Bloomfield Continues Ratrace: ‘Rodent Control’ Efforts Underway

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Burrows? Nests? Droppings? Teeth marks? You may have some furry intruders, Bloomfield health officials say.

On Friday, the Bloomfield Health Department announced that it is continuing with ongoing “rodent control” efforts in the township, which has seen a recent increase in “rodent activity.”

Health officials said the rise in rodent population may be due to several factors, including repeated mild winters, aging infrastructure/redevelopment and improper trash management.

The problem isn’t confined to Bloomfield; other surrounding communities have also seen a rise in rodent sightings, officials said.

In Bloomfield, officials are taking a three-prong approach to the issue:

• Canvassing neighborhoods
• Performing an environmental assessment
• Investigating rodent control

Some efforts so far have included:

• Assessing public areas and hiring licensed pest control operators to treat activity on public property
• Inspecting the residential property for rodent activity and providing residents with information on how to prevent rodent attraction
• Working with various town departments to remove rodent attractions from public property
• Conducting dumpster inspections of commercial property to ensure that food waste is not accessible to rodents
• Educating residents and business owners about proper trash disposal
• Implementing a sustainable Municipal Rodent Control Plan

Initial canvassing began in May, when health department personnel visited the area of Washington Street (from Bloomfield Avenue to Ashland Avenue) and side streets Farrand and Ward. In June, personnel canvassed the area of La France Street (from Bloomfield Avenue to Hoffman Boulevard).

The next scheduled canvassing will take place Monday, July 15 on Franklin Street and Watsessing Avenue (near Stop and Shop). The following Monday, members of the Health Department will canvass in the Halcyon Park area. Future canvassing will take place near Lawrence Street and Dodd Street, officials said.

“We are doing our best to educate residents about how they can prevent situations that attract unwanted rodents and pests,” Director of Health and Welfare Karen Lore said.

“While canvassing, we will be addressing problems observed that could attract rodents and issuing warning notices that will be placed on properties where cleanup is needed,” Lore said. “Rodents affect the quality of life for all of us, so we must work aggressively together to tackle the problem.”

According to a slideshow on the municipal website, in addition to rats, the term “rodents” can also include species such as squirrels, chipmunks and mice.

“In the U.S., they play an essential role in the environment including being a food source for some predators,” officials say. “But some rodents, such as house mice, are considered pests when they infect and destroy property and begin to threaten overall public health.”

RODENT CONTROL: WHAT TO DO

If you observe rodent activity on or around your property (rodent burrows, nests, droppings, teeth marks on wood or visible rodent activity, contact the Bloomfield Health Department at 973-680-4024.

According to Bloomfield health officials, rodent prevention begins with eliminating any potential food, water and harborage source for rodents, vermin and insects. Other measures should include:

• Exclusion – “Inspect your foundation to ensure it is free of holes and other rodent entry points. Seal all cracks and openings.”
• Elimination – “Hire a licensed Pest Control Operator to treat your property. Pest Control Operators should take an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to safely and effectively reduce rodent populations.”

Officials recommended checking out this FAQ guide to learn more tips about how to prevent rodent infestations.

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