Q: Quick answer: How long do cats generally live? -- From a patron new to the community.

A: Barring accidents or disease: 12 to 16 years.

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The basic difference, young lady, between an anaconda and a python is that they are simply a different species of snake.

Anacondas are generally large aquatic snakes found in South America, and pythons are found in Africa and Asia. Pythons vary greatly in size and tend not to be aquatic.

Both are non-venomous, constricting snakes but they are, well, different.

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After the picture of the elk north of Hays ran in the paper, I was asked if you would get in trouble for accidentally shooting an elk in Kansas during deer season, if you mistook it for a deer.

Yes, you would get in trouble, a lot of serious bad trouble.

I was not able to find the exact penalties if convicted of poaching by the deadline of this column, but I can assuredly say that fines are steep and jail time is possible.

I will find out the details and report later.

Just to be safe and in the prevention of accidents, if you cannot tell the difference between a deer and an elk, you shouldn't be out hunting.

Eric Norris is the adult department librarian at the Hays Public Library. "Ask Eric" questions can be mailed to 1205 Main, Hays, KS, 67601, submitted through www.hayspublib.org at the "Ask Eric" link or e-mailed to enorris@hayspublib.org.