- Published: Sep. 05, 2026, 10:56 a.m.
By
- Ann Marie Barron | ABarron@siadvance.com
- Report: Net placed under a Bayonne bridge is trapping birds – silive.com
Officials in a New Jersey city set up a net to keep pigeons away from a bridge in an effort to address a nuisance for residents, but the solution is keeping some trapped inside, NBC News 4 New York is reporting.
The net under the bridge at Broadway and West Eighth Street in Bayonne has only been up for a few days, but it has already started to ruffle some feathers for residents, the report said.
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The net was supposed to help cut down the amount of bird droppings under bridges, which they describe as an ongoing public health concern, they told News 4. Residents agree there is a problem to solve.
Eileen Murphy, who frequently passes through the area, told the outlet that she has to cover her nose and mouth whenever she goes by. She says it’s because she has COPD and worries about what she’s breathing in.
“They just put (the nets) up, so we’ll see. But I’m still concerned about it,” said Murphy.
“It’s definitely a lot better. It’s disgusting, we’d have to walk in the street, it was terrible,” said resident Fred Gattuso.
But some questioned the city’s solution.
“It’s horrible what’s happening to these pigeons that are trapped up in there,” Gattuso said. “They could’ve done this a little better to be honest.”
“I mean, I understand what they’re doing or trying to do, but they should incorporate a way so the pigeons have a place to be,” another resident, David Finney, told News 4.
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“Since learning about the issue, the administration has been working to determine how the matter could be addressed as quickly and safely as possible,” a city official responded to News 4. “The city’s department of public works and the vendor have been actively engaged to remove the birds as expeditiously as possible. 48-hour checks transitioned to daily checks, with multiple releases being made.”
As of Friday, the city estimates there are only about five remaining birds stuck inside the netting and the plan is to trap and release them shortly, the city spokesperson said.
Officials are urging the public not to feed any of the trapped birds.
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