Chicago billionaire, 94, fed squirrels for years; now rats plague a park and market

A Chicago billionaire's unusual effort to feed squirrels has sparked a dispute over rat infestations, damage to public property and the cost of maintaining one of the city's best-known parks. Barre Seid, a 94-year-old industrialist, has allegedly paid workers to distribute Brazil nuts, walnuts, peanuts and other food around his home and nearby Lincoln Park for more than three years. According to local officials, the feeding has attracted pigeons and contributed to a rat problem, with burrows appearing near trees and vendors at the nearby Green City Market encountering rodents during setup. Despite repeated warnings and fines, the activity has continued, prompting officials to consider legal action over public health risks and repair costs.Inside the years-long nut-feeding operation in Chicago's Lincoln ParkThe dispute centres on Lincoln Park, where residents and workers have reported finding piles of nuts near trees and rat burrows. According to reporting by Axios and WGN-TV, workers carrying bags of food have been seen distributing nuts around the neighbourhood and in the park.Alderman Timmy Knudsen, who represents Chicago's 43rd Ward, said the activity had continued for years des...