As firefly sightings decline, here's how to create a certified habitat

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Research suggests firefly populations are declining, prompting calls to create firefly habitats.

Erin Shaw, a naturalist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said she has always been enchanted by fireflies. But in recent years, she said she has been seeing them less frequently – and she’s not alone. Anecdotal reports from around the world suggest firefly populations are declining, although comprehensive studies are scarce, according to Firefly Atlas, a North American conservation project.

“This past year has been pretty good for them as far as the weather and the moisture levels,” Shaw told Nexstar's WCMH. “So a lot of people have noticed them this past year, but overall, they are declining.”

The dwindling sightings inspired Shaw to obtain a firefly hab