April 2004

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Villa Monterey Homeowner's Association will be held on Wednesday, April 14th. A short board meeting will start at 5:30. The Annual Meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. with registration at 6:30 p.m. If you do not attend, please be certain your proxy is returned to ensure that a quorum is present. All homeowners are encouraged to attend. We need new faces!

Pool Disturbance

Homeowner Rules have been established to keep peace in our community. When homeowners and their guests do not follow the rules, neighbors are usually affected. A recent disturbance in the pool prompted this article. A group of unruly teenagers who were breaking the rules kept other residents from being able to enjoy the pool. A Community Committee is being established and will act as a group when there is a problem in the future. If you or your guests are creating a disturbance and breaking the rules, you will be approached by this Committee and asked to leave the area.

Some of the pool rules that have been broken most recently are:

• More than 10 guests with a homeowner
• Eating food in the pool area
• Jumping off the wall into the pool
• Foul language
• Running, pushing, dunking, and horseplay in or around the pool

Garage Sales This Month!

On Saturday, April 24th, all homeowners will be permitted to have garage sales out of their homes. Take the time to walk around the community to pick up some bargains and meet your neighbors. If you miss this one, October 17th has been slated as the second date for a Villa Monterey garage sale. Garage sales are not permitted at any other time of the year.

Tennis Courts

The tennis courts are private courts for Villa Monterey residents only. Guests are allowed only with a homeowner present at all times. Non-resident and paid class lessons are prohibited.

Dog Owners

All dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. This task must be done immediately and thoroughly so that others do not step in it. PLEASE!

Mountain Lion Sighting

Recently there was a mountain lion sighting in the canyon between I-15 and Villa Monterey. About half of California is prime mountain lion country. These large, powerful predators have always lived here, preying on deer and other wildlife, and play an important role in the ecosystem. Also known as the cougar or puma, the mountain lion is native to North America and exists only in the Western Hemisphere.

Appearance

Its coat is a plain, tawny brown, while its distinctive heavy tail measures almost two-thirds the length of head and body. The sexes look alike, but males are 30 to 40 percent larger. Mountain lions produce a wide variety of sounds similar to house cat hisses, growls and mews. They are also capable of making high-pitched whistles and a very piercing, drawn-out scream. Observations made on captive lions indicate that only females emit this scream, usually associated with mating.

Habitat

Mountain lions are extraordinarily adaptable and can be found in every type of habitat in California. They are particularly fond of rocky foothill and mountainous areas that support populations of deer, elk, small mammals and large rodents. With the exception of females and their kittens, mountain lions live alone.

Hunting And Feeding

Deer are the favorite prey of cougars, but they are opportunistic predators and will also kill elk, porcupines, small mammals, rodents, livestock and domestic animals. Mountain lions are most active from dusk to dawn, but they will hunt and travel in daylight. Mountain lions are specialized carnivores that prefer to kill their own food. Like most cats, they take their prey by ambush rather than by a long pursuit. A cougar will cover the carcass with dirt and leaves and will usually return to feed on it over the course of a few days.

Cougar/Human Encounters

Generally, mountain lions are calm, quiet and elusive. They are most commonly found in areas with plentiful prey and adequate cover. Such conditions exist on public lands, in mountain subdivisions, urban fringes and open space. As a result, the number of mountain lion/human encounters has increased. There are a variety of reasons for this increase: more people moving into mountain lion habitat, an increase in prey populations, an increase in mountain lion numbers and expanded range, more people using hiking and running trails in mountain lion habitat and a greater awareness of the presence of cougars. The following guidelines and suggestions have been developed based on reported patterns of behavior and response. Remember: Every situation is different and a cougar's individual behavior can be affected by several factors including the terrain, the people and their activity, as well as the age and health of the mountain lion.

• When you hike in mountain lion country, go in groups and make plenty of noise to avoid surprising a lion. Keep children close and within sight at all times. Talk with children about lions and teach them what to do if they meet one.
• Never approach a cougar, especially one that is feeding or with kittens.
• If you come upon a cougar, stay calm. Talk firmly to it and move slowly. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation, so give it a way to escape.
• Stop. If it is safe, back away slowly. Do not turn your back and do not run. Running will stimulate the cougar's instinct to chase and attack. Face the cougar and stand up straight.
• Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms and open your jacket it you're wearing one. If small children are with you, pick them up so they will not panic and run.
• If the cougar behaves aggressively, throw stones or anything you can reach without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly.
• Fight back if the cougar attacks. Unlike with bears, "playing dead" does not work. Cougars have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have successfully fought off lion attacks using such objects as rocks, sticks, clothing, garden tools and even their bare hands.

Property Manager

Preferred Property Managers

Kathy Michaels, Property Manager
8963 Complex Drive, Suite B,
San Diego, CA 92123-1416
vox 858-569-8773
fax 858-569-8782