Jim Ferry – Princeton’s Animal Control Officer

Mayor Mark Freda: Jim, thanks for joining us today.

Jim Ferry: Happy to be here.

Mayor Mark Freda: So, let me start off with this. I don’t know that all residents really realize the scope of your work. Could you briefly explain what animal control does in Princeton on a day-to-day basis?

Jim Ferry: Sure. My primary objective is rabies control; that’s how my position was created in the first place. Rabies is an endemic zoonotic disease here in New Jersey. On top of that, I deal with pet concerns—sick, injured, or orphaned animals—neighbor concerns, barking dog complaints, and animal welfare issues. We have very few animal cruelty cases here in Princeton, but sometimes they do pop up, and I help the police department investigate those concerns. I also handle public safety issues, such as aggressive animals or those showing signs of rabies. That includes anything in the rabies vectors—raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, groundhogs—any of the small mammals in our ecosystem showing neurologic signs of disease or injury. I also try to promote good pet ownership by enforcing leash laws and licensing regulations. One of my favorite things to do is wildlife rescue when animals are sick, injured, or trapped. For example, a deer stuck in a fence, or one of my favorite calls of all time: a great horned owl stuck about 50 feet in the air at the Springdale Golf Club. It was caught in the driving range net, and my friends at the fire department brought out the ladder truck so we could get that animal out of there. I come from an emergency services background, so I have close contacts with the fire department, rescue squad, and police department. Just the other day, we got a deer off the ice that had fallen through, and we had a good outcome with that one. Those kinds of calls are my favorite. The work is very seasonal. In the springtime, a lot of wildlife is being born, and young animals often get into tricky situations or become orphaned. Another beautiful thing about my job is the support system. We use the Save Animal Shelter in Montgomery for stray domestic animals; it’s a top-notch facility with a fantastic staff. For injured or orphaned wildlife, I use the Mercer County Wildlife Center in Lambertville. In a nutshell, that’s my day-to-day work. I never know what’s coming, so I try to be prepared for everything. Basically, anything animal-related in this town goes through me.

Mayor Mark Freda: I would imagine so. That’s quite a list. There is certainly a lot of wildlife and a lot of domestic animals in Princeton. Out of all of that, what are the most common animal-related calls you receive?

Jim Ferry: As I said, seasonal trends are a big factor. In the springtime, I get called out for “abandoned” fawns. White-tailed deer behavior involves the mother leaving the newborn fawn all day long. They are scentless and have spots for camouflage, so they are left all over town. They are often left right up against houses because the deer know it’s safer from their number one predator, the coyote. It’s almost like a free daycare for them. Usually, when the sun sets, the doe will return and reunite with the fawn. If she doesn’t return after about 24 hours, then we might have to intervene. But mom is always best for their young. We call it “fawn napping” when people scoop up a fawn thinking it needs help when it doesn’t. I urge everyone: if you see a fawn in your yard, give me a call first. If they are curled up in a ball, not bleeding, and don’t have flies around them, they’re usually fine. Just wait until sundown to see if mom comes back. In the summer months, I get more dog complaints, such as dog bites or people running their dogs off-leash. We also get bat calls. We have an enormous number of bats in Princeton, which are important for keeping the mosquito population down. Sometimes they roost in the structure of a house or find their way into living quarters. Since they are a rabies vector species, that’s an emergency in my book. I’ll capture the bat and determine if there was an exposure that requires testing. In the fall, I start to see a lot of sick raccoons. This past fall, I had a large uptick in raccoons infected with distemper, which can mimic rabies. My message to residents is: if you see an animal acting strangely, stay away and call us. We don’t know if it’s rabies until we test it, and distemper is also fatal for the animal. Now I’m getting ready for the spring season again—fawns, birds falling out of nests, and hawks that need to be put back into trees with the help of the fire department’s ladders.

Mayor Mark Freda: It’s great how the municipal staff, emergency services, and the rescue squad all work together.

Jim Ferry: Absolutely. Everyone helps each other.

Mayor Mark Freda: How does animal control work within the responsibilities of the Princeton Health Department? I also noticed people often call the police first. How does that interaction work?

Jim Ferry: I’m officially under the Health Department, but I work closely with the police. With the Health Department, the focus is on zoonotic diseases, specifically rabies. It is 100% fatal once symptoms show, but it is 100% preventable. We capture and test any vector animal—bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, groundhogs—that shows neurological signs if there’s been an exposure to a person or pet. The lab in Ewing has a great turnaround, usually two to three days. If it’s positive, we get the resident medical care for the post-exposure prophylaxis—the shots aren’t as bad as they used to be; they are just a series in the arm. We also do a free rabies clinic every year through the Health Department, vaccinating 50 to 100 pets for New Jersey residents. That helps boost vaccination numbers, which is also why we have dog licensing. Under the police department’s purview, we handle public safety issues like aggressive or vicious dogs. They are rare, but it’s important to address them. We also handle dog bites. For the most part, Princeton has very good dog owners, but sometimes a dog bites defensively if it’s startled—often involving joggers. My recommendation is to always stop and get the owner’s information. We then perform a 10-day observation of the animal to ensure it remains healthy. As for animal cruelty, the law changed in 2020 so those investigations are now under the prosecutor’s office and the police. I don’t have the statutory authority to enforce those anymore, but I work hand-in-glove with the police to assist in those investigations. Calling police dispatch at 609-921-2100 is the best way to get ahold of me quickly for time-sensitive needs. They can reach me on the radio or my cell immediately.

