Great Smoky Mountains National Park synchronous firefly viewing; How to enter lottery
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has just released the breathlessly awaited dates for its most popular annual nature show ― the synchronous firefly spectacular.
Here's everything you need to know about entering the lottery to see this once-a-year, Christmas-like show in the deep woods of the Great Smokies.
When is the synchronous firefly show?
The Smokies, the most popular national park in the country, will host the annual synchronous firefly viewing June 4-11 at Elkmont, on the Tennessee side of the Smokies.
How can I watch the firefly show?
Tickets are highly coveted and highly limited to protect the fireflies and their natural environment, and the viewing experience for everyone. The public can apply for a viewing slot by entering a lottery for a vehicle reservation through www.recreation.gov.
The lottery opens for reservation applications at 10 a.m. Friday, April 28 and closes at 8 p.m. Monday, May 1. Using the lottery system ensures everyone who applies for a reservation has an equal chance of getting one, according to a news release from the National Park Service.
What is a synchronous firefly?
Every year in late May or early June, thousands of visitors near Elkmont Campground see the naturally occurring phenomenon of Photinus carolinus, a firefly species that flashes synchronously. Since 2006, the National Park Service has limited access to the Elkmont area to the eight days of predicted peak firefly activity. This helps reduce traffic congestion, provides a safe viewing experience for visitors, and minimizes disturbances to these unique fireflies during their two-week mating period.
More: On the hunt for synchronous fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Becky Nichols, the Smokies entomologist, has been studying fireflies, and all the park’s bugs, for more than 20 years. She has told the Citizen Times there are 19 species of fireflies in the Smokies, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Of those, 13 species flash.
What makes the synchronous fireflies so special?
“The synchronous firefly really does synchronize its flash pattern. It may look somewhat random at first, but the period of darkness in their flash behavior really does look synchronous. And when they get warmed up later in the evening, even the flash pattern lines up,” she said.
Only the males do the flashing as they fly between 2-6 feet above the forest floor, trying to signal to the female that they are the right species for mating, Nichols said. The female firefly does flash, but it’s a very faint flash from where she’s crawling on the ground. The females don’t fly.
It’s believed the period of darkness in the male flash pattern is to allow them to see the female flashes.
All fireflies have two chemicals in their abdomen, luciferin and an enzyme that breaks that down called luciferase, Nichols said.
“When those chemicals get together and break down, light is produced. It’s referred to as a cold light, since it’s almost 100 percent light and no heat. (In contrast, the energy produced by an incandescent light bulb is about 10 percent light and 90 percent heat). It’s an interesting way nature produces this bioluminescence. They do this over and over for two-three weeks.”
More: Word from the Smokies: Salamander’s glow could shed light on a biological mystery
When will I know if I can see the synchronous fireflies?
A total of 960 vehicle reservations, 120 per night, will be issued through the lottery process. The results of the lottery will be available by May 11. Each reservation allows one vehicle with a maximum of seven occupants to park at the Elkmont viewing location. The number of daily reservations is based on parking capacity and the ability to safely accommodate a large number of viewers on site while minimizing resource impacts.Lottery applicants may enter two dates to take part in the viewing opportunity over the eight-day period. The lottery system uses a randomized computer drawing to select applications. All lottery applicants will be charged a $1 application fee.
Successful applicants will automatically be given reservations and a $24 reservation fee will be charged to the same credit or debit card used for the application fee. The fee covers the cost of awarding the reservation, as well as on-site portable restrooms, supplies, and nightly personnel costs for managing the viewing opportunity.
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Reservations are non-refundable, non-transferable, and good only for the date issued. There is a limit of one lottery application per household per season. All lottery applicants will be notified by e-mail by May 11 if their application was successfully drawn or not.
Can I camp out in the Smokies to see the fireflies?
During the viewing period, access to Elkmont is restricted after 4 p.m. to passenger vehicles with a reservation, registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground, or backcountry campers with a valid permit.
Camping spots go quickly. So if you haven't reserved your spot yet, you might be out of luck.
Visitors are not allowed to walk or ride bicycles on the Elkmont entrance road or Jakes Creek Road after 4 p.m. due to safety concerns. Overnight parking at Little River Trailhead, Jakes Creek Trailhead, or the Appalachian Clubhouse is not allowed without a valid backcountry permit for backcountry campsites associated with these trailheads.Visit recreation.gov and search for “Great Smoky Mountains Firefly Viewing Lottery” for more information and to enter the lottery. Synchronous fireflies are one of 19 species of fireflies that live in the Smokies and other locations throughout the eastern United States.
Karen Chávez is Executive Editor for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Tips? Call 828-712-6316, email, KChavez@CitizenTimes.com or follow on Twitter @KarenChavezACT.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Great Smoky Mountains National Park synchronous firefly lottery opens
