LONGPORT – Officials here said their efforts to address a rat infestation near Borough Hall are working.
Administrator A. Scott Porter told commissioners Wednesday that since the borough enlisted the services of Western Pest Control and initiated a cleanup around the boathouse next to Borough Hall, fewer rats are being seen around the property.
The bay rat problem is not new for Longport, which is surrounded on three sides by the ocean, inlet and bay. Mayor Nicholas Russo penned a letter to residents in October 2018 notifying owners of a rat infestation, which he said at the time is “indicative of seashore living.” In the letter, he advised residents what the borough was doing to address the issue, which in part can be tackled by eliminating their food supply.
At the time he said, “Addressing rodents is a community effort,” and asked residents to patrol their own properties to eliminate any potential rodent food sources, such as dog and cat feces, trash not properly secured with a lid, and bird feeders.
At the July 3 commission meeting, two Bay Haven Drive residents told officials that they are seeing more rats than ever, and they are big ones.
Residents Glenn Davis and Ray Wickman said the rats are burrowing around the base of the boathouse used to house Beach Patrol boats and equipment, and through a property line fence located next to the community garden where residents have planted strawberries and summer vegetables. The residents believe the rats pose a dangerous health threat to residents, children and pets.
Although the borough cannot address rat infestations on private property, attorney Michael Affanato said, it has hired the pest control company to put out traps and bait to poison the colony. Also, an ACUA dumpster with a hole in the bottom that may have been a food source for the rats has been replaced. Signage will be installed to advise residents and visitors, many of whom cut bait and fish along the park’s bulkhead, that the dumpster is for municipal use only.
Porter said some of the rat holes have been filled in and members of the Beach Patrol have done a major cleanup of the property inside and out.
“Public Works sealed up holes inside the building and our guards are no longer able to bring food into the building,” Beach Patrol Chief Tom Kresz said.
Additional traps have been set around the building.
“We haven’t found any for the last two weeks, but we did find a little mouse,” he said.
Resident Bob English asked if the borough was aware of the rat problem before residents spoke at the last meeting.
“There are people out there all the time. I think we ought to tell people so they are aware of it,” English said.
The efforts have not totally eliminated the problem, Porter said, but they are helping, and the borough will remain vigilant by continuing the treatment contract and ensuring the site is kept clean.
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