A 94-year-old Chicago billionaire hired workers to scatter nuts around Lincoln Park to feed squirrels for years; leftover food attracted rats, damaged park property and disrupted a nearby farmers’ market | World News

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 Park

The 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 despite efforts to stop it. Residents also raised concerns about the food attracting wildlife beyond squirrels, including pigeons and rats.Caroline Novak, a local resident, described the food as an unusually expensive assortment of nuts, including Brazil nuts and walnuts. The operation has drawn attention because workers were reportedly being paid to distribute food rather than simply leaving occasional scraps for wildlife.

Why officials say the feeding is attracting rats

Knudsen’s office has linked the feeding activity to a growing rodent problem. According to an August warning letter, the food attracted pigeons, whose droppings and uneaten food contributed to conditions that officials described as a public health hazard.Residents have reported seeing rat burrows around the areas where the nuts are placed. David Pike, another Lincoln Park resident, told WGN-TV that he counted 42 rats near the piles during one visit.The problem has also affected the Green City Market area. Knudsen told Axios that vendors had encountered rats while setting up for the market. Officials have raised concerns about damage to park property, including the cost of repairing areas affected by burrowing.

Repeated fines have failed to stop the activity

Chicago’s Streets and Sanitation Department has inspected the property several times over the years and issued multiple warnings and citations. Seid paid the fines without contesting them, according to Axios, but the feeding continued.On August 25, Knudsen sent Seid a final warning letter demanding that the activity stop. The letter also called for rubbish to be secured in rodent-resistant containers and for corrective measures to address areas where rats could shelter.The warning gave Seid 15 days to comply. However, reports of food continuing to be distributed around the park prompted further questions about how the city could enforce the order.

Chicago Park District weighs possible legal action

With fines and warnings failing to resolve the dispute, Knudsen has urged the Chicago Park District to consider suing Seid over damage to public property. The concern is that taxpayers could ultimately bear the cost of repairs if the damage continues.The Park District has been assessing its options to address the ongoing activity. As of October 14, 2026, officials were considering legal action against Seid.

Who is Barre Seid?

Barre Seid is a Chicago-based billionaire who built his fortune through Tripp Lite, an electronics company specialising in surge protectors, power distribution equipment and products used in computer networks and data centres. He joined the business in the 1960s and eventually became its sole owner, leading it for decades. In 2021, power management company Eaton acquired Tripp Lite in a deal valued at $1.65 billion. Seid remained relatively private for much of his career, attracting wider public attention through his business dealings and support for conservative political causes.Seid made national headlines in 2022 after transferring Tripp Lite to the Marble Freedom Trust, a nonprofit associated with conservative activist Leonard Leo, before the company’s sale to Eaton. The transaction drew scrutiny over its potential tax benefits. ProPublica and other outlets reported that tax experts estimated the arrangement could have allowed Seid to avoid as much as $400 million in capital gains taxes.