FREE Spay & Neuter Clinic for Travis County Cats and Dogs

• December 5-9th
• 1817 Braker Lane, Building F, Austin, TX 78758
• Registration and drop off is first-come, first-served and will begin at 7:30 a.m. Registration ends at 10:00 a.m. or when capacity is filled, whichever comes first.
• This service is for Austin and Travis County residents only. Please bring an ID or utility bill to confirm residency.
• Dogs and cats receive free spay/neuter, a microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines
• See attached flyer for more details

Continue reading FREE Cats & Dogs Spay & Neuter Clinic →

WBNA 2025 Community Calendar Sales

The WBNA 2025 Wild in Wells Branch Community Calendar is on sale NOW!

Starting to think about holiday gifts? The WBNA calendar makes a unique, personal gift. There are several ways to purchase your new calendar. You can purchase in person and we would love to visit with you!

Just stop by any of our “Pop-up Sales” locations:

• Malone’s Coffee in Bratton Sq, MOST Sat & Sun Mornings,
  9am-Noon
• WB MUD Rec. Center on Shoreline Dr., MOST Wed & Thur
  Evenings, 4-7pm
• WB MUD Events: Bingo Nights, Thanksgiving Pot Luck and
  Luminary Fest

NOTE: Be sure to watch our website and the WBNA Facebook page for additional pop-up locations. https://www.facebook.com/WBNA.WellsBranchNeighborhoodAssociation
or monitor the WB Google Group for additional opportunities. Continue reading WBNA 2025 Community Calendar Sales →

Happy Holidays from the WBNA!

The holidays are right around the corner. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating these wonderful Wells Branch traditions. Reach out to new folks so they feel welcome.  Take time to reconnect with family, friends and neighbors.

We look forward to seeing each of you at the festivities!

Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner
Saturday, November 23 • 6:00-8:00pm
WB Rec. Center • 3000 Shoreline

Wells Branch neighbors, you’re invited to bring a prepared covered dish or dessert to share and spend the evening among family and friends. Enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and exchange memories while creating new ones. It’s a long-standing tradition in Wells Branch you won’t want to miss. Turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, and beverages will be provided by the WB MUD.  Hosted by the WB MUD Parks & Rec. Dept. Continue reading Happy Holidays from the WBNA! →

Holiday Safety Tips

With the bustle of the holidays just around the corner, make sure you’re taking every precaution possible to keep your home and family safe and secure.  We usually see an increase in opportunistic crime this time of year; please remain vigilant.

• Keep your blinds and drapes closed when away, even if only for a short period of time.
• Keep your house well lit at night (backyard included).  A motion sensor activated light is an inexpensive deterrent.
• If your Christmas tree is displayed in front of a window, don’t pile the presents around it.  Store the gifts in another area away from view when the blinds or drapes are open. Do NOT put the empty boxes for the new computer, TV, stereo system, etc. on the curb for the trash.  Take the time to break down every box and put it inside your trashcan/recycling bin so that it is concealed, even if you have to hold it over to the next week.  People start cruising our neighborhood on Sunday afternoons to see what has been put out.  The less they know about what you have inside, the better.
• Door-to-door solicitations increase tremendously this time of year.  Always look out the window or peephole before opening the door or answering a knock.  Never open the door all the way, especially if you have a Christmas tree and/or presents in plain view.
• Always lock your car.   Never leave your car running unattended or leave your keys in the car or ignition.
• If you usually keep a garage door remote control in your car and don’t park it in the garage each and every time you return home, hide the remote or take it inside.  Thieves check visors and this gives them instant protected access to your home.
• Keep your garage door closed at all times and keep the inside door from your home to the garage LOCKED.
• Don’t leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked. Take them in the house or put them in the trunk out of sight BEFORE arriving at your destination. While shopping this holiday season, remain aware of your surroundings at all times. If unsure of your safety, ask a store attendant to have security walk you to your car. You can’t be too safe. This goes for trips to the grocery store as well. When unloading your car at home after a day of shopping, lock it between trips to and from the car—and ensure your car warranty is up to date to cover any unexpected issues. Keep your Lamborghini safe with Lamborghini Extended Coverage options.
• If you plan to be away:Let a neighbor and/or block captain know you’ll be out of town and when you’ll return.  They should have the following: your emergency contact information; contact information for anyone with access to your house (pet sitter, etc.); when they should be expected; what they look like and a description of their vehicle(s).
• Let only those who NEED to know, know when you are going out of town.
• Don’t share vacation plans on social media.
• Arrange to have your lawn cared for if you are going to be away.
• Don’t hide keys under doormats or flowerpots or in similar places.
• Put your lights, stereo or TV on timers.
• Keep your house well lit at night (backyard included)
• Leave a car in the driveway or ask a neighbor to park in it.
• Don’t cancel your paper or mail deliveries; ask that your neighbor pick them up every day.
• Leave a key with a friend or neighbor; ask that the house be checked at regular intervals.
• Store all your valuables.
• Consider asking friends or relatives to live in your home while you are away.
• Ask your neighbor to put trash in your trashcan and to put it out for collection and away when they put theirs away.
• File a Close Patrol Request.  The filing of this form alerts patrolling officers so that they may pay close attention to one’s residence.  To do so: Contact the Travis County  Sheriff’s Office at 854-9721.  Ask to make a Close Patrol Request.  You will be asked for information on those caring for your home while you’re away – make and model of their vehicles, name, description and times they should be at your home.

