General

Summer is here, the kids are out of school and for many residents this means traveling for summer vacation.

As a resident of Fort Bend Municipal Utility District 128 (FB MUD 128) you have access to free vacation watches by Fort Bend Constable Precinct 4.

Residents can request a vacation watch at no cost. While away from your residence, Fort Bend Constable Precinct 4’s Office will patrol the area and keep a watchful eye on your home.

Please leave detailed information about your home such as:

• Will you be leaving any lights on in the home?
• Do you have any pets staying in the home?
• Is there an alarm system and if so, will it be armed?
• Have you authorized anyone to come into your home?
• Are you leaving any vehicles at your home?
• Is there a secondary contact we can reach out to in case we are unable to reach you?

To request a vacation watch from Fort Bend Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, click here to fill out a vacation watch form.

Please remember to update Fort Bend Precinct 4 Constable’s Office of any changes such as additional people coming to your residence or changes in date of departure or return.

Tips for the home while you’re away:

• Inform the alarm company of your departure and make Fort Bend Precinct 4 Constable’s Office the first contact while you are away from home, as this will save valuable time in getting law enforcement to your residence.
• Have lights on timers, as having lights on around the clock is a sign no one is home.
• Leave a parked car in the driveway with no valuables inside.
• Make arrangements for your pets, whether it be someone coming to your home to walk and feed them, a boarding facility, or having them stay with a trusted family member or friend.
• Make sure your pet’s information such as ID tags, collars, and microchips are up to date and give a list of emergency contact information about your pet such as preferred veterinarian, updated shot records, and other medical information with the authorized person(s) watching your pet.
• Finding a trusted person to house sit is one of the best ways to avoid your home looking empty.
• Find an emergency contact that can be called in case you cannot be reached.
• Put your mail on hold with USPS Hold Mail. This will keep your confidential information in a safe place till you return (for up to 30 days).
  https://faq.usps.com/s/article/USPS-Hold-Mail-The-Basics

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BUGCO Pest Control will fog for mosquitoes between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The District wants to inform residents of the presence of an alligator in the ponds. As the temperature rises, we want to warn against swimming and fishing in the ponds.

There has been a recent confirmed alligator sightings in the ponds. The Board is not taking any action to remove the alligator but wants residents to be aware of the sightings. The district wants to remind residents to treat all wildlife with respect. Feeding, harassing, injuring, or removing wildlife, including alligators, is against the law. Remember that they’re an important part of Texas’s natural history, as well as an integral part of many wetland ecosystems.

Stay safe around alligators by following these rules:

Do not feed or harass alligators. The District advises against feeding or offering food, including fish or bait, to alligators.

Other tips:

• Retreat: always keep at least 30 feet away from alligators. If you get too close, back away slowly. Do not assume that alligators are slow and sluggish. They are extremely quick and agile and will defend themselves when cornered. They rarely chase people, but they can outrun or outswim the fastest person for the first 30 feet.
• Hiss: If an alligator hisses, it’s warning you that you are too close. Back away slowly.
• Protect: A female protecting her nest or young may charge if you get too close but will quickly return to the nest after you leave. Avoid piles of twigs, grasses and/or soil near the side of the lake. Also avoid any group of small alligators under a foot long.
• Bask: Alligators often bask along the banks of ponds or streams. They are usually warming their bodies; they are not actively hunting. Often a basking alligator will have its mouth open. It is cooling itself, as alligators do not pant or sweat.
• Pets: Pets are the size and shape of common alligator prey. Keep them away from the water’s edge and on leashes that are no longer than 6 feet. Do not leave your pet unsupervised. Alligators have a keen sense of smell. Your pet will be curious, and the alligator may see it as an easy food source.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Do’s and Don’ts

• Don’t kill, harass, bother, or try to move alligators. A provoked alligator is likely to bite.
• Don’t feed or entice alligators. When fed, alligators overcome their natural shyness and become accustomed to or attracted to humans.
• Do tell others that feeding alligators creates problems for those who want to use the water for recreation.
• Don’t remove an alligator from its natural habitat or accept one as a pet. It is a violation of state law to do so. You cannot tame an alligator, and even small ones may bite. Never go near baby alligators or pick them up. They may seem cute and harmless, but mama alligator is nearby, and will protect her clutch.
• Keep alligators a safe distance (at least 30 feet) from you.

Spring Break is a prime time for vacations. Unfortunately, it is also a prime time for residential burglaries. This is due to lawbreakers preying on traveling families and homes that seem to be empty for extended periods of time.

Set up a Vacation Watch with Fort Bend Constable office so they can monitor your home while you are out of town.

The link provided below will guide you through the set-up process:

https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/constables/constable-precinct-4/patrol-division/vacation-watch-program