July board meeting July 18th at 6:30

Join us in the Scottsdale Ranch conference room on July 18th at 6 : 30 for our monthly meeting.

June board meeting will not be rescheduled

We are moving the June agenda to the July meeting. Please join us for the July board meeting on July 18th at 6:30 in the Sottsdale Ranch conference room.

Suntree East June 20th board meeting cancelled due to power outage

Due to APS power outage between 89th Street and Lakeview. And Gary Road to Via Linda. Scottsdale Ranch Community Center does not have AC. Meeting has been cancelled. Check the blog for rescheduled meeting information. Or check the pool board for information.

Community Reminder! NO PETS ARE ALLOWED IN THE POOL AREA.

As a friendly reminder, PETS are not allowed in the pool area or in the pool. 

The rules are posted at the main pool entrance and again on the wall by the water fountain. 

Maricopa County makes unscheduled pool checks at Suntree East and can shut down the pool for 30 days if the PET RULE is violated.

June Board Meeting. Scottsdale Ranch Conference Room 6:30 on June 20, 2016

Bobcats, Coyotes and a ( Mountain Lion?)

We have seen an increase of bobcat activity in the neighborhood. Scottsdale Ranch has also received several calls from the surrounding communities.

Suntree East at 105th

WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYONE AND THE WILDLIFE SAFE.



From Scottsdale Ranch Office:

During the last few weeks there have been multiple calls in the SRCA office to report bobcats roaming in the Scottsdale Ranch area.  At this time of year when the temperature is rising, there will be an increase in bobcat activity.  Arizona Game and Fish suggests keeping all pet food dishes, both food and water indoors.  As bobcats are often looking for a water source it is important to avoid overwatering your lawn, clear any puddles and immediately fix any broken sprinkler heads.  Please be aware that the hunting and shooting of these animals is illegal within the city limits.  If you encounter a bobcat, mountain lion or javelina in your neighborhood, do not approach or feed them.  

Please see the Arizona Game and Fish website or call (602) 942-3000 for more information



BOBCAT FACTS: Directly From Arizona Game and Fish Website:


Bobcats are common throughout Arizona at all elevations, especially in rim rock and chaparral areas, and in the outskirts of urban areas where food is readily available. Bobcats are generally seen alone, but groups may consist of mating pairs, siblings, or mothers with kittens. Bobcats are most active around sunset and sunrise, and it is not uncommon to find one napping under a shrub in a brush filled backyard. Individual bobcats will defend a territory of one to 12 square miles..

Possible Conflicts with Humans and Pets

If you see a bobcat near your home, there is no need to panic. Bobcats rarely attack people. However, if a bobcat does attack a human, it generally will have symptoms of rabies. Bobcats may be attracted to a yard that has abundant wildlife, domestic birds, small pets, water, and shade or other shelter. Small pets need to be protected from bobcats and other predators. Keep small pets indoors, in an enclosed area with a roof, or on a leash when outside. Domestic birds should be kept in an enclosed area with a sturdy roof (a 6-foot tall fence is not necessarily good protection), and do not spread seed that attracts other wildlife. Do not feed bobcats, as this can encourage them to become too comfortable around humans.

What Attracts Them?

Bobcats may visit an area to find food, water, shelter, or the space they need to live.

• Food may include birds, rodents, rabbits, small unattended pets, poultry or other domestic birds, and other small livestock.
• Water in pools, birdbaths, fountains, and pets' water dishes can attract bobcats. They will sometimes defecate in shallow water (such as pools and fountains).
• Shelter for bobcats can include rooftops, attics, and the space underneath decks. Other small spaces can make attractive dens also, and bobcats will sometimes rest during the day or bask in the sun. This makes them attracted to thick brush, shade, and unoccupied yards.

What Should I Do?

You may choose to watch and enjoy a bobcat or bobcat family sharing your yard. However, if you have small pets or livestock, you may want to discourage the bobcat from coming onto your property. Remember, your neighbor may think differently, and it is always a good idea to keep wildlife wild.

