you must feed them outside, do so in the morning or at midday and pick up food, water bowls, leftovers, and spilled food well before dark every day.Do not feed feral cats. Coyotes prey on these cats as well as any feed you leave out for them. Prevent the build-up of feeder foods under bird feeders. Coyotes will eat birdfeed and are attracted to the many birds and rodents that come to the feeders.Keep dogs and cats indoors, especially from dusk to dawn. If left outside, cats and small to mid-sized dogs may be killed by coyotes. If you lose a pet, let your neighbors know. Once a coyote finds easy prey, it will return to hunt in that area.
In 2005, the City of Austin started a management program to help deal with coyote problems. If coyotes are sighted in a residential area, they urge residents to follow the precautions noted above. For a link to more information, visit www.statesman.com/lifeguide. To file a report, call Animal Damage Control at 854-9613 or #311.
Notes regarding coyote tracks: Coyote tracks are difference from domestic dogs in several ways: A coyote’s rear paw tracks are smaller than its front. Dogs typically have symmetrical paw prints. On a trail, the front and rear paw tracks are quite close or even overlaid, giving the appearance of a two legged animal. The prints are eleven to sixteen inches apart, depending on the size of the animal and speed of travel.
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Coyotes - (Continued from Cover Page)
� Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - March 2010 Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc.
Travis Country WestAt no time will any source be allowed to use TCW Neighborhood News' contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in the TCW Neighborhood News is exclusively for the private use of the Travis Country West HOA and Peel, Inc.
DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser.* The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising.* Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction.* Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.
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Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc. Travis Country West Homeowner's Association Newsletter - March 2010 �
Travis Country West
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� Travis Country West Homeowners Association Newsletter - March 2010 Copyright © 2010 Peel, Inc.
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