Recently, a few residents have been reporting dead birds around town in fear that it may be caused by the West Nile Virus.
Millburn Animal Control met with the town's Department of Health yesterday to discuss the issue, if any.
"As of now there is nothing to be concerned about," Joe Bielski of the Animal Control said. "We are currently monitoring the situation though."
Officials ask residents though, if they see any dead birds to report it to the Department of Health at 973-535-7000 so can pick it up for examination.
The department asks for residents to contact immediately because once the bird starts to decompose it can't be tested.
Noreen Brunini
9:59 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
We had a dead bird last week, never occurred to me to report it to anyone. We simply threw the body away as I think most would. Perhaps the town should do a reverse 911 call and inform all residents of this issue.
Susan1
8:19 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Good point, Noreen. Residents need to be informed. I saw two dead birds while walking my dog one day and thought it was odd, but never realized it might be a health hazard.
Mary
10:33 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
We had two dead birds in the past week or two. It did not occur to me it could have been West Nile either.
MLev
7:46 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Perhaps it could be an issue with the heat and the lack of rain... We also had a couple of dead birds (robbins) 2-3 weeks ago.
Julie G.
11:07 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
I live in Short Hills Club Village and have spotted about 6 dead birds in the last month or two, I didn't think much of it until I read this article..
Andrea
9:56 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
I agree with Noreen, the town should do the reverse 911 calls to warn residents to be on the look out!
KLF
12:31 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
The town needs to take this way more seriously. Lots of dead birds is a sign that SOMETHING is killing them -- and it may be something infectious, like West Nile VIrus, which is carried by mosquitos and can be deadly to humans too. Dead birds is the first sign that West Nile is in the vicinity.
radioactive
4:18 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
There's lots of concern over what is basically normal. It's happened before: http://maplewood.patch.com/articles/the-buzz-about-dead-birds
"The state of New Jersey doesn't require that towns test birds for West Nile virus or anything else. Maplewood tests stagnant water because that is a bigger breeding ground for mosquitoes. The township's nursing supervisor expressed to Seidman that she maintains a log of dead birds, noting that bluejays and crows are of most concern."
It's NOT West Nile.
We should NOT be tying up the police over dead birds. They should be doing more important things like patrolling our streets, slowing traffic through town and giving out tickets to all the selfish and inconsiderate people yapping on their cell phones will driving.