Serving the Arcadia area since 1958 | D O G S | CATS | B I R DS | EXOTI C S | MEDI CAL • DENTAL • SU RG ERY • B OARDI NG • O BEDI EN C E TRAI N I NG CERTIFIED FELINE FRIENDLY HOSPITAL CARE FOR ALL PAWS BIG AND SMALL! Member Since 1959 4855 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix AZ 85018 | ingleside.com HOSPITAL 602-840-3446 BRIAN A. SERBIN, DVM • FELICITY GESINA, DVM • MOLLY R. KLEIN, DVM HEBAH MOHAMED, DVM • EMMA SMITH, DVM • ASHLEY BROWN, DVM 4 AUGUST 2024 EDITOR’S NOTE In just a few days, students will snooze their alarms (hopefully not more than once), dress in their new duds and head to the first day of school, ready to see their friends and share all their adventures from summer vacation. It’s a new school year, neighbors, and it’s only fitting that we share a new edition of your favorite neighborhood newspaper to commemorate! Instead of heading to Hawaii this summer, Arcadia area student Blake Buckler was hard at work preparing for the USATF Junior Olympic regional games that happened in June in Colorado. A grueling schedule had him waking up at 4:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to practice. At the competition, Blake threw the discus 151 feet, cementing a first place win and a shot at the finals in Texas. Over at Echo Canyon, the staff had big news to share, as they were named the first Blue Zones-approved school not only in Phoenix, but in all of Arizona. Thanks to the expansive school garden, a National Wildlife Federation-certified habitat for Sonoran Desert tortoises, its Certified Waystation for Monarch Butterflies and daily fruit and veggie bar, the school hopes to continue its efforts in promoting healthy lifestyles among its students. “It is an honor to be recognized, because it reinforces our efforts of providing students with experiences that help them make healthy food choices, have a sense of belonging and move their bodies,” Principal Kat Hughes said. There are only nine days left to submit photos for our Summer Vacation Photo Spread. Send photos to editor@arcadianews.com for a chance to be in the September issue. Your photo might be on the cover! Happy back-to-school days – and thank you for reading the Arcadia News, – Mallory Gleich – Mallory Gleich UPCOMING THEMES: No one has better coverage in the areas of Arcadia, Biltmore and the Camelback Corridor. Promote your business to 45,000 loyal Arcadia News readers. For more: 602-840-6379 or email ads@arcadianews.com . SEPTEMBER  OCTOBER  NOVEMBER            1. Hi, my name is Lady and I am a five-year-old Basenji! I love going for hikes at Papago, walks around the neighborhood and chasing birds. I hate showers! I have two human siblings and we get along mostly. I have also traveled internationally. – Jay S. 2. Sonny the 4-year-old red lab makes the red rocks of Sedona jealous with his majestic coat. He’s the coolest, sweetest boy in all of Arizona! Oh, and he’s super pumped his humans are recently engaged! – Grant W. 3. My name is Walter and I am a Rhodesian ridgeback. I am turning five in October and hope to get many snacks! We can be friends if you scratch my belly, give me pup cups or take me camping. Find me on TikTok @walter_the_ridge! – Eliana L. 4. This is Max, our seven-year-old shih tzu-poodle mix. Max has the cutest snaggletooth, the loveliest voice and celebrates his birthday on the Fourth of July. He loves to be around people and gives the best kisses! If you want his attention, call out “bacon!” – Natalia G. 1 3 2 4 ARCADIA ARCADIA ''S PETS S PETS Would you like to share your pet? Send a photo and a description (50 words max) of your pet to editor@arcadianews.com . Include your pet’s name and age, along with any fun facts about them you’d like to share. All animals are welcome!

