In Midtown, Mobile, mysterious piles of cat food are raising eyebrows. It’s not just the food; it’s the alarming presence of a powdery substance sprinkled on top that’s causing concern.
One local woman described her visit to Murphy High School. She noticed the piles as she walked up to the entrance. “There was a big amount of a bright orange powder all over the cat food,” she said. Another neighbor, Debora Wehmeyer, found it when dogs in her area approached the pile.
Many residents suspect the food is bait laced with rat poison. Some believe it was intentionally left there to eliminate feral cats and other wildlife, which has sparked outrage in the community. “We have a lot of cats, raccoons, and opossums in Midtown,” said Alex Fox. “This is not the right way to deal with that.”
Wehmeyer added, “We love the cats here. We take care of them and even get them spayed and neutered. They’re part of what makes Midtown feel like home.”
Neighbors noticed at least three piles of food scattered around. One was on a concrete slab, another near a pole, and a third beneath a trash can. Residents are worried about their pets and children. Fox said many families frequent the area, and the thought of poison hidden nearby makes them feel unsafe.
“When walking my dog, they usually go ahead of me, and all it would take is one curious lick for things to go wrong,” one concerned parent remarked.
In response to the situation, the school system has acknowledged the issue and plans to remove the piles.
For further reading on the dangers of rat poison and its impact on pets and wildlife, check out this CDC article on rodenticides.
As this situation unfolds, the community remains anxious about keeping their pets and children safe while addressing the issue of feral animals.