IKE’S MIGHT: The wind howling Sunday night as the remnants of
Hurricane Ike blew through was freaky for a night in September. To
us, it was more like the sounds of a nasty winter storm that brings
snowfall, gusts of cold wind, and freezing temperatures. Hard to
believe a storm so far away could still have that much punch.

WILD ONES: Danielle Norgrove of Bradford writes us, “I was just
wondering if any game wardens are going to do anything to minimize
the amount of coyotes and/or any possible mountain lions in the
area?”

“My family hears their packs on a daily basis surrounding our
home. We live directly beside the wooded area up our street and
have recently had two indoor/outdoor cats (that we have had for
5-10 years) mysteriously disappear on the nights we hear their
‘howling fits.’ We have also lost a pet duck due to this chaos.

“Why are they targeting household pets now? Is there not enough
food for them in the wilderness? Our surrounding neighbors also
hear these so-called ‘fits’ and our neighbors directly on the hill
have taken pictures of what they believe to be ‘mountain lions.’
Just curious about what actions we need to take as citizens!”

We know from writing about coyotes that small animals such as
cats are fair game for these predators. If you live near the woods,
we’d suggest two things: keep cats indoors, and never leave a small
dog outside on a leash.

We’ve yet to see any real evidence of a mountain lion but we’re
not about to dismiss them as an impossibility.

TOP THIS!: Don Parrish e-writes us from Beaver Falls: “I
remember Judith dePonceau from the 1980s in Mount Jewett and I read
with interest her inquiry about four-digit phone numbers.”

“At the risk of creating a ‘can you top this contest,’ I would
like to share an item I have from a business in Smethport. A
measuring yard stick, blaze orange in color, from Holmes and
Gilfillan which advertises Benjamin Moore Paint, building
materials, and Barrett Roofing.

“I don’t know if it was a hardware store or perhaps a lumber
company. The phone number was 30! Maybe some readers could provide
additional info. I’d be willing to bet it goes back to FDR’s terms
as president or earlier.”