Ask Scarlett - Questions and Answers

Ranger Rick, Jan, 1999

How long do parrots live in captivity? Margret Wilhelm; Ithaca, NY

Pet parrots, especially the larger kinds, often live 30 to 50 years. Some survive even longer. One parrot, a sulphur-crested cockatoo named Cocky, lived at the London Zoo, where he greeted visitors with a friendly "hello, hello, hello" for 80 years. But many pet parrots don't make it much past age 15. Some are let out of their cages, fly away, and die. A poor diet kills others. Wild parrots usually die fairly young. People are rapidly destroying the forests where the birds nest. Smugglers often snatch wild parrots to sell to pet shops or collectors--and many birds die along the way. Diseases and predators, such as snakes, kill wild parrots too.

Why do some carrots have hair? Woody Parker; Kansas City, MO

You mean, Woody, why does Bugs Bunny's favorite treat sometimes look as if it could use a shave? You've probably noticed the tiny hairs on a carrot after pulling it out of the ground. These hairs are small roots. (The orange part you eat is also a root.) The smaller roots help the plant take in water and minerals from the surrounding soil. How about trying this experiment? Sprinkle a little water inside a plastic bag and then put a carrot in it. Place the bag in a warm spot. Before long, those tiny white roots may start growing!

Where do mosquitoes go in the winter? Emily Beute; Grandville, MI

Around where you live, in Michigan, adult male mosquitoes die off before cold weather hits. But adult females may crawl into protected places, such as under some tree bark. They hibernate there until spring. Many mosquitoes live through the winter in the egg stage or sometimes as larvae. Of course, in places without cold winters, mosquitoes may be out all year round.

Do wolves attack people? Rachel Johnson; Raleigh, NC

The truth is, Rachel, wolves are shy and usually avoid humans. Most experts agree that wolves rarely, if ever, attack people in North America. In the Superior National Forest of Minnesota, there are hundreds of wolves. Millions of humans visit there each year, but nobody has ever been attacked. One thing's for sure: It's not likely you'll end up like Little Red Riding Hood or her grandmother!

DISCOVER A WILD WEEK Nature's WebTM: Keeping the Wild Alive is the theme of this year's National Wildlife Week (April 18-24). And it is brought to you by the National Wildlife Federation (the group that publishes Ranger Rick magazine). For a free poster about endangered and threatened animals, write to National Wildlife Federation; Dept. C-99; 8925 Leesburg Pike; Vienna, VA 22184. Or you can order by sending an e-mail message to wildlife@nwf.org. Teachers can send for the free 1999 National Wildlife Week Education Kit (which includes the poster) by writing to Dept. T-99 at the address just given, or by sending an e-mail message. The kit and the poster are available in either English or Spanish. Tell us which you prefer.