Latest news with #MassAudubon
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fireflies are hard to miss in Michigan. What to know as they light up backyards
Perhaps once collected in a jar or observed from the palm of your hand, fireflies are curious creatures that communicate via a yellow glow. They are especially chatty on hot summer nights. Fireflies (or lightning bugs) prefer hot and humid weather. They emerge when temperatures become warm typically around May or mid-June. Residents can expect to see more fireflies over the summer after a mild winter and a rainy spring, according to the Farmers' Almanac. At dusk or later in the night they become active creating quite the spectacle. Their ability to create light is credited to a process called bioluminescence. Fireflies can control the chemical reaction inside their light organ located in their lower abdomen. Species of jellyfish, shrimp, shark, squid and other marine animal share the same ability. According to NC State University, fireflies use bioluminescence to intimidate predators, attract a mate and even communicate. In North America, there are hundreds of firefly species with three main groups, called photinus, pyractomena and photuris, based on Mass Audubon, and they vary in size and even the color of their light. For example, pyractomena fireflies flash an amber color, while photinus flash a yellow-green. Though fireflies are frequent in Michigan this summer, their populations overall are threatened due to habitat loss and light pollution, according to Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. As fireflies continue to flash, sparkle and possibly inspire a child-like wonder, here's more on these species in Michigan: Why do fireflies light up? Fireflies communicate via flashes of their light to attract mates, deter predators or claim territory, according to Firefly Conservation and Research. Flashes are unique to firefly species, though the photinus carolinus fireflies flash in synchronization — a rare, temporary behavior that occurs during the summertime, and previously observed in many national parks. "Each species of firefly has its own pattern. Many fireflies look similar, so these flash patterns help to identify particular firefly species," Mass Audubon said. Both male and female fireflies have the ability to create light, though to tell them apart, males have a larger light organ covering two segments of their bodies, while females' light organs are typically smaller. Are fireflies a beetle? Yes, fireflies are beetles and they belong to the insect order called coleoptera and the insect family called Lampyridae — which means "to shine," in Greek, according to Michigan State University's Extension. Like other species of beetles, fireflies have two pairs of wings with a shell-like covering to protect their wings, so while they are flying, their shell is raised upward to let their wings flap freely. Do fireflies bite? No, fireflies do not bite or sting humans. However, they may become a nuisance if a few accidently enter your house. According to pest control company Orkin, to keep fireflies out of your home, remove or reduce outdoor lightning so they only have their bioluminescence to rely on. What do fireflies eat? Fireflies are a predatory beetle and eat other insects like snails, slugs or worms. They go through a lengthy life cycle (up to 3 years) and spend most of their life in the larval stage underground, and at this stage they are "eating machines," according to MSU's Extension. Not only do they have an appetite, but they have a fierce hunting strategy. According to Firefly Atlas, they inject a paralyzing neurotoxin into their prey then emit a digestive enzyme to liquefy them before eating. Why are firefly populations going down? According to Firefly Conservation and Research, the main factors disrupting firefly numbers are habitat loss and light pollution. "Scientists have observed that synchronous fireflies get out of synch for a few minutes after a car's headlights pass," the research-based organization said. "Light from homes, cars, stores, and streetlights may all make it difficult for fireflies to signal each other during mating — meaning fewer firefly larvae are born next season," the organization said." Here are a few ways to help steady their populations from your backyard: Turn off outdoor lighting Create a firefly habitat Avoid using pesticides or weed killers Plant native trees, like pine trees In addition, people may report their firefly sightings to help track their distribution nationally. Firefly Atlas, a conservation organization, features a tracker for members (after creating an account) to submit their sightings. Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@ This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Fireflies in Michigan: What to know about their glow, life cycle Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Largest federal grant in Mass Audubon history terminated by Trump admin
