Light pollution is something most of us do not really think about, because it feels harmless. A bright street, a lit window or a glowing billboard seems normal. But for many animals, especially pollinators, artificial light changes everything. They rely on darkness just as much as they rely on food, and when the night never feels fully dark, their whole rhythm is disturbed.

Many insects use the natural cycle of day and night to know when to feed, rest or look for mates. When cities stay bright all night, their internal clocks get confused. Some species, like moths, normally navigate using the moon and stars. Instead, they get pulled toward streetlights and end up circling them until they exhaust themselves. By the time morning comes, they have lost the chance to feed or pollinate. This happens on a massive scale every night.

Night pollination is also affected. Not all pollinators work during the day. Some flowers only open at night and rely on moths or bats to carry pollen. When artificial light floods parks, roadsides and gardens, these pollinators avoid those spaces or cannot find the flowers at all. Fewer visits mean fewer seeds and weaker plant reproduction.

Light pollution also interferes with orientation. Birds and insects that migrate at night can lose their direction and end up trapped in cities, where the risks are much higher. Even the balance between predators and prey changes, because bright areas make it easier for predators to spot insects that would normally stay hidden.

The good news is that this is one of the easiest problems to improve. Cities can use shielded lights that point downward, warmer-coloured bulbs, and motion sensors that turn lights on only when needed. Even small changes help create darker, safer routes for pollinators and other wildlife.

When we let the night be dark again, even just a little, we give animals back something essential. It is a simple way to make cities more welcoming to the natural world that quietly works around us.