Hey, Answer Girl --

Why do some fence posts around Casper have old cowboy boots on them?

-- Liz

Much like with shoefiti (the art of throwing tied-together shoes over light poles), a few rumors exist as to why cowboys would put boots on their fence posts.

1. In the time before cell phones, ranchers used a cowboy boot sitting on top of a fence post at the end of the driveway to signal that the rancher/homeowner was at home. That way, visitors didn't have to drive all the way up the driveway (which could be miles long) just to find out if the rancher was home.

2. In a variation on the first rumor, a boot is always left at the end of the driveway. If the boot faces outward, toward the open road, the rancher has gone to town for the day. If the boot faces inward, up the drive, toward home, the rancher is home. That sounds a little complicated to me, and an easy way to accidentally leave false signals.

3. It's a sign that a well-respected rancher died.

Trying to verify any one of these rumors, I called the only real cowboy I know -- Rob Hendry, chairman of the Natrona County Board of Commissioners and a ranch owner in rural Natrona County.

He had no idea.*

Hendry said he'd never done the boot-as-communication thing, and had noticed some boots on fence posts, but not between Powder River and Shoshoni, where he ranches. He suggested that it may be a fad, but not one that the ranching community started, as far as he knows.

Any other ranchers out there use boots as a means of communication? Call me, please.

* Hendry does have a cell phone, which I know because I called him on it. Thus, he doesn't need to use boot-communication.

Hey, Answer Girl --

I've noticed driving west on Highway 20, immediately before the turn-off to Goldeneye, a peculiar-looking ditch that does not look like a natural watercourse. Any idea how it got there?

-- Thomas S.

It sounds like you're describing the Casper Canal, an irrigation canal.

It's located at milepost 19.98, about 20 miles outside of town.

The reason it looks unnatural: It is unnatural. The canal is man-made, and is used specifically for irrigation purposes.