City of The Colony Electronic Newsletter • Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Urban Wildlife Q&A

Longtime residents of The Colony are no strangers to urban wildlife. The community boasts miles of shoreline along Lewisville Lake, with large swaths of greenspace throughout the city. These conditions create numerous opportunities for humans and wildlife to cross paths. Fortunately, the City of The Colony boasts a well-prepared and highly-rated Animal Services Division that is here to help educate and assist the community when it comes to addressing urban wildlife issues. One question often received is:

Q: What should residents do if they encounter a bobcat or coyote? If you encounter a bobcat or coyote, don’t panic. These animals are much more afraid of you than you are of them. Just make a loud noise, such as clapping and yelling. They may not necessarily run away, but they will not come closer. If the animal does stand its ground and won’t scare off, you may be coming near its den. A protective mother will always stand her ground, but it is extremely rare for a coyote or bobcat to attack a human.

Please visit our website for more Q&A regarding urban wildlife in The Colony.

Attention moms and sons! Join The Colony Parks & Recreation from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26, for the sixth annual Mother-Son Adventure Day at Lions Club Park, 4800 Nash Drive. An afternoon of adventure, fun and excitement is in store as we explore all things outdoors. Moms and sons will test their skills at archery, fishing, horseshoes and many other camping/outdoor activities. Click the photo to get your tickets today!

KTCB hosts iNaturalist class

Do you love exploring outdoors? Are you curious about the diversity of wild plants and animals found in The Colony? Do you have a smartphone or digital camera? If you answered “yes” to these questions, join Keep The Colony Beautiful and local Texas Master Naturalist Donna Cole from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at City Hall for a class on using the iNaturalist app on your smartphone. This app allows anyone with a digital camera to contribute to a global biodiversity database. Don't worry that you aren’t an expert on wildlife identification – iNaturalist has a community of experts that will help you learn the difference between all those little brown birds you see in your yard. Click the photo for more info or to register for the class.

First Responders recognized

We're very proud of all the dedicated men and women serving in The Colony's public safety departments. This week, however, we're especially proud of Fire Marshal Jeromy Lucas (second from left) and Officer JP Alexander (second from right) for being named The Colony Chamber of Commerce's TCFD and TCPD First Reponders of the Year during the Chamber's recent gala event. Ofc. Alexander is as the Student Resource Officer at Lowell H. Strike Middle School in The Tribute. Also pictured are Fire Chief Scott Thompson and Police Chief David Coulon.

Citizens Police Academy coming soon

The next TCPD Citizens Police Academy starts March 10. The class is from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays for 10 weeks. Learn about the inner workings of your department and meet some of the Officers and Detectives who work here. Click the photo for more info or send an email to [email protected] for an application.

Migratory birds: Be on the lookout!

Residents are advised to be on the lookout for scout birds who are beginning to arrive in the area. If you see egrets in your neighborhood, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 972-625-1106. Or, click the photo to fill out a Migratory Bird report online.

Visit The Colony: Upcoming events

From family fun to Texas-sized celebrations, The Colony is the place for exciting excursions. Click the photo to learn more about the latest events this March in the City by The Lake - brought to you by The Colony Convention & Visitors Bureau.

What else is In THE News?

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 1, The Colony City Council approved a purchase order in the amount of $1,000,000 for the ongoing repair of streets, alleys, and sidewalks in the community.
Congratulations to TCPD Sgt. Paul Thornton (pictured), who retired recently from The Colony Police Department after 34 years of dedicated service. Sgt. Thornton will be missed by his police family and the residents whom he served for so long. Good luck in your future endeavors!
The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) has announced it will temporarily change the disinfectant in its water treatment process March 1-29. This only applies to residents in Austin Ranch, where water is purchased from the City of Plano. Click here for more information.
Looking ahead: The Colony Municipal Court office will be closed March 9-10 for staff development. If you have a payment or documents due on those days, an extension will be granted to March 16. Click here for more details.