Duties and Responsibilities:
The Animal Control Officer (ACO) is recommended by the Police Chief and appointed by the Board of Selectmen to enforce the town of Princeton's restraint and dog regulations and to respond to incidents where animals are involved.
The Animal Control Officer position is part time. All calls to the ACO are routed through Princeton Police Dispatch at the number referenced above and every effort is made to respond to your call in a timely manner.
***AN ACTIVE SPRING FOR WILDLIFE****
It has been a long winter for all wildlife, and food has been scarce with all the snow and cold temperatures. Don’t be surprised if you start to see wildlife becoming very active. Even nocturnal animals, such as raccoons, skunks, and opossum, can be active during late mornings and late afternoons. Spring is breeding season for wildlife.
My advice to residents is to take birdfeeders down until at least June or July, when wildlife will become less active. Make sure no food sources are accessible to wildlife, and do not put trash bags out the night before trash pickup.
To scare wildlife away from residential areas, I recommend making a lot of noise by banging some pots and pans together, or using an air horn. If the animal doesn’t leave, it could be a sign of rabies. Other signs are glossy eyes, aggressiveness toward people, and staggering like they have had to much to drink. If residents are concerned, they should call the Princeton Police Dept. at 978-464-5253 to reach the animal control officer.
I also recommend keeping pets under control at all times and keeping their rabies vaccines up-to-date; wildlife will defend themselves if cornered.
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