West Orange looks for solutions to rising rat sightings

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West Orange officials say there’s been an uptick in rat sightings, but their hands are tied on how to handle it. “I feel like we’re in limbo right now,” said Mayor Susan McCartney. The New Jersey DEP recently told the township that its previous pest control method - placing rodent bait in stormwater catch basins - was a permit violation. Now it's searching for a new solution as rodent sightings around town are rising. “It is frightening when you do see it, or when they pop out of a garbage can, or they run through your yard,” said town director of health and welfare Michael Fonzino. “Our plan right now is to use licensed pest control applicators to put out tamper-proof bait boxes. There’s really no way that the bait can get to non-target animals like domestic pets.” The storm drain bait shutdown may have been a factor, but town officials don’t believe it’s the only one. “I think when it really started was with our garbage - eating through plastic bags and not using an airtight container with a lid,” McCartney said. “The excessive heat waves that we’ve had have forced rodents out of their normal habitat,” Fonzino said. “There is a stream that runs along our Valley section, that’s where it started,” McCartney said. In the meantime, the town health department is emphasizing proper trash storage and keeping yards clean of pet food, debris and standing water. "