The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

“Under The Wire” columns quite often generate some very interesting responses. Most notable recently is one from “Jean.”

She emailed a most fascinating response to my “Miller Moth” column from a few weeks ago.

Her husband remembered reading about millers in Yellowstone National Park being eaten by, of all things, bears. The harvest takes place in August, according to the article taken from a book by Fred Bear, evidently a well-known outdoorsman and archer.

According to this article, bears climb high above timberline in the Park to feed on moths who have migrated from far off farm lands.

In fact, “Bears feed on 40,000 moths a day in August,” says researcher Hillary Robinson who “has spent several summers in the mountains of Yellowstone Park observing bears digging for moths.” Grizzly bears “appear to consume the largest amount of moths” according to Robinson.

I cannot resist the urge to end this story with this suggestion to readers. “Put those flyswatters and aerosol spray cans away and just go get yourself a grizzly bear or two.” Your moth problem will be over. Of course, one problem could lead to another, you may develop grizzly bear issues.

There is, however, a good chance your problem with door-to-door salesmen may be eliminated.