I stepped out onto the back porch ofa cousin's house in NWTioga Co. last Sunday night for a smoke and heard theGod-awfulest noise I've everheard, coming from up on the mountainbehind his place. We immediately decided it musta been the scream of a wild painter, went back in to watch the rest of the NASCAR race.

[8D]

Over the past 50+ years that I've trundled about in Potter and Tioga counties, I have seen and heardalmost every species of critter that abounds up there, including a bobcat. Both species of fox, bears, 'yotes, possums, porcupines and coons. I have seen and heard assortedhawks, owls and one osprey. Even see the occasional, rare whitetail.

No idea what made that noise last week, so natcherly it musta been a catamount.