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Article & Photos by Lauren Svatek

Author’s Note:

I love all dogs! I am blessed with two wonderful, intelligent, loving and loyal rescue dogs. Reo, a Border Collie, is the dog who taught me about dogs. As a herding dog, he needed to be challenged, exercised and worked. They are the smartest of all dog breeds. He and I together were attacked in a dog park and bitten by two German Shepherds. Rather than walking in fear with him, I received training with him and he learned the basic commands which he follows 95% of the time! Pippa, a Pit Bull mix, who followed me to my car from the drainage channel, is my second dog. She had been dumped on the trail, weighed less than 30 pounds, and was starving. I trained Pippa myself. While Reo has a calm demeanor, Pippa is anxious and protective. We were attacked on one of our walks along our community trails by a large and small dog who escaped a fence. I protected them from the attack and I managed to only get grazed by the teeth of the larger dog. I asked the owner to repair her fence. I KNOW what to expect from my dogs, but I also know that ANYTHING can be a catalyst to set the dog off into protective mode. I try to always expect the unexpected.

These precious dogs were an unexpected joy to my life and give unconditional love despite dubious beginnings.

REO, the wild and scruffy

PIPPA, the abandoned and starved

Our trails are an extraordinary place to walk, run, jog, bike, walk our dogs, and enjoy nature and the outdoors. It is an opportunity to breathe in and relax in a beautiful setting. These trails also require all of us to be responsible for ourselves and others to keep them safe and secure for all to enjoy. Have you ever seen a dog walker being pulled by its dog down the trail and see them break leash and dash away? Have you ever been approached by a dog on the trail with no owner in sight? Have you ever seen dogs nudge their heads through fences along the trail? Have you while walking your dog ever passed another dog being walked and both of you had to control and calm your dogs to get by? Have you ever seen a dog being walked that suddenly went wild because they saw a squirrel? These are events that happen all the time and where we all have the opportunity to make a difference.

All of us have our own personal ways of caring for our dogs. In our homes and in our yards, the dogs are in their own personal territory that they share with you. It is their safe place. In a home environment, they may bark when someone knocks at the door or rings the doorbell or even when they hear a car or a sound from outside. They may chase animals in their yard (and sometimes catch them). There is a freedom there that they cannot have anywhere else.

There are ways you can walk the trail with your dog that is safe for you and your pet as well as others who share the trail with you. Dog Park rules provide a basic outline of proper dog behavior inside the park with other dogs. However, some of these rules can translate to the trail and help make your walk more enjoyable and safe for both of you. The dog rules of Kitty Hollow Bark Park and Sugar Land Memorial Park Pawm Springs Dog Park are pictured below.

Pawm Springs Dog Park lists a few more rules than Kitty Hollow Bark Park, but they are almost identical. If you have never used a dog park, you might like to review all the rules and perhaps incorporating them into your walk routine.

PAWM SPRINGS DOG PARK RULES OF USE

• Operating Hours are sunrise to sunset Tuesday through Sunday. The dog park is closed each Monday for maintenance.
• Dogs must be leashed when entering and leaving the dog park.
• Children under the age of twelve years are not permitted in the park. It is strongly encouraged that young children not be brought to the park for their own safety.
• No other animals may be brought into the fenced area.
• Dogs must have current rabies and all other vaccinations as required by the City of Sugar Land and should be healthy and free of contagious diseases and parasites.
• Dogs must wear current license tags in the dog park.
• Dog owners/handlers must carry a copy of their dog’s rabies vaccination certificate while in the dog park.
• Dogs should never be left unattended.
• Dogs must be in view of and within voice control of their owner/handler at all times.
• Dog owners/handlers must carry a leash with them at all times while in the dog park.
• Dog owners/handlers are responsible for picking up after their dogs and disposing of all their dogs’ waste.
• Dogs in heat are prohibited from entering the park.
• Dogs showing any signs of aggression must be leashed and immediately removed from the park.
• Dogs younger than four months of age are not permitted from entering the park.
• Maximum limit of two dogs per adult in the dog park at any time.
• No food (dog or human) is permitted in the park.
• Smoking is prohibited.
• No digging or persistent barking. Owners must stop their dogs from digging and are responsible for filling any holes made by their dogs.
• No spiked or pronged collars.
• No bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades or any motorized vehicles.
• Failure to abide by these park rules may result in loss of privileges or owners being ticketed.
• Use of this dog park is at your own risk.
• Dog owners/handlers are responsible for the actions and behavior of their dogs at all times.

