🌙✨ Protecting our Fireflies

We all love sitting on the porch on warm summer nights, watching the hills light up with fireflies. But did you know that too much artificial light — what scientists call night pollution — can make those magical flickers disappear?

Fireflies, like many nocturnal creatures, rely on darkness to find each other and survive. Male fireflies flash to attract females, and when our yards are too bright, it becomes nearly impossible for them to see and respond. That’s part of why folks say they “don’t see as many lightning bugs as they used to.”

But it’s not just fireflies. Bright outdoor lights can:

• Disrupt birds who migrate at night

• Confuse bats and other insect‑eating helpers

• Attract insects away from natural habitats, harming pollination

• Even disturb your own sleep cycles

Small Changes, Big Impact

You don’t have to sit in total darkness to help:

✅ Use motion‑sensor lights instead of leaving them on all night

✅ Choose warm‑colored bulbs (under 3,000K) — they’re easier on wildlife

✅ Point lights downward instead of out into the yard

✅ Turn off decorative string lights when you head to bed

✨ Blue Ghost & Synchronous Fireflies: Local Treasures

Here in Erwin and Unicoi County, we’re lucky to be home to two of the rarest and most enchanting firefly species!

🌌 Blue Ghost Fireflies (Phausis reticulata) They don’t blink like typical fireflies; instead, they emit an eerie, steady blue-white glow that drifts low through the forest, creating a ghostly carpet of light. You can see them in May–June at places like Rock Creek Park, which often hosts a special Blue Ghost Firefly Hike.

🌟 Synchronous Fireflies (Photinus carolinus)These fireflies are famous for lighting up in perfect rhythm — whole swarms flashing together in breathtaking unison. Rocky Fork State Park holds an annual lottery for visitors to witness this natural phenomenon up close.

These species are incredibly sensitive to light pollution, so keeping our nights dark truly helps them thrive

A darker night sky keeps the Holler glowing with the living light of fireflies — and helps countless other wild neighbors, too.

• U.S. National Park Service – Light Pollution

• DarkSky International – What Is Light Pollution?

• Finding Synchronous Fireflies

• Blue Ghost Fireflies

• Save Fireflies by NOT Using Herbicides nor Pesticides

Olive the Owl says "Turn off the Lights, Turn on the Night"