It’s a noodle mystery. Hundreds of pounds of pasta were dumped near a stream in Old Bridge, baffling local law enforcement and residents.

“I think it’s pretty funny. I don’t know, it’s just like a funny little joke,” says resident Mike Torres. “I feel like kids were playing.”

Pictures of the wayward noodles circulated on social media last week.

Once the Old Bridge Department of Publics Works got word of the situation, workers filled about 15 wheelbarrows and carted the pasta away.

Old Bridge police are now trying to figure out how the pasta got there.

And while residents like Torres find the situation funny, he also says that it is a bit worrisome since he walks through the area with his dog.

“That is dangerous though, because sometimes people leave chicken wings and stuff and she tries to get at it and that’s not good,” he says.

“Very weird, but I hope it’s safe for us to play ball here. Very odd,” says Christina Yudelson, of Marlboro.

Some neighbors argue that the pasta landed by the stream due to Old Bridge’s lack of bulk trash pickup. It is a sticking point that many have campaigned for in the past. But even some advocates say that might not have prevented the mess.

“I don't think this particular instance would have been helped by bulk pickup. I don't know. Again, we have to let the investigation play out, find out why this happened,” says Old Bridge Council Member Jill Decaro.

Officials say that the pasta was uncooked, but that it was softened by rainy weather.