Fireflies Are Fading Away Across Minnesota

It was just after dark last week when I saw them for the first time in years. I was in Pine County, Minnesota, at my Uncle's farm. The sun had set, and it was a calm, warm summer evening. Fireflies were flickering and dancing across the top of the tall grass in the field. It was really something wonderful to see, and I hadn't realized how long it had been since I had seen these wonders of nature.

I tried to remember the last time I had seen fireflies, and I couldn't. It's probably been years. So when I saw the Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Program's post about fireflies being in trouble, it caught my attention.

Fireflies are less common now than they were back when we were kids. There are multiple factors, including light pollution, pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says you can help bring the firefly population back by doing several things, like turning off outdoor lights at night. Light pollution interferes with firefly mating. When they are blinking, the males are trying to attract a female. When the female recognizes the pattern and light, they will give off their own light. It's all about love, really.

Other ways you can help fireflies are to leave leaf litter and tall grass spaces. This will help them thrive. Avoid using pesticides, as they can hurt their larvae and disrupt adult metabolism.

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You can also plant native plants, mow less frequently, and reduce the amount of sidewalk salt you use in the winter.