Continue reading Holiday Safety Tips →

Local Election Results

WB MUD Board of Directors: Thanks to all who participated in the WB MUD Board elections. The WBNA would like to congratulate returning MUD Board Directors, Moises Solis (Place 2) and Jon Klekman (Place 4). After their installation the Board of Directors will self-align and select committee assignments. For updates, please visit: https://wellsbranchmud.com/board/board-members after the 19th.

A special thanks to all of our MUD Board Directors for serving selflessly. We are grateful for your time, energy, and work! Best wishes on future endeavors! Continue reading Local Election Results →

WB MUD
Thanksgiving Closures

Customer Service, District Administration and
Recreation Center: Closed Thursday, Nov. 28 and
Friday, Nov. 29
Willow Bend Pool: Closed Thursday, Nov. 28
Curbside Trash & Recycling Collection
There will be no curbside trash and recycling collection on Thursday,
Nov. 28. Collection for Thursday and Friday will be moved
forward one day. All other collection days will remain the same. Continue reading WB MUD Holiday Closures →

Winter Wastewater Averaging

During the three-month billing period between Dec. 11, 2024 and March 10, 2025, your average water use will be calculated, and used as your monthly wastewater usage for the next 12 months. This is done because wastewater flow is unmetered, and winter water usage is typically only indoors. To save money all year, conserve water and check your
plumbing for leaks. Turn off any valves going to automatic irrigation before this starts.

For more info, visit wellsbranchmud.com/wwa

Meet your Wild Neighbors!

by Jill Douglass

Please join us on Saturday, December 14th from 9am to 10am, for a presentation on Meet your Wild Neighbors, presented by Natasia Moore. Natasia is the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Urban Wildlife Biologist for the greater Austin area.

Living with Urban Wildlife is always a popular discussion and one that is met with a wide variety of thoughts and feelings. Ranging from individuals who love wildlife and want to attract them to their backyards, to those who are indifferent, and even those who wish there were no wildlife around. This is also usually dependent on the species that exist in our spaces. Some animals like birds are welcomed to our backyard with full bird feeders and sparkling bird baths. While others, such as coyotes, are seen as something we do not want to be around. Part of Natasia’s job as the Urban Wildlife Biologist is to educate the public and show them that every animal, from the birds to the coyotes, has important roles to play in the health of our environment and where we live, and why we should care about all of them.

During this presentation, Natasia will introduce you to urban ecosystems and the challenges we face when managing people and wildlife, such as the reduction of native plants and an increase in exotic plant and wildlife species. Along the way, she will talk about urban wildlife characteristics and why we tend to see more generalist species of wildlife – species that thrive in any environment with any type of food – and fewer
specialist species – those that have specific food and shelter requirements – in different levels of development in an urban and suburban setting.

Natasia will introduce you to several of the common species we see around the Austin area and potentially have interactions with, such as fox squirrels, opossums, raccoons, coyotes,
gray foxes, and bobcats. She will also discuss some of the concerns she most often hears when it comes to living with our wild neighbors, such as concerns related to property
damage, and pet and human safety. Natasia will also go over ways in which to prevent negative interactions and ways in which we can make the urban area a little safer for our wild neighbors.

2024 WBWC Steward Award

Wells Branch Wild Conservancy (WBWC) held its first Annual Recognition Event on October 20, 2024. Attendees enjoyed touring the Homestead, learning about the five
elements of a wildlife habitat, and making seed balls for distribution in the park. State Representative James Talarico celebrated the certification of the Homestead as a National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat and reflected on how special the Wells Branch Community is. We celebrated achieving 116 certified habitats in Wells Branch and thanked everyone who had certified their properties. Finally, Shelley Palmer received the first annual WBWC Steward Award. Shelley’s decades of advocacy for a diverse, healthy ecosystem in Wells Branch paved the way for the beautiful park we all enjoy. Thank you Shelley!