(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The village of Niles is trying out something that's already familiar to a lot of Chicago residents: a rodent-control program powered by feral cats.
Chicago's version of this type of initiative is well established. Tens of thousands of outdoor cats are living all around the city, cared for by designated community residents.
Now, the village of Niles is trying the same thing on a small scale and starting in one of the areas where rats are a problem.
"There are certain areas where it seems like there are higher concentrations,” says Niles Police Department Animal Control Officer Allison Cole.
She is working with a resident in the 7800 block of North Nordica, and that resident has agreed to give food and shelter to five feral cats during a two-month pilot program.
Comments on social media are mixed, with one person saying feral cats are going after other animals, such as birds.
"Is there a solution that keeps everyone happy (where) the only animal getting affected are the rats? It's hard,” Cole said.
The village will evaluate results of the pilot program in two months, she said.
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