T, A 29 11:00 –Noon | Lunch Served with Don Smith, Acacia Transitions Concierge 480.300.4700 —Seating limited— A licensed realtor, Don will offer a stepwise approach to packing and selling your home in readiness for senior community life. How to Prepare the Home for Sale • Current State of the Housing Market • Complimentary Market Analysis • Home Sale Credit up to $5000 • Capital Gains Tax Exclusion • Stepped-up Cost Basis upon Death of Spouse • Communicating with Family Members 3200 E. Glenrosa Avenue, Phoenix | MorningStarArcadia.com R S V P R S V P Make a Smooth Move Helping Seniors 5 AUGUST 2024 By Mallory Gleich Arcadia residents are seeing an uptick in the coyote population this summer – and these wild animals are posing a threat to area pets, children and neighborhood surroundings. Coyotes are known to be curious, clever and adaptable, and take advantage of any food source they can find. Yards with abundant fruit on the ground, pet food, unsecured garbage cans, or unattended pets such as small dogs and cats are often easy food sources. Coyotes weigh between 20-50 pounds and usually roam around at night. However, they’ve recently appeared in backyards, on top of cars and in alleyways during early morning and evening hours. “Coyote populations are extremely variable and are dependent upon time of year and location,” Arizona Game and Fish Urban Wildlife Specialist Darren Julian said. “In a natural environment, food resources directly impact fluctuations in population; less prey equals less predators and vice versa. However, urban coyotes are a little different.” Julian explained that urban coyotes have never had to experience drought, and neither have their prey. Thanks to food and water resources readily available in neighborhoods, coyote populations can be abnormally high. The animals interact more frequently with humans – and the more interactions without negative consequences, the more comfortable the coyotes become. “We are infested with coyotes and their pups. Every neighbor has a story: a walker greeted by a coyote with a chicken in its mouth, a friend who almost lost their terrier to an attack, plants and flowers uprooted and chewing through irrigation lines in search of water,” neighbor Tina Higgins said. “We are dealing with a mom, dad and six pups who have woken us up from a dead sleep at two a.m. by howling and yipping in front of our bedroom window.” Around 50 members of the area around Jokake and Lafayette joined together to hire a trapper and relocator. Neighbor Jan Sapanaro researched and interviewed several companies, eventually hiring AAAC Wildlife Removal. According to Jan, Specialist Joe Bruntz arrived every night for four weeks to set bait while Jan checked the traps twice a day. “The coyotes are very bold and not afraid of us or our pets, so it’s been a difficult process. Our neighborhood is pulling together to remove them from the area,” Sapanaro said. “I let Joe know right away if I see a coyote. Our goal was to catch the moms, dads and babies and rehome them in the desert.” AAAC Wildlife did not catch any coyotes in the four-week span. Julian explained that if people are seeing more coyotes, it may not be that the population is increasing, it might simply be that people are seeing the same coyotes more often. “We encourage the public to keep their distance whenever possible, and report coyote interactions which may pose a public safety threat to the Arizona Game and Fish Department,” Julian said. azgfd.com What can we do about those wily coyotes? THINGS TO HELP MINIMIZE THE COYOTE POPULATION • Don’t leave pet food (or any food) outside, especially overnight. • Remove fruit from trees – thus also minimizing the roof rat population. • Secure trash cans and lids – and keep trash cans clean. • Trim bushes to remove hiding spots or breeding areas for coyotes. • Sporting goods stores carry an animal scent that can be applied on properties to deter coyotes from entering front or backyards. WAYS TO SCARE OFF A COYOTE • Make loud noises, but do not turn and run away – the coyote may view it as an opportunity to chase. • Keep eye contact. • Shout, bang pots and pans, or rattle empty soda cans with pebbles. • Wave your hands or objects like sticks and brooms. • Spray the coyote with a hose. • Use a commercial repellent on bold animals that refuse to leave. • Move toward other people, a building, or an area with activity. PHOTO: TINA HIGGINS When she spotted the coyote on her neighbor’s roof about 20 feet away, Tina waved her hands and yelled – and the coyote didn’t even flinch.