The Jersey Shore is mourning the loss of a legend.

You may not recognize his given name John Neary, but anyone living from Manasquan to Toms River most likely has heard his nickname “Muskrat Jack,” the long-time animal control officer for many coastal communities.

Neary and his eponymous animal control services – himself and his van, roamed the beach towns for more than six decades, always ready to jump in and rescue whatever it was that got itself in a difficult situation. On Saturday, he passed away surrounded by family.

Neary was the animal control officer for Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough, Bay Head and Mantoloking.

“Who do you call? Muskrat Jack. He’s the go-to guy,” said Mantoloking Police Chief Stacy Ferris.

“Everybody knows Muskrat Jack. He’s a legend,” said next-door neighbor Eileen Smith.

Neighbors, police chiefs and ordinary citizens with critter issues knew there was only one man in town who could help.

“Some of these animals are intimidating. He would just come in and have his hands, has his way with animals it was like they just knew,” said Point Pleasant Borough Police Chief Adam Picca.

“I remember once he had a black bear in the back of his van and it was you know, sleeping while he relocated it. Where it came from, I don’t know!” said Smith.

Nieces Jennifer and Erin Osborn remember their “Uncle John” as a caring man who loved Ireland and his family dinners, where they say he’d often interrupt his witty joke with his own laughter before ever reaching the punchline.

“You name it, no job was too big or too small for him to handle,” said Picca.

“You always thought Muskrat was going to be there. You never thought we would get to this day,” added Ferris. “He wanted to be called Muskrat Jack. It was a badge of honor for him. So that’s what we called him. Muskrat Jack.”

A public memorial service for Neary is scheduled to be held on St. Patrick's Day morning at 11 a.m. at the Point Pleasant Beach Fire Department on Laurel Avenue.

Neary was 75 years old.