Rodents Multiply In Nutley; Town Asks For Public’s Help With Trash

NUTLEY, NJ — Have you seen more rats, mice and rodents in Nutley and other nearby towns lately? You’re not alone, according to Nutley township officials.

The town issued the following advisory on July 20:

“The Township of Nutley, as well as other surrounding communities, has seen an increase in wildlife/rodent activity. The Nutley Health Department has employed several strategies for rodent/wildlife control and prevention, but the participation and cooperation of the community is imperative for continued success of these methods.”

According to Nutley town officials, rodent prevention begins with eliminating any potential food, water and harborage source for rodents, vermin and insects, as well as maintaining proper garbage disposal methods and receptacles.

Some rodent attractions commonly found on residential property include:

• Improperly stored trash and recycling
• Poorly maintained bird feeders
• Improperly maintained compost bins
• Stagnant water
• Wood piles
• Cluttered conditions
• Overgrown vegetation
• Animal waste

As per ordinance #614-13, every receptacle to be suitable for the storage and collection of solid waste must meet the following specifications, Nutley officials said:

• Be made of rigid, durable material such as metal or heavy plastic.
• Be of no more than 35 gallons' capacity.
• Be solidly constructed with heavy-duty handles.
• Have sturdy, tight-fitting lid.
• Be in good repair, intact and in suitable condition to adequately contain any solid or liquid waste and to preclude spillage or leakage of contents.
• Weigh not more than 50 pounds when placed for collection.
• Not be made of paper or corrugated paper (paper bags and boxes) except that corrugated box may be used for dry, non-putrescible refuse provided that they are tied or sealed and protected from moisture which would destroy their physical integrity when lifted.
• Be tightly covered, tied or sealed, intact without holes, creases or other breaks which will allow intrusion of rainwater or access to contents by dogs, cats, squirrels, raccoons, rats, birds or any other animal or vermin.

“Residents need to be cognizant of the negative impact on the community due to laxed property maintenance and trash disposal methods,” Nutley officials stated. “As a community, if we remain diligent about the above, we can control the influx of wildlife/rodent activity.”

Other towns in Essex County have launched efforts to address rodent issues in recent years.

In 2019, the Bloomfield Health Department announced that it was seeing an increase in “rodent activity.” Health officials said the rise in rodent population may have been due to several factors, including repeated mild winters, aging infrastructure/redevelopment and improper trash management.

• See related article: Bloomfield Continues Ratrace: 'Rodent Control' Efforts Underway

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