Effects of Light Pollution on Animals: Wildlife-Friendly Lighting

What is Wildlife-Friendly Lighting? 

Wildlife-friendly lighting meets the specific requirements for installation in coastal areas or wildlife habitats. Its purpose is to protect animals and minimize light pollution. Business owners and city planners should implement wildlife-friendly lighting to reduce eye fatigue for individuals and be aware of how the exterior lighting can affect animals and their habitats. 

Our IP65-rated wildlife-friendly light fixtures are durable and withstand various climate conditions. Each of our wildlife-friendly products will feature this icon. 

Light Pollution 

Light pollution occurs when a surplus of excess or unnecessary artificial light, causing harmful effects for both wildlife and humans, including disorienting or distracting factors. There are various reasons for light pollution: 

1. The blue-toned white color temperature and unrestricted light spread create a glare, causing eye strain. 

2. Because uplight projects the light upwards, it creates excess overhead light spread. Overhead light spread refers to light directed upwards and side to side and is harmful to wildlife because it is disorienting. Outside lighting should be cast downwards, limiting light spillage and creating enough visibility for people. 

3. When multiple lights are installed in close proximity, clutter is created. 

4. Too much light, caused by clutter, creates excessive brightness, making it difficult for birds to migrate and disrupting sleep schedules. 

5. Light pollution from urban areas limits the amount of night sky and stars we see.

For more information on reducing light pollution from your commercial and industrial space, read this blog. 

How Does Light Pollution Affect Animals? 

Some animals will be scared of the artificial light and leave their habitat to hide in unfamiliar areas. Other animals will be interested in the light and tempted to leave their habitat to go into the suburban areas, putting them in danger. Specific examples of how light pollution affects different animals are listed below. 

Sea Turtles

Female turtles lay eggs at night, leaving the water and going onto the beach to do so. Too much artificial light can hinder their ability to find a safe, dark place to lay their eggs and put the female turtles and hatchlings at risk. Additionally, the hatchlings use the moonlight to guide them to the ocean when they’re ready to leave the nest. However, artificial lighting can cause them to become disoriented and move away further inland, putting them at risk of predators, dehydration, or exhaustion. 

Birds

Many birds use moonlight and the stars at night to help them direct their flight, but artificial lighting can disorient them. Birds can become physically harmed after wasting energy trying to distinguish where to go or crashing into buildings. It can also harm their hunting, making it harder to get food and worsening their health. 

Nocturnal Animals and Insects 

Frogs, bats, foxes, and other animals live nocturnal lifestyles; too much artificial light can disturb that. Many nocturnal animals hunt during nighttime, and limited darkness exposes them and effects their natural circadian rhythms. Insects have similar problems because light pollution makes them vulnerable to predators and creates disruptions in hunting and mating. Additionally, one of every three insects attracted to artificial light won't survive through the night. 

Fish

Light pollution on marinas or near beach access can reflect on the water, making it harder for fish to navigate where they’re going and difficult for them to hunt. Statistics have also shown that fish exposed to artificial light have a lower survival rate than those not exposed. Too much light can also create feelings of anxiety and disrupt sleep schedules. 

Regardless of the species, artificial lighting puts animals at greater risk of predators and disorient them, disrupting their feeding schedules and disturbing the safety of their natural habitat.

How Does Lighting Affect Humans? 

Light pollution doesn’t just affect wildlife, there are also adverse effects on humans:

• Light pollution can disrupt sleep schedules and negatively affect people’s moods. Dark-sky communities reduce the risk of intrusive light trespass in homes or businesses. 

• Heavy amounts of light pollution increase the risk of health issues, such as anxiety, fatigue, diabetes, and more. 

• Many people are interested in astrotourism, or the idea of being interested in and traveling to view space and celestial objects. However, it’s challenging to do so in areas surrounded by light pollution.

Regulations for Wildlife Lighting

A prominent regulator for wildlife-friendly lighting is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. To certify a product with the FWC, it must meet the following requirements: 

1. Place the light as low as possible with the lowest amount of lumens needed. Installing lights lower toward the ground reduces the chance of light spillage and spreads the light over a smaller area. 

2. Fully cut-off and shielded lights prevent uplight. When on, the fixture must cast all light downward. 

3. Ensure wavelengths reach at least 560nm to emit amber or red colors. 

DarkSky promotes a light pollution-free environment through better lighting practices. Because of this, they promote Sea Turtle-Sensitive Lighting with DarkSky-approved products.

Check with your state and local authorities to verify any ordinances in place for wildlife-friendly or turtle-friendly lighting and light pollution prevention.

DarkSky International Regulations 

DarkSky International is an organization that promotes energy-efficient lighting to protect the environment from carbon emissions. Through lighting regulations, it works to reduce light pollution and increase the visibility of the night sky. With over 200 certified locations in 22 countries, the organization is still growing.

DarkSky has its own recommended principles for outdoor lighting, some of which are similar to the FWC: 

1. Only install light where it’s needed. Installing too many fixtures can create excessive light and disorient both people and wildlife. 

2. Install fully cut-off fixtures that reflect light downward.

3. Pay attention to the light's CCT (Correlated Color Temperature). A cool white is unnecessary at night and can cause eye strain. A warmer CCT, closer to amber light, should be chosen.

4. Implement motion sensors and timers so lights are only on when needed. 

5. Minimize the amount of lumens used for lower light levels. 

If you have a luminaire you believe can be a DarkSky-certified product, complete these steps.

Or, if you have a place to submit as a DarkSky-certified location, complete the steps listed here.

Locations

There are five types of DarkSky locations:

1. Parks: Public areas usually used for educational and public access with sufficient night sky available. 

2. Sanctuaries: Remote and usually isolated areas home to more wildlife, making dark skies even more critical. 

3. Reserves: National parks and nature reserves where darkness is essential to the ecosystems and wildlife in the area. 

4. Urban Night Sky Places: Areas with no light pollution but neighbored by urban areas with light pollution. 

5. Communities: Refers to cities with dark skies because of local regulations pertaining to lighting requirements.

Certain businesses can also be DarkSky Certified, including:

• Lodging & Accommodations 

• Retail Spaces

• National Parks

• Sports Complexes

How Do I Achieve Wildlife Friendly Lighting?

• Make sure your light has the proper lighting wavelength. For wildlife-friendly lighting, use an LED amber light with a wavelength of at least 560nm (nanometers). Since the wavelengths are greater than white light, which typically peaks at 450nm, it isn’t confused for moonlight and illuminates no blue light. 

• Reduce light pollution by using shades or reflectors to minimize uplight. Our fully shielded fixtures cast all light downward. 

• Motion sensors and timers can promote wildlife-friendly lighting. These devices allow lights to turn on only when needed, making them less likely to disturb wildlife nearby. 

• Pay attention to lumen output and how far a light spreads to determine the number of fixtures needed in a place. One of the easiest ways to achieve wildlife-friendly spaces is to consider fixture placement before installing anything. Installing too many lights can cause too much overlap and glare. 

Real-World Applications of Wildlife-Friendly Lighting

Many businesses should consider implementing wildlife-friendly lighting, especially on the West Coast, East Coast, and Gulf Coast areas. The businesses/locations below should pay special attention to the lighting they install because there is a likelihood of wildlife inhabiting or near the area. 

• Beachfront Properties- condos, apartments, hotels 

• Parking Lots or Garages 

• Marinas

• Highways

• Nature Reserves and National Parks 

• Golf Courses

• Restaurants 

• Piers

Wildlife-Friendly Product Selection 

Wildlife-friendly lighting comes in a variety of fixtures: