The year was 2016. I was on a spring camping trip with a paddle club that had come up from FL to paddle Lake Fontana. As I wandered off to my tent for the night, something caught my eye. I waited a few seconds, to figure out what it was, but it was gone. So, off to bed I went. As I unzipped my tent, however, it happened again. My processor had been dulled by a few beers and a long, physical day so I was having trouble figuring out what I was seeing. There was a flashing in the woods, all around my tent. And then there wasn’t… and then there was… and then there wasn’t… and then… …and then my mind wandered back to the ramblings that had taken place just a few hours prior around the campfire. Someone mentioned the elusive synchronous firefly. Several others chimed in that they, too, had seen the spectacle and that it belonged on everyone’s bucket list. They had mentioned that the phenomenon only occurred in the spring and only in a few small locations within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Fortunately for me, these synchronous fireflies didn’t know that.
Since that time, I too have become a fan of the synchronous firefly. While it is true the that most reliable place to see them is in GSMNP, you also have to be pretty darn lucky to see them there. The event has become so popular, that the Park Service has started a lottery. In 2019, nearly 30,000 people from around the globe threw their name in the hat to try to win one of the 1,800 tickets issued over the eight-day period, from May 30 – June 6.
If you don’t happen to be one of the lucky few, or if you aren’t free during the park service’s 8-day viewing period, don’t despair. I have it on good authority that the synchronous firefly will be making guest appearances elsewhere in Western North Carolina. Their favorite habitat seems to be near hardwood forests with a running stream and grassy areas that are between 2,000 and 2,500’ of elevation. This sounds like a perfect description of Saluda, NC. Make your way to the area between the second week of May and the third week of June and be sure to set aside some time from 7 to 10pm to search for the buggers. If you are staying at The Ranch and would like additional details on potential viewing hikes, don’t hesitate to let us know.
If you happen to see the synchronous fireflies in the Saluda area, please let us know. However, if you are not successful in your quest, don’t despair. Equally rare blue ghosts have been reported in the area and traditional fireflies are sure to put on a show. You really can’t lose no matter which of these fireflies is turning the woods into your private, glowing, fairyland forest!