12 | SUNRAYS AUGUST 2014
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CA NEWS
Coyotes are a part of Sun City Texas wildlife. Urban and
suburban coyotes, like urban deer, are symptoms of a broader
issue. People continue to expand housing subdivisions and
other human development into what used to be an open wildlife
habitat. This trend is increasing the potential for encounters
and conflicts between people and wildlife.
Coyote Facts
The coyote is a native member of the dog family—very similar
in size to a small German Shepherd—and weighs an average
of 25-40 pounds. Coyotes typically grow up to 34 inches in
length, not including the tail, and stand about 26 inches at
the shoulder. They have long, slender legs, a bushy tail with
a black tip, and large ears that are held erect. There is no
mistaking the yellow eyes and black, round pupils.
Coyotes are strong swimmers and their sense of smell is highly
developed. They have very acute hearing with triangular
pointed ears. When moving through their habitat, coyotes
typically have a gentle lope, but they can gallop up to 35 miles
per hour if pursued or when chasing prey.
Diet
The food habits of coyotes are varied. They are omnivorous and
make use of anything that can be eaten, including garbage,
carrion, fresh meat in the form of both wild and domestic
animals, insects, frogs, snakes, fruits, and melons. Although
“We are all about neighbors helping neighbors.”
NeighborhoodEmergency Coordinators (NECs)
are an integral part of the SunCity Texas Emer-
gency Management Program. They are the
neighborhood “boots on the ground,” training
residents in emergency preparedness; they are
also the EMC’s primary contacts should a crisis situation occur.
NECs are encouraged to use whatever form of communication
is available to them to educate their neighbors on emergency
management and help prepare them for any crisis situation.
Email messages via the neighborhood representative are most
common, but many utilize neighborhood newsletters, meetings,
luncheons, etc., to get the word out.
The Emergency Management Plan highlights six NEC respon-
sibilities, as follows:
• Encourage residents to complete the Emergency Medical In-
formation formand Emergency Contacts form for each person
in the household.
• Formulate an emergency plan by supplying information on
sheltering in place, how to assemble a Grab-and-Go Bag,
evacuation procedures, and general emergency preparedness
Neighborhood Emergency Coordinators (NECs)
Submitted by Ken Tupacz, Vice-Chair, Emergency Management Committee
CPR/FIRST AID/AED CLASSES
CPR/First Aid/AED classes are taught monthly
in Sun City. For information, contact Barbara
Akers at
(including for pets, if applicable).
• Encourage residents to maintain sufficient water, food and
medication supplies for three days.
• To the extent possible, identify those persons of special need.
• Enroll in the Sun City Texas CPR/AED/First Aid course.
• Establish a call/contact tree in their neighborhood.
EachNECalso receives information on natural disasters common
to Central Texas—including tornadoes, wildfires and flooding—
and is requested to pass this information on to their neighbors.
Our records show the following neighborhoods do not haveNECs:
1, 6, 7, 25, and 58. If you live in one of these neighborhoods and
would like to volunteer, contact Ken Tupacz at nazdrowie@msn.
com or 512-925-0895. You will not only find the work to be re-
warding, but you will also be making a significant contribution
to the welfare of your neighborhood.
Coyotes in Sun City Texas
Submitted by the Wildlife Management Committee
coyotes prey on poultry and smaller livestock, their natural
foods consist largely of rabbits, rodents, and carrion. Rodents
make up the bulk of the coyote diet in both urban and rural
areas. Experiments have shown that the removal of coyotes
results in a dramatic increase in rodent population. They have
been known to eat human rubbish and will catch cats and dogs.
General Rules
If a coyote is seen in a residential area or on a nature trail,
avoid contact at all costs
and move slowly out of the area.
Like any warm-blooded animal, a coyote’s bite carries the risk
of contracting rabies. To be safe, follow these general rules in
regard to coyotes:
1. Keep pets on a leash at all times, especially when on walks
on nature trails; do not use extension leashes.
2. If you encounter a coyote while walking a small dog, pick
up and carry the dog to prevent the dog from attacking.
3. Do not leave dishes filled with pet food outdoors.
4. Ensure that garage doors remain closed and trash contain-
ers covered when put into the street for pickup.
5. Make loud noises or use other devices to scare the coyote,
if you encounter one.
Sources: Exploring the Southwest Desert USA, Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department and Nature Works.
