Tom Krosnowski

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Aug 30, 2024, 9:12 PM

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Updated

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Saddle Brook residents are asking the town for help combating a recent rodent infestation.

“It's absolutely disgusting,” said resident Michelina Faranesh. “Honestly, you cringe.”

Homeowners in Saddle Brook say that in the last year, they’ve seen rats on their property for the first time. Video sent to News 12 from a resident living off Fair Lawn Parkway shows at least five rats outside the house by an HVAC unit.

Residents say they are concerned about diseases and how poisons and traps could impact their families and pets.

“When you have your kids sitting back there and having the rats walk right by them, it's traumatizing,” Faranesh said. “It's not sanitary.”

The complaints have come from different neighborhoods in Saddle Brook. Towns officials say that after speaking with the Bergen County Health Department, nearby towns are seeing similar issues.

“People are finding them dead in their yards now,” said resident Barbara Deradorian.

“I was doing a load of laundry and I saw a dead mouse in a trap,” said resident Josephine Ribaudo.

“The smell is just horrible - especially when it's hot - if you don't find them in time,” Faranesh said.

The town Health Department says the rodents want food, water and warmth. They’re urging residents to cover their garbage, remove clutter and patch holes.

“We've done it all, and still they come during the day, at night,” Faranesh said.

“I have traps everywhere,” Ribaudo said. “It's a hazard. It's embarrassing when I have people over and they have to see mouse traps all over my home.”

Deradorian has gathered a group of affected residents to speak at an upcoming town meeting. She’s earned a unique title - leader of the “Rat Pack.”

“I call it the Rat Patrol on Facebook,” Deradorian said. “We have to do it as a group. We can’t do it as individual people, they'll just move to the next house.”

“It's not our fault that this problem is here,” Ribaudo said.

The town is hosting a meeting with residents and pest control on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the municipal building.