You can see the different types of animals in the place names of Eastern Ky. such as, Bear Branch, Elk Creek, Buffalo this or that, Beaver whatever, Buckhorn, Lost Creek, known for stupid people, Hell Fer Certain, good place to avoid, and the Indian place names most of which no one knows what they meant Avawam being one. Red Bird River is the name of an Indian chief, any flat spot along the river you can find Indian artifacts after spring plowing. Since the early 80’s bear were being sometimes reported and finally verified in the ‘90’s as being back. I have heard at night what is believed to be a painter, which is the old way of saying panther or mountain lion. The old people spoke of an animal that screamed like a woman at night, they called it a painter. I heard it a couple of times and it will chill your blood. The name is most likely a mispronunciation of panther or just the old mountain habit of making up a more descriptive name for something, painter is very descriptive because the sound brings to mind a woman being killed or really P.Oed.,it paints a picture in the mind.
My people waved at Daniel from their front porch as he went by. Half a mile or so from one of my my kin’s home is a place called Boone’s Ledge, a natural cave with D. Boone carved in it.
We took a carriage ride in Bardstown, KY when we visited, but that was years ago. We enjoyed the Corvette museum in Bowling Green, KY but parts of the Coal Mining areas are depressing.
There are beautiful parts of KY, and except for winter would be just like here.