Dear Residents and Visitors:

Please know, residents and guests of Ridgewater should be aware that our community is located near wetlands and natural areas, which may have various wildlife, such as deer, raccoons, alligators, and snakes. The HOA, Board, and original developers are not responsible for any injuries or damages caused by this wildlife. All residents and their guests accept the risks associated with wildlife in the area and understand that no guarantees have been made regarding their presence.

The policy is based on ARTICLE 4: RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION, dated January 4, 2018, sections:

4.11: Presence and Management of Wildlife.

 The original developer has the right to manage wildlife on the property, including controlling populations of certain animals through methods like hunting, trapping, or habitat changes, as allowed by law. They may also conduct environmental studies related to wildlife and decide whether to follow the recommendations from those studies. If these management responsibilities are passed to the HOA, the costs will be covered by general assessments from all homeowners. 4.11 Presence and Management of Wildlife. Each Owner and occupant, and each tenant, guest and invitee of any Owner or occupant acknowledges that the Properties are located adjacent to and in the vicinity of wetlands, bodies of water and other natural areas. Such areas may contain wildlife, including without limitation, deer, raccoons, opossums, alligators, reptiles, and snakes. None of the Association, the Board, the original Declarant, nor any successor Declarant shall be liable or responsible for any personal injury illness or any other loss or damage caused by the presence of such wildlife on the Properties. Each Owner and occupant of a Lot and each tenant, guest, and invitee of any Owner or occupant shall assume all risk of personal injury, illness, or other loss or damage arising from the presence of such wildlife and further acknowledges that the Association, the Board, the original Declarant or any successor Declarant have made no representations or warranties, nor has any Owner or occupant, or any tenant, guest, or invitee of any Owner or occupant relied upon any representations or warranties, expressed or implied, relative to the presence of such wildlife.

The Declarant, acting in its sole and absolute discretion, retains the right, but not the obligation, to engage in wildlife and fishing management plans and practices on the Properties to the extent that such practices are permitted by applicable state and federal law. For the purpose of illustration and not limitation, this includes the right to manage and control any populations of white-tailed deer, feral hogs, raccoons, alligators and other wildlife through a variety of techniques, including organized hunting, shooting, trapping, relocating, sterilization, and habitat manipulation. Declarant may, in its sole discretion, commission environmental studies and reports relating to the Properties and the wildlife habitats located thereon, and may elect to follow or disregard any recommendations resulting from such studies. The Declarant may assign these management rights to the Association in which event the expenses of such activities shall be funded by General Assessments.