Artificial lightning also affects wildlife. Researchers have long known that when birds migrate at night, they are often confused by the lights from skyscrapers and radio towers. Instead of staying on course, the birds fly in circles until they drop from exhaustion or collide with other birds or the tower. Now scientists are learning that light pollution harms other animals, too.
In Florida, researchers have discovered that lights from beach front apartments and hotels are confusing sea turtles and interfering with their reproduction. Female turtles normally go ashore at night to lay their eggs and young turtles scurry to the water when they hatch. Artificial lights have made many female turtles reluctant to come ashore. Others lay their eggs as usual. But when the eggs hatch, the young turtles are disoriented by the lights. Instead of going toward the sea, they head for the hotels. Many are killed by predators or hit by cars when they try to cross roads.