Monday, January 12, 2026
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Why Fireflies Are Slowly Disappearing In Kansas

By
Guest Columnist
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Fireflies used to light up Kansas summer nights like tiny floating lanterns, creating magical memories for families across the state. Their gentle glow was a familiar part of warm evenings and backyard fun.

But these glowing insects are getting harder to find each year. Scientists are sounding the alarm as their numbers quietly decline across the region.

I’ve learned that understanding why fireflies are vanishing is the first step in helping them. Protecting their habitats means preserving a little bit of summer magic—and the ecosystems they support.

Light Pollution Disrupts Their Glow

Streetlights, porch lights, and shopping center glow make it nearly impossible for fireflies to find each other in Kansas neighborhoods. Male fireflies flash specific patterns to attract females, but artificial light drowns out their signals completely.

When fireflies cannot see each other’s bioluminescent messages, they struggle to mate and reproduce. Many Kansas towns have grown brighter over the decades, pushing fireflies into darker rural areas. Reducing outdoor lighting during summer months could give these insects a fighting chance to communicate properly again.

Pesticide Use In Yards And Fields

Chemicals sprayed on lawns and crops across Kansas farmland kill firefly larvae living in the soil. These young fireflies spend up to two years underground before emerging as adults, making them vulnerable to repeated pesticide exposure.

Even bug sprays used in backyards can wipe out entire firefly populations without homeowners realizing it. Kansas agriculture relies heavily on pest control, but broad-spectrum insecticides do not discriminate between harmful pests and beneficial insects.

Choosing targeted treatments or organic alternatives protects fireflies while still managing unwanted bugs effectively.

Loss Of Natural Habitats

Housing developments and shopping centers have replaced the meadows, prairies, and wetlands where Kansas fireflies once thrived. These insects need specific environments with moisture, tall grass, and leaf litter to complete their life cycles successfully.

When developers clear land, firefly populations lose their breeding grounds and food sources permanently. Kansas has experienced significant urban sprawl over recent decades, fragmenting natural spaces into smaller, isolated patches.

Preserving green corridors and protecting remaining wild areas gives fireflies the connected habitats they desperately need to survive and flourish.

Climate Change Affects Their Timing

Warmer temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns in Kansas throw off the delicate timing fireflies depend on for survival. These insects emerge based on temperature cues, but climate shifts cause mismatches between when they appear and when their food sources are available.

Droughts dry out the moist soil firefly larvae need to develop properly. Kansas has experienced more extreme weather swings recently, with hotter summers and irregular rainfall affecting insect populations statewide.

Supporting climate action and maintaining water-rich areas in your yard helps fireflies adapt to these challenging environmental changes.

Lawn Mowing Destroys Their Homes

Perfectly trimmed grass looks neat but eliminates the leaf litter and tall vegetation fireflies need for shelter and laying eggs. Kansas homeowners who mow frequently remove critical habitat without realizing the damage they cause to firefly populations.

Larvae feed on slugs and snails hiding under leaves and in unmowed areas that disappear with regular cutting. Letting portions of your Kansas yard grow wild creates safe zones where fireflies can complete their life cycle.

Even small unmowed patches near fence lines or under trees make a meaningful difference for these struggling insects.

Water Sources Are Disappearing

Fireflies need moisture-rich environments to survive, but streams, ponds, and wetlands across Kansas are shrinking or vanishing entirely. Development projects often drain wetlands or redirect water flow, removing the damp conditions fireflies require for reproduction.

Even backyard water features that dry up during hot Kansas summers fail to provide consistent habitat. Larvae cannot survive in completely dry soil, and adults prefer laying eggs near reliable water sources.

Creating small rain gardens or maintaining birdbaths with fresh water throughout summer supports firefly populations in your Kansas neighborhood effectively.

Increased Use Of Outdoor Chemicals

Weed killers, fertilizers, and other lawn chemicals popular in Kansas yards poison the soil where firefly larvae live and hunt for food. These products persist in the environment long after application, continuing to harm beneficial insects throughout the growing season.

Many Kansas residents do not realize their quest for perfect green lawns directly contributes to firefly decline. Chemicals also kill the small creatures firefly larvae eat, eliminating their food supply completely.

Switching to natural lawn care methods or accepting a few weeds creates healthier ecosystems where fireflies can thrive alongside your family safely.

Fewer People Creating Firefly-Friendly Spaces

Not enough Kansas residents understand what fireflies need or take action to help them survive in residential areas. Simple changes like reducing lights, avoiding chemicals, and leaving wild corners make enormous differences for struggling populations.

Education about firefly conservation remains limited across Kansas communities, so many people do not know how their choices impact these insects. When neighborhoods work together to create firefly-friendly environments, populations can rebound surprisingly quickly.

Sharing information with Kansas neighbors and making small habitat improvements in your own yard contributes to saving these beloved summer icons for future generations to enjoy.

8 Reasons Kansas Residents Are Letting Possums Stay On Their Property

By
Guest Columnist
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Possums might not win any beauty contests, but Kansas homeowners are welcoming these marsupials with open arms. Across the Sunflower State, people are discovering that these nocturnal creatures offer surprising benefits that make them worth keeping around.

From pest control to disease prevention, possums are proving to be unexpected allies in maintaining healthy yards and gardens.

Natural Tick Eliminators

A single possum can gobble up thousands of ticks each season, making them incredible pest warriors. Scientists discovered that possums groom themselves constantly and eat about 95% of ticks that crawl on them.

Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease are serious concerns in Kansas, so having natural tick control is hugely beneficial. Property owners appreciate not having to use as many chemical treatments around their homes and families.

Possums roam yards at night, quietly working to reduce tick populations while everyone sleeps.

Free Pest Control Service

Cockroaches, beetles, rats, and mice all end up on a possum’s dinner menu. These marsupials work tirelessly throughout the night, clearing properties of unwanted critters that can damage gardens and spread filth.

Kansas residents save money on exterminators when possums handle the dirty work naturally. Gardens stay healthier because fewer insects munch on vegetables and flowers.

Unlike cats, possums won’t harm songbirds, making them environmentally friendly pest controllers that keep the ecosystem balanced perfectly.

Snake Population Controllers

Possums possess remarkable immunity to most snake venoms, including those from rattlesnakes and copperheads found throughout Kansas. Their unique blood chemistry neutralizes venom that would kill other animals instantly.

When possums encounter venomous snakes, they often attack and eat them without fear. Families with children feel safer knowing possums help keep dangerous snakes away from play areas and porches.

This natural snake deterrent means fewer scary encounters during warm Kansas summers when reptiles become most active around homes.

Immune To Rabies

Unlike raccoons or skunks, possums almost never carry rabies because their body temperature runs too low for the virus to survive. Their average body temperature sits around 94 degrees, while rabies needs warmer hosts to thrive and spread.

Kansas families worry less about dangerous wildlife encounters when possums visit instead of other nocturnal animals. Children and pets face minimal health risks from these harmless marsupials wandering through yards.

This natural disease resistance makes possums among the safest wild animals to have nearby.

Cleanup Crew For Fallen Fruit

Rotting fruit attracts wasps, flies, and other annoying insects that make outdoor living miserable during Kansas summers. Possums love munching on fallen apples, pears, berries, and