Light pollution is inappropriate or excessive artificial light at night. Many nocturnal species have adapted to use the cover of natural darkness to their advantage. They use it to carry out important activities, like breeding, foraging and migrating.
When we introduce artificial light into their environment, it can disrupt their behaviours. This can negatively affect their health. In turn, this can stall the recovery of a threatened species.
Artificial light can:
- stop turtle hatchlings from finding the ocean
- disorient migrating birds
- effect the availability of food
- prevent fledging seabirds from taking their first flight as they only fly under the cover of darkness
- stop nocturnal animals from feeding in lit areas because they risk being eaten by predators
Find out about simple changes that protect wildlife.