Question
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From: Mish-she-gan
Coyotes are fairly common in MIchigan. In fact, +1 was just warned that the new barn she taking her horse to has them, although horses - unlike dogs and cats - are generally not on their hunting list. Val, you want to consider a bigger and more aggressive dog. I know our golden would be an easy target but I've not heard of any coyotes in our immediate area. Harry I can understand your HOA's position but at the same time informing homeowners of their presence is merely being neighborly IMHO.
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Loveland, CO
We've learned that some coyotes have been prowling in my very small little neighborhood recently and they're killing much of the small wildlife (squirrels, racoons, etc) that live here. I emailed the HOA asking about this as we often take our little dog out late at night. Apparently the HOA Board has known about at least one pair of coyotes for some time yet they didn't notify anyone. 
I'm just curious as I've never lived in a community overseen by an HOA before. Don't you think they should notify the 22 residents that dangerous animals could be out there? I'm not thinking they should have immediately sent a hunter out with a gun to shoot them or anything, just that it would be nice to know so we could be more cautious.
PS: I discovered the coyotes were here when they attacked and killed a large raccoon and her 3 babies at 3 AM the other night. The shrieks, howls and terrible noises were awful. My next door neighbor found the carnage on her lawn the next day.
I'm just curious as I've never lived in a community overseen by an HOA before. Don't you think they should notify the 22 residents that dangerous animals could be out there? I'm not thinking they should have immediately sent a hunter out with a gun to shoot them or anything, just that it would be nice to know so we could be more cautious.PS: I discovered the coyotes were here when they attacked and killed a large raccoon and her 3 babies at 3 AM the other night. The shrieks, howls and terrible noises were awful. My next door neighbor found the carnage on her lawn the next day.
Coyotes are a common animal here and I love to see them. They were very common in Acton, too. Once in a while there'll be something in the paper or on the TV news about them when there is an aggressive one about. They've been known to take a dog being walked on a leash or threaten people and not run away. That's when they get trapped and killed, but otherwise it's just a fact of life and people know that they might lose their little dogs or cats if they aren't careful about when they are in the yard.
I was just talking to my neighbor across the street tonight, about them. She said one jumped her back fence, picked up her cat, and tried to jump back over the fence, but her cat was so fat the coyote couldn't carry it.
The cat got away and ran under some thorny bushes and ended up needing some surgery, but it lived.
^March 10, 2010, in the land behind my house. 
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From: The (S)Low Country
I agree, Dave. I wasn't expecting the HOA to hire a trapper or anything, just let the rest of us know so we could be careful. However, I now know and am trying to look out for my little dog and myself.
Joined: May 2002
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From: Somewhere in NJ
We have the same thing here. Coyotes have been seen over the past month or so. It's been all over the papers and net, but I don't believe the HOA has sent any announcement either.
I agree with the comment that the HOA isn't about public safety, however, a simple email, mailing, phone to notify the 22 owners about something in the area that could be significant would be a reasonable expectation.
Probably something to bring up at the next HOA meeting?
I agree with the comment that the HOA isn't about public safety, however, a simple email, mailing, phone to notify the 22 owners about something in the area that could be significant would be a reasonable expectation.
Probably something to bring up at the next HOA meeting?
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Exeter, NH
.....Scenario
An HOA oversees common assets valued at $5M for, say, a membership of 100 homes with a total value of $50M. A BOD member hears that there is a skunk prowling the neighborhood spraying children. Said BOD member puts a message on the HOA's computer dialer that automatically calls all of the listed members. A member gets the message and runs out to see about the skunk, falls and breaks a hip. Guess who get's sued (HOA)? Guess who gets to pay any judgement against the HOA if it loses the case (HOA membership through special assessment)? Guess who has to pay the legal fees even they don't lose (HOA membership from reserves or special assessment)? .....
An HOA oversees common assets valued at $5M for, say, a membership of 100 homes with a total value of $50M. A BOD member hears that there is a skunk prowling the neighborhood spraying children. Said BOD member puts a message on the HOA's computer dialer that automatically calls all of the listed members. A member gets the message and runs out to see about the skunk, falls and breaks a hip. Guess who get's sued (HOA)? Guess who gets to pay any judgement against the HOA if it loses the case (HOA membership through special assessment)? Guess who has to pay the legal fees even they don't lose (HOA membership from reserves or special assessment)? .....
The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.
Shakespeare: Henry The Sixth, Part 2 Act 4, scene 2
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Mish-she-gan
Originally Posted by dlq04' timestamp='1346731809' post='21985491
Coyotes are fairly common in MIchigan. In fact, +1 was just warned that the new barn she taking her horse to has them, although horses - unlike dogs and cats - are generally not on their hunting list. Val, you want to consider a bigger and more aggressive dog. I know our golden would be an easy target but I've not heard of any coyotes in our immediate area. Harry I can understand your HOA's position but at the same time informing homeowners of their presence is merely being neighborly IMHO.
Scenario
An HOA oversees common assets valued at $5M for, say, a membership of 100 homes with a total value of $50M. A BOD member hears that there is a skunk prowling the neighborhood spraying children. Said BOD member puts a message on the HOA's computer dialer that automatically calls all of the listed members. A member gets the message and runs out to see about the skunk, falls and breaks a hip. Guess who get's sued (HOA)? Guess who gets to pay any judgement against the HOA if it loses the case (HOA membership through special assessment)? Guess who has to pay the legal fees even they don't lose (HOA membership from reserves or special assessment)?
Essentially, the BOD member that sent out the message had neither responsibility to do so on behalf of the HOA nor authority to act on behalf of the HOA through use of it's computer assets for such a purpose. But, since the HOA indemnifies all BOD members through it's founding documents, the HOA has been flogged out there as the responsible party.
My HOA property is rectangular. On two sides we have a wetlands preserve. It's beautiful but we have coyote and skunk. (I hate the horrible shrieks that come from a rabbit when it's caught by a coyote in my back yard.) We have instructions in our Welcome Letter Supplement to new members advising them that the BOD will take no action, to call animal control at the police department in the event of such a circumstance, and that advising their neighbors is solely at their discretion.
OK... that works too.
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From: The (S)Low Country
Our HOA is NOWHERE NEAR the complicated sort of thing of which you speak, hecash. It is primarily responsible for seeing that none of our legacy trees are removed unless they are diseased, maintenance of our private roads (which are VERY, VERY small, maintaining the architectural standards of the neighborhood, paying the electric bills for the lighting on the streets and making certain people do not "junk" up their property. We have rules that relate to parking boats and travel trailers in driveways (not allowed) and so on. I cannot put a johnny house in my front yard (not that I'd want to) or build a house less than 2200 sq ft in the 'hood. That's about it. We have no public swimming pool, golf course, playgrounds, etc. There are little islands on the 3 streets in here and the trimming and maintenance is done by the HOA as well as the entrance which is nicely landscaped. They do not oversee anything else and we're pretty free to do whatever we like, but since our roads are totally private and not maintained or owned by the county we pay fees for that maintenance along with the foregoing. I'm good with that as I'd really rather not pony up to have my road repaved by a private contractor. We live in a very rural setting and are bordered by the State Park, so it is very secluded and private. That's one of the reasons I was surprised that an email or phone call wasn't sent or made to let us know about the coyotes. It is not a HUGE deal, but I'd have liked to have known. There has never been a lawsuit by any homeowner in here (and several of them are lawyers). There are no wars being waged nor does anyone want one. We all get along very very well and the meetings are well attended because we all bring good food and fellowship well together.