To discourage a bobcat, immediately

• Scare off with loud noises or spray with a garden hose.
• If the animal is confined, open a gate, have all people leave the area, and allow it to leave on its own. If it is still confined the following day, or trapped inside a residence, contact a wildlife control business or the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Check for kittens in the area, and if kittens are there, then consider tolerating them for a few weeks until the kittens are large enough to leave the area with their mother.

In an emergency

In the rare occasion that a bobcat bites a person or appears hyperactive, there may be some health concerns. Take the following actions:

• Contact your county animal control office.
• Fight back if it has attacked.
• Avoid the area and stay indoors.
• Call your local Arizona Game and Fish Department office (8-5, Monday -Friday excluding holidays). Also, call Arizona Game and Fish if severe property damage has occurred, or if there is possession of a live bobcat. After hours and weekends, a radio dispatcher is available at (623) 236-7201.

Remember, removal is usually a last resort

Bobcats tend to be abundant where food is plentiful, and different bobcats will keep visiting the same area if attractants aren't removed. Homeowners may trap and relocate the animal, but should contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department for an appropriate release location before transporting the animal. For a fee,wildlife control businesses will remove animals from the property.

To prevent further problems

• Keep domestic animals (dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, rodents, etc.) in a secured enclosure with a sturdy roof.
• Feed your pets inside, or remove uneaten pet food between feedings.
• Close or patch openings in fences.
• Keep shrubbery, grass, etc. trimmed to deny bobcats hiding cover.
• Deny access to bobcats by putting up fencing. However, since bobcats can jump up to 12 feet, a 6-foot fence may not deter them if they are attracted to something in the yard.
• Work with your neighbors to achieve a consistent solution to the situation.

Mountain Lion facts: Directly from the Arizona Game and Fish website. 

Possible Conflicts with Humans and Pets

Urban sprawl often results in shrinking habitat and increases the number of conflicts between humans and wildlife, such as mountain lions. Conflicts can occur when a mountain lion becomes too accustomed to the presence of people, often near where we live or recreate, and begin preying on livestock or other domestic animals. Although uncommon, mountain lion attacks on humans occasionally occur.

What Attracts Them?

Mountain lions most often pass through human-occupied space, but may stay longer if they have access to food, water, or shelter.

• Food sources found near people’s homes includes deer, javelina, rabbits, unsecured domestic animals, or livestock.
• Water for drinking can include a swimming pool, fountain, pond, or pet’s water bowl.
• Mountain lions might use “cave-like” areas beneath sheds, unused buildings, and storm drains, or elevated wooden patios, for shelter.

Other factors that may contribute to mountain lions presence around humans include:

• Drought - Wildlife will come into urban fringe areas to search for food and water.
• Wildfires - Arizona wildfires damage vital habitat and force animals into new areas.
• Habituation to humans through close contact, exposure, and increased development near wildlife habitat.

What Should I Do?

Mountain lions are predators capable of seriously injuring or killing humans. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is committed to helping people learn how to behave responsibly and live safely in proximity to mountain lions, and to removing animals that are a potential threat to the public.

The risk of attack by a mountain lion is small, but real; children are most at risk. Mountain lions may return repeatedly if food, water, or shelter is available. However, mountain lions use natural areas, such as washes, to move through populated areas to more remote areas, and such movements are necessary to prevent problems with inbreeding and local extinction associated with habitat fragmentation. If food, water, and shelter are not available, mountain lions generally move on to other areas more quickly. If you live or recreate in lion country, remain aware of your surroundings and take steps to minimize risks to yourself, your family, and pets.

If you encounter a mountain lion

• Do not approach the animal. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• Stay calm and speak loudly and firmly.
• Do not run from a mountain lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase.
• Stand and face the animal. Make eye contact.
• Appear larger by raising your arms or opening your jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly. The idea is to convince the lion that you are not easy prey and that you may be a danger to it.
• Maintain eye contact and slowly back away toward a building, vehicle, or busy area.
• Protect small children so they won’t panic and run.
• Fight back if attacked. Many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools, their bare hands, and even mountain bikes. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the animal.
  
  

Front gate and 105th in repairs

Park pro has been called to service the gates. You will need to use the gate on 106th or the front gate to enter the community until Park Pro has completed the repairs. Suntree East HOA apologizes for the inconvenience this may cause homeowners.