Washingtonians who have spent any time in the area around Meridian Hill Park can tell you that there are a bunch of feral cats roaming around. Police believe that Nico Dauphiné, a researcher at the National Zoo, decided to do something about it.

Dauphiné, who conducts research at the Zoo’s ‘s Migratory Bird Center, has been charged with attempted animal cruelty after authorities say she was observed setting out dishes of food laced with rat poison and antifreeze around her apartment on 15th Street NW. (Some residents around the neighborhood leave out bowls for the cats, who at least keep the number of mutant-sized rats inside the park at a reasonable level.) An attorney for Dauphiné told NBC4 that “her whole life is devoted to the care and welfare of animals” — but the Internet proves that Dauphiné had a real thing about feral cats and their tendency to go after wild birds, even penning a paper and presentation titled “Apocalypse Meow: Free-ranging Cats and the Destruction of American Wildlife“.

WUSA reports that Dauphiné has not been let go from her job because the Zoo feels “she poses no threat to zoo animals.” Dauphiné is scheduled to appear in court in June and could face 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, if convicted.