This is RTS for Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007
MORE CATS: More evidence today that seeing is believing,
especially when it comes to mountain lions.
Kent Smith writes, “I live on the East Valley Road between East
Smethport and Farmers Valley. About three weeks ago around 4 p.m. I
was mowing my lawn on my riding mower. I saw a tawny animal about
the size of a Great Dane approximately 125 feet from me and no more
than 100 feet from my house.”
“It had a short face (snout) and was standing sideways, looking
back and forth at me and the adjacent woods. I drove toward it to
get a closer look but the beast ambled into the woods. At that time
I saw its tail, which was about 3 feet long! I instantly thought
‘mountain lion!’
“I called a neighbor two miles up the road to ask if his Great
Dane was loose. He said it was in the kennel and had been all
day.
“To make the story more incredible, a week later I walked out on
my back porch and caused an animal to run off my lawn into the
woods. This one was mid-sized dog size and I saw only the back end.
It was tawny in color and had a long tail.
“I firmly believe I saw an adult mountain lion and possibly a
cub!
“I know the game commission says there are no such animals
around here. However, many people have reported sightings and we
all can’t be crazy.”
DEAD CATS?: Ted Rapchick of Charleston, S.C., writes:
“Concerning big cats – Is there not any instance where, of the
thousands of hunters that frequent the area, one has ever killed a
puma/panther/cougar/mountain lion? It seems odd that recorded local
history does not cite a case of someone’s having killed one,
especially in those remote areas of lumbering and drilling
activities for well over 100 years!”
We admit that a dead cat would be the ultimate proof – and
nobody’s yet shown us one. Even a photo would be nice. On the other
hand, imagine what the fine would be for shooting such a
“non-existent” creature.
GAS PAINS: Debbie Crum of Bradford phoned last week to tells us
she had just flown back to Bradford from Illinois. On her way to
O’Hare, in Williamsville, Ill., gas was going for ,2.64 a gallon –
a price pretty typical in that region.