WALKING THE TRAIL

Here is an adaptation of the rules to use as a guideline for walking the trails with your dog(s). The trail head signs for Vicksburg Walking Trails have included two of these as trail rules which are pets are always on leash and pick up and disposal of dog waste is the owner’s responsibility.

PETS MUST BE ON LEASH AT ALL TIMES.

The number one rule on the trail when walking your dog is that it MUST be on a leash. No exceptions. No matter how well behaved your dog is, there are things that will excite it, scare it, or make it want to protect you. This is the major difference between trail walking and dog parks.

PET OWNER MUST CLEAN UP ALL SOLID WASTER DEPOSITED BY THEIR ANIMALS.

Picking up your dog’s waste is the responsibility of the pet owner. Numerous pet stations with bags provided and waste disposal container are available along the entire trail route for your convenience. Trash cans are also located along the trail with benches to stop and rest along the way.

Here are a few suggested guidelines from the dog park rules that dog walkers might incorporate to make their walks safer for themselves and others.

Dogs should have current rabies and all other vaccinations as required by the city of Missouri City as well as be healthy and free of contagious diseases and parasites.

• The health of your dog is important to you. On your dog’s collar should be your owner information as well as current license tags. If your dog is lost, tags will tell the finder that your dog is vaccinated and where to contact you. Carrying a copy of the rabies certificate is just an added safe guard should anything happen.

Dogs should never be left unattended.

• Dog owners should be with their dogs at all times. Don’t let them wander without you. There are many dangers out there for your dog; be vigilant.

Dog owners are responsible for the actions and behavior of their dogs at all times.

• A firm grip on a leash can prevent a multitude of incidents unforeseen. A random squirrel, another dog, or a biker can excite or scare a dog into an aggressive action. Remove a dog from a situation as calmly and quickly as possible.

Good fences are good for you, your dog and the dogs outside your fence.

Our trails are lined by the back fences of houses in our neighborhood. There are a lot of dogs on the other side of those fences—big and small. When passing houses along the trail they are often barking, jumping at the fence, or scratching along the fence. Consider that within that yard is territory that belongs to that dog.

The hazard here is loose fence boards allowing dogs to escape. You should just take it as a fact that if a dog can get his head through one board of the fence, he can get out no matter how large he is. Some dogs can jump a 6 foot fence if it is motivated to do so.

A digging dog can dig a hole or tunnel to escape under the fence also.

Let us dedicate ourselves to creating a safe trail in our little part of the world in which all wildlife thrives, people can safely connect with nature, and dogs and people are thriving.

SIGNS

We have signs all around our community. The signs placed along the trails are there for a reason. Whether it is Beware of Alligators and Snakes, Fishing License Required, or Warning Pipeline, they are there to remind all of us to be aware of the warnings and act accordingly. See the few that are around our trails and in Kitty Hollow. We just ask that all residents be mindful of the signs for their protection and for the protection of the environment.

Article & Photos by Lauren Svatek
Cartoon by Jerry Cogan

Our communities of Vicksburg Village, Olympia Estates, Lake Shore Harbour, and Dry Creek Village have grown exponentially over several years. Each of these developments were once wooded areas and grassland. They are within the MUD districts of 47 and 48 and include drainage channels and detention ponds serving the communities. Very few wooded areas remain in the area and are likely to be gone within the next few years with continued development. Only Kitty Hollow Park remains as an uninterrupted area for recreation and wildlife habitation.

Wildlife struggles in our urban areas. Over the years, deer and other wildlife have been forced to move to other areas in order to survive or stay and exist in a smaller and smaller habitat. Food, water, shelter and an appropriate habitat are what they need to survive.

People are divided on their feelings about wildlife. Some value it and want to protect it. Some fear it as a threat, nuisance, or menace to their lives and property. Others are indifferent to its presence. Whatever your opinion is, it is necessary to find a way to coexist with the wildlife in our area; our wildlife diversity is one of the great benefits of living in Texas.

Urban growth has put wildlife at a great disadvantage. Compare it to baseball. There are 162 games in a baseball season and great teams will win a majority of their games. However, even the worst of the teams will win games even when competing with the best of teams. Unfortunately, the teams with an abysmal record have no chance of making it to the post season. This is the plight of wildlife in our community. Humans will dominate and wildlife will struggle.

Wildlife provides benefits to our ecosystem. Many urban animals are predators of insect pests. They also provide a check and balance of certain populations of animals that could overrun an area. Remember years when there were too many squirrels? Studies indicate that there is a physical and psychological benefit to humans when they are exposed to wildlife. Along our trails, numerous runners, walkers and dog-walkers comment on different wild animals they see and often take particular paths so that they can see this varied wildlife. 

