For years, the Adora Trails community in South Gilbert endured a bizarre but frustrating nuisance: free-roaming cows from the nearby Gila River Indian Community repeatedly wandered into their neighborhood. Now, residents are celebrating a 70-90% reduction in incidents thanks to community action and a well-timed fence installation.
Key Highlights:
- Chronic Problem: Cattle repeatedly broke through weak fencing, damaging landscaping, blocking traffic, and even charging at pedestrians.
- Legal Challenges: Sovereignty laws tied Gilbert’s hands. The Gila River Indian Community is a sovereign nation, limiting local enforcement.
- Collaborative Efforts: Town of Gilbert, Gilbert PD, Gila River police, and the Arizona Department of Agriculture all played a role.
- Community Solution:
- Residents took matters into their own hands and built a stronger rail fence.
- Gilbert town manager Patrick Banger expedited permits.
- Landscaping company Landcom built the fence ahead of schedule.
- Ongoing Issues: Cows still sneak in through the western edge of the community where barbed wire proves ineffective.
- Future Hopes: Residents remain optimistic, aiming for 100% effectiveness through continued collaboration with tribal authorities.
Why This Matters to Arizona Real Estate Investors:
- Demonstrates the importance of community initiative when local authorities face legal limits.
- Shows the power of effective property management—even if it means managing cow incursions.
- Highlights the significance of infrastructure (fencing, permits, vendor cooperation) in protecting real estate assets and maintaining curb appeal.