Residents of the Martinsville section of Bridgewater said more than 100 vultures have been roosting in trees and gathering on roofs in a 3- to 4-block area of the section since January, The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Thursday.
Nicole Rein, a wildlife biologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services office near Atlantic City, said the vultures may have been ejected from their old homes by Hurricane Sandy.
"Vultures like pine trees and evergreen trees because they still have the needles that offer protection from the elements," Rein said. "They typically nest later in the season but they don't build nests in trees, rather on the ground an in caves or abandoned barns."
She said the most effective way to get rid of the bird is to hang carcasses in effigy.
"The vulture effigy is a visual deterrent to the birds for that season but they may come back in future seasons," Rein said.
She said the effigies can be hung with federal and state permit, which she said the agency can arrange for the price of $400 to $500 per carcass.
Rein said residents have agreed to pay the fee and she will be hanging effigies in Martinsville Monday.