People are responsible for many of the disadvantages that wildlife faces. Since we have forced the wildlife into a small, compact area, we still intrude upon what they have left by leaving designated trails. We pollute the area with trash and debris. We endanger our own pets by letting them roam free. Outdoor cats cause harm and death to small wild animals and birds. Dogs should never be off leash. Both domesticated and wild animals can clash when not properly supervised by their owners. Careless and negligent fishing harms and kills wildlife. All fishing requires a license and proper tagging of fishing lines. Keep in mind that wildlife prefers to be left alone and everyone should keep their distance. 

A conversation with one of our Texas Parks and Wildlife–Fort Bend County Game Wardens provided some perspective on the human versus wildlife situation. He provided a number of suggestions to help people coexist with wildlife and provide protection of our wildlife along our trails.

ALLIGATORS – Alligators are a protected species. Feeding, injuring, or harassing alligators is a punishable offense. Game Wardens will assist in determining if an alligator is a nuisance. If you are concerned about an alligator located in a drainage channel or detention pond, please contact the Game Warden via the information below. The drainage channels and detention ponds are habitats for the alligators, and they do not pose a danger by merely existing there. Although I have no photos of this incident, I have cut an alligator loose from a fishing line from which he could not escape. Another example of how we impact wildlife without proper consideration.

FISH AND TURTLES – Fish and turtles are not protected unless they are a particular endangered species. Fishing is allowed in the channels with a fishing license and following all regulations for setting lines. It is best to keep in mind that what you put into the water may have effects beyond your intention. Photos show a turtle that I rescued off an illegal line. It was drowning in the water, because it could not move onto the bank. I had to cut a hook out of its mouth and hoped it would survive. There is a variety of fish in the channel including various types of gar. During Hurricane Harvey floods, alligator gars were seen in the channel. 

BIRDS – There is a wide variety of birds along our channels. According to the Game Warden, the majority of birds are protected. A walk on the trail on any day, there may be a great blue heron, spoon bills, raptors, and ducks just to name a few. As seen in the photos, humans impact the birds. I released a great blue heron (a large and majestic bird) from a fishing line with instructions on what to do by a Game Warden. It was able to walk away into the trees after it was released. Another way we impact the birds is with our trash as seen in the photo of the duck with her ducklings next to paper trash.

COYOTES – The coyotes that have appeared along our trails have sparked a lot of conversation. Many people have very particular opinions about the animals. Much of what has been expressed is fear of them and retaliation against them along with a more tempered demonstration of fascination and appreciation. Per our local Game Warden, coyotes are not protected, but are unlikely to leave their habitat to venture into our neighborhoods. They have existed in this wooded area for more years than I have lived here and fluctuated in numbers over all those years. I mentioned that we used to also see bobcats in the same area but thought they might be gone. He said that they are probably still there, they are just not seen. There are many animals in those trees that we may not know exist at all. Here are some of the Game Warden’s tips regarding coyotes in the area:

• Attempt NO interaction with them at all and they most likely will never cross into the neighborhood.
• Keep trash cans covered and pets indoors.
• Do not leave food outdoors for any animals.
• Under NO circumstances should individuals take it upon themselves to capture or kill the animals while on the trail.

If you are concerned about a coyote in the area, please contact the Game Warden via the information below.

This article has highlighted many of the animals on our trails. Not all are included such as deer, raccoons, rabbits and others. There is a great amount of wildlife just outside our door to appreciate and enjoy—from a distance. Also, Kitty Hollow Park is just a walk or drive away where these same animals reside.

Below are some wildlife resources:

• Article written in 2021 and available on the District’s website, “The Wild Alligators Among Us”.
• Article in the Summer 2023 Vicksburg Voice on “Please Leave the Wildlife Alone”.
• The Texas Parks and Wildlife June 2023 article, “Alligators—More Than Just a Pretty Smile” which you can find and subscribe to here. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXPWD/bulletins/360dd35.

If you capture some photos while out on the trail of animals or plants or water, please share with me at lsvatek@fbmud47.org. Some photos may be suitable for our trail photo gallery, and you will be contacted if considered. (Photos need to be taken with your phone horizontally and sent in actual size by email.) Happy Trails!

To Report incidents, concerns, or disturbances regarding wildlife along the trail:

TX Game Warden Law Enforcement Offices, Austin TX
Dispatch Center: (512)389-4848
The local Game Warden will be contacted with the report.