ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A new pilot program is being designed to deal with St. Johns County's feral cat problem.
Makeshift cat houses with food set out for feral cats living in St. Johns County have encouraged feral cats to stay in the area.
Darin Reimsmith has lived in St. Johns County for many years. He says feral cats have always been a problem.
"They don't just roam. I mean, if I had a free place to live and eat, I'd stay too," Reimsmith said.
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Action News Jax cameras spotted a colony of feral cats in the woods, and a little closer to the beach were more cat houses and food as well.
"They're just so wild that you can't adopt them; you can't pick them up. I mean, the kittens try to rip you to shreds," Reimsmith said.
Now county commissioners have approved a plan to move cat colonies to private land. The new program will require cat colonies to be registered with the county.
"To ensure that their ears are tipped, that they have shelter, to ensure that they have food and water and they receive medical care," said Michael Ryan, St. Johns County Communications Manager.
Reimsmith's neighbor said the cats should just be left alone.
"I say spay them, feed them and leave them alone," she said.
And as for Reimsmith, he says the wild ones roaming the county need to be dealt with.
"I love cats -- I have a cat, but mine's not feral. I can pet mine. He doesn't try to tear me up when I pick him up," Reimsmith said.
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After a year, the county plans to review the effectiveness of this program. It will then decide if it will become a permanent solution for dealing with feral cats in the county.
If people are not registering or following the rules of the new ordinance, the county says it will issue warnings and citations.