The largest federal grant in Mass Audubon's 129-year history has been terminated by the Trump administration, leaving uncertain the future of 10,000 acres of forests and wetlands in the Connecticut River Watershed. Mass Audubon, the largest conservation organization in New England, received the $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Conservation Partnership Program last October — a slice of $1.5 billion in financial commitments to 92 conservation projects around the country. The funding was part of an expansion created by the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act. According to Politico, many of the termination notifications didn't explain why the grants were cut. A USDA spokesperson told the publication that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was returning the Regional Conservation Partnership Program 'to the Farm Bill's established priorities.' The funding would have protected 10,000 acres in the Connecticut River Watershed, according to Mass Audubon, as well as 'fostered partnerships with landowners to restore forest habitat by removing dams, restoring floodplain forests, and engaging in other restorative land management practices.' Read more: 'Small money, huge impact;' We traveled Conn. River to spot hazards of missing buoys 'Terminating grants that conserve our forests, keep working lands working, act as a flood protection buffer for communities, and leverage millions from other funding sources simply makes no sense, and represents a loss for all of us,' David O'Neill, president and CEO of Mass Audubon, said in a statement. The grant also included money that would have assisted in the development of a new measurement and monitoring approach for private landowners to evaluate conservation outcomes — using field measurements, LiDar (light detection and ranging), satellite imaging and AI machine learning to measure and monitor carbon, biodiversity and flood resilience. Mass Audubon had partnered with the Center for Geospatial Solutions at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to develop the tool. The $25 million grant featured partnerships with Kestrel Land Trust, Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, Hilltown Land Trust, East Quabbin Land Trust, Connecticut River Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership. Mass Audubon said it is currently weighing its appeal options with the Trump administration. Springfield joins class action lawsuit against feds over cancelled EPA grant Why a database of bug genes could be one of Trump's most devastating cuts at Harvard How dishwashing plastic containers fuels heart issues and pollution Michigan tribes fight for $23M clawed back by Trump's EPA in DEI purge Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Healey slams Trump for canceling $45M to protect farms, forests and wetlands in WMass and beyond
The Trump White House's decision to pull the plug on more than $45 million in already awarded federal funds to protect farms, wetlands, and forests across the Bay State threatens jobs and leaves the state vulnerable to natural disasters, the Healey administration said Friday. President Donald Trump 'is yet again taking action that will hurt Massachusetts' rural communities, farmers, and economy,' Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. 'This is funding that would have been used to ensure clean water, provide access to fresh local food, and support our agricultural economy,' Healey said, accusing the Republican president of 'making us less healthy and weakening our economy. He should reverse these cuts immediately.' The state announced the money, awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in October 2024. It includes $20.8 million earmarked for protecting farms and wetlands that would have especially benefited the state's smaller and more rural communities, Healey's office said. The White House also canceled $25 million that would have gone to Mass Audubon to protect more than 10,000 acres of 'vital' forest and wetlands along the Connecticut River in Western Massachusetts. Read More: 'Legal battles of our lives': AG Campbell testifies in DC on all-hands effort to counter Trump That money 'epitomized government efficiency and effectiveness. Not only would the grant have protected 10,000 acres of land that safeguards the public's drinking water and benefits wildlife,' David O'Neill, Mass Audubon's president and CEO, said in the administration's statement. The now-canceled cash also 'would have leveraged tens of millions of private funds, and, importantly, kept working lands in the hands of private farmers,' O'Neill continued. 'When we terminate grants that conserve our forests, keep working lands working, act as a flood protection buffer for communities, and leverage millions from other funding sources, we all lose.' The money that would have headed to farmers 'strips [them] of critical tools to keep their land in agriculture through voluntary conservation easements,' state Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle said. Read More: Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions, but fate of Trump birthright citizenship order unclear 'Without this support, farmers lose options – and some may be pushed to sell, putting local farming at risk," Randle said. The USDA announced last month that it was cancelling the Climate Smart Commodities Program — a $3 billion effort to fund projects across the country to improve soil health, sequester carbon, reduce methane emissions and encourage other climate-friendly farming practices, The Wisconsin Examiner reported. The USDA dismissed the program as a 'Biden era slush fund,' and argued that it was 'built to advance the green new scam at the benefit of NGOs, not American farmers.' Earlier this week, state Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell, joined