Fireflies a mere flicker

I heard people on the radio talking recently about our lack of fireflies, but I swear I've seen them in Colorado. Am I the only one? - Marie, Erie

Several people, including Karen, wrote to say they'd seen fireflies near Greeley, though not as many recently. Paul said he's seen them around Boedecker Reservoir, near Loveland.

Ranger Mike mentioned Roxborough State Park and Chatfield Reservoir as firefly-hunting grounds. Rick recalled catching fireflies in the Park Hill and University Hills neighborhoods of Denver in the '50s and '60s, but not since then. Don and Susie said the first firefly they've seen after 30 years in Colorado visited their Arvada home last month.

Colorado is too dry to provide an ideal habitat for fireflies, but they can be found here in damp areas, said Deane Bowers, a biology professor and curator of CU's insect collection. Sightings appear to be on the rise, possibly because of increased irrigation, said Bowers, who's on the Butterfly Pavilion's science advisory board.

Here's another poser:

Recently the Rocky had an article that mentioned what types of ID one needs to get a driver's license in Colorado. The article said valid drivers' licenses from 33 states qualify as ID in Colorado. What's wrong with the other 16 states? - Sara, Broomfield

Have an idea? Post it on the Ask! blog, blogs.RockyMountain News.com/denver/ask. While you're there, check out the other questions on the Ask! home page, or post one of your own by clicking on the link to the left on the page.