Mayor Mark Freda: Let’s jump back to rabies. What should residents know about how it is actually transmitted?

Jim Ferry: It’s contagious once the animal starts showing signs and symptoms. The virus travels to the brain and is excreted through the saliva. It also changes the animal’s behavior, essentially “telling” the brain to bite. We look at three levels of exposure:

Level 1: A bite or scratch that breaks the skin.
Level 2: Close contact where the animal touched you. Even without a bite, saliva on the animal’s fur can be transferred to your eyes or nose.
Level 3: Common with bats. If you wake up and a bat is flying in your bedroom, we don’t know if it touched you while you were sleeping. We always err on the side of caution and test the bat.

If there is a physical altercation between a potentially rabid animal and a pet, it’s a “bloodborne pathogen nightmare.” We check vaccination status, consult the vet for boosters, and recommend the owners get shots if the wild animal tests positive.

Mayor Mark Freda: If someone is bit or scratched by an animal that might be rabid, what should they do?

Jim Ferry: First, wash the wound with soap and water as quickly as possible. If the animal is still in the area, call the police right away so we can try to capture it. If we have the animal, we can test it. If the animal runs away, we have to assume it was positive because we have no way to know for sure. Prophylactic treatment is 100% effective, but rabies is 100% fatal, so we don’t play games with it.

Mayor Mark Freda: Let’s switch gears. Jim, where are you from?

Jim Ferry: I was born in Trenton in 1982. My parents moved us to the Ozarks in Arkansas when I was young, which is where I grew up. I came back to New Jersey in 2000, worked in the automotive field, and then spent 20 years in emergency services. I was working in police dispatch when this position opened up in 2018. I’m an outdoorsman and I love nature, so this was the perfect way for me to serve the public while being involved with animals. I’ve got about 20 more years to go, and I couldn’t be happier.

Mayor Mark Freda: How long have you been with the town?

Jim Ferry: I started with the rescue squad in 2007, moved to police dispatch in 2014, and took this role in 2018. Having ties with all the departments makes it easier to handle almost anything, like the deer on the ice. I know exactly who to call.

Mayor Mark Freda: Princeton has a lot of open space. What wildlife encounters should residents be cautious about?

Jim Ferry: Right now, coyote interactions are up. We recently had a small dog taken from a backyard in the Riverside area. Coyotes are the apex predators of New Jersey now. To stay safe, be “coyote aware,” especially at dawn and dusk. Keep your dogs on a leash, even in areas like Mountain Lakes. If you see a coyote in your yard, you should “haze” it—yell at it, throw rocks, blow whistles. We want them to feel unwelcome so they don’t get habitualized to neighborhoods. Also, don’t leave food sources outside. If you have backyard chickens, you are going to attract predators like foxes, coyotes, and hawks. Second, remember that raccoons are the number one carrier of rabies. If an animal is acting neurologic, don’t try to help it. Call us. I have the training, the shots, and the equipment to handle it safely.

Mayor Mark Freda: What precautions should residents take as activity increases in the spring and summer?

Jim Ferry: Secure your trash so you aren’t creating a buffet for wildlife. If you feed cats outside, bring the food in at night. When you let your dog out into the backyard at night, turn on the light and make some noise first to alert any animals so they can run away. Animals usually only stand their ground if young are involved or there is a food source they are protecting.

Mayor Mark Freda: If there is an incident with an animal, what information should a resident have ready for you or the police?

Jim Ferry: If it involves a neighbor’s pet, try to get the owner’s contact information. I’ll follow up to check rabies certifications myself. For cruelty reports, I am very discreet; I don’t just knock and accuse people. If it’s happening in the moment, use the police dispatch line to reach me quickly.

Mayor Mark Freda: What is your one key message for Princeton residents?

Jim Ferry: Don’t feed wildlife. Purposefully feeding wildlife—which doesn’t include bird feeders, though those should be elevated—is terrible on many levels. It causes rabies vectors to lose their fear of humans and start viewing people as a food source. That is asking for trouble. Also, keep your dog on a leash. It’s a huge liability to let them run free, and it’s actually against ordinance 6-10. Even the best-behaved dog can be triggered by a squirrel and run into traffic or get into a fight with a sick animal. We have a fantastic dog park now; use that for off-leash exercise.

Mayor Mark Freda: Jim, you’ve covered a lot. Thanks for being here.

Jim Ferry: Happy to help. As we get into spring, if you’re not sure about an animal, just give me a call.

Mayor Mark Freda: What is that number again?

Jim Ferry: My office line is 609-924-2728. For emergencies or time-sensitive issues, call the police desk at 609-921-2100.

Mayor Mark Freda: And folks can find more information at princetonnj.gov. Thanks again, Jim.

Jim Ferry: Absolutely. Thank you.