by colleagues nationwide, asked a federal judge in Boston to bar the White House from using an obscure clause in federal law to cut off funding to the states. The Republican White House has wrongly used the 'agencies priorities clause' to block funding to the states for programs ranging from fighting violent crime and education to protecting clean drinking water and addressing food insecurity, Campbell's office said in a statement. Chicopee's next budget is 6% hike from this year. Here's where spending has increased Trump says he's terminating trade talks with Canada over tax on technology firms Mass. lawmakers get a deal; gun for first on-time (ish) state budget in years 'You have been the worst': Secretary Hegseth blasts former Fox colleague Mass. AG Campbell vows to fight on after Supreme Court hands Trump birthright citizenship win Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Trump cancels $45 million in federal funds for conservation in Massachusetts
The moves are among the latest efforts by the Trump administration to claw back funds granted in the waning days of Joe Biden's presidency, and follow months of 'When we stop protecting natural lands, we lose clean air, flood protection, and the ability to slow climate change,' said Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. 'These places absorb carbon, shield our homes from extreme weather, and keep nature in balance. Without them, we all feel the impact.' Advertisement The state was told of the cancellation on June 11. A spokesperson for the US Department of Agriculture did not respond to a request for comment about the decision to cancel the grants. The programs funded with these grants were part of an effort known as 30 by 30 — a United Nations goal to conserve 30 percent of lands and water by 2030, which had been Advertisement The idea is that by conserving vast parts of the planet, the world can tackle two crises at once: the climate crisis, driven by the burning of fossil fuels and made worse by the destruction of natural lands that can absorb climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions, and the rapid loss of biodiversity. The planet's wildlife populations fell some 73 percent between 1970 and 2020, In December 2022, over 190 countries joined the United States and made On his first day in office, Trump The $25 million to Mass Audubon was the largest federal grant ever received in the organization's 128-year history. The conservation of the forests and wetlands serves several purposes, including protecting the many biodiverse species that live there, and ensuring the carbon locked up in the trees and other fauna is not released into the atmosphere. 'The grant have protected 10,000 acres of land that safeguards the public's drinking water and benefits wildlife,' said David O'Neill, chief executive of Mass Audubon. 'When we terminate grants that conserve our forests, keep working lands working, act as a flood protection buffer for communities, and leverage millions from other funding sources, we all lose.' Sabrina Shankman can be reached at
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
122 acres of Vollinger Farm in Northampton conserved for ag, wildlife
NORTHAMPTON — More than half of the Vollinger Farm has permanently protected for agriculture and wildlife habitat, the Kestrel Land Trust announced Thursday. A total of 122 acres of the 217-acre farm on North Farms Road will be preserved. The trust said the land was at much higher risk for development than farms in the Connecticut River floodplains. Farm owner Robert 'Bob' Vollinger had been working with the trust on the project for about five years, the trust said. This also is the first time that the trust is the holder of a federally funded easement. 'This complex process to become qualified for and hold an Agricultural Land Easement required a steep learning curve for everyone involved,' said trust Conservation Director Mark Wamsley in a statement. The easement aims to protect the long-term viability of the nation's food supply by preventing the conversion of productive farmland to non-agricultural uses, the trust said. Many farms in Western Massachusetts are prime wildlife habitat, providing land and water for many wild creatures. This farm is next to a city-owned conservation area, which supports similar habitats. The Regional Conservation Partnership program provided $749,500 in funding, while Mass Audubon's Catalyst Fund provided an additional $100,000. Another 80 acres is temporarily enrolled in the state's Farm Viability Program, which provided funding for Vollinger to renovate one of his barns. Kestrel hopes to protect that land permanently in the future. The Vollingers have owned the land — hayfield, woods, pasture and crop fields — for three generations. It's next to the Broad Brook-Fitzgerald Lake Greenway, the largest conservation area in Northampton. 'Conserving the farm was always my goal. Now it will also help me plan for the future and contribute to my retirement. I'm looking forward to spending more time on the farm and being out on the land in the coming years,' Vollinger said in the statement. Kestrel Land Trust is a nonprofit group based in Amherst that conserves and cares for forests, farms, and riverways in the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts. Visit to learn more. Read the original article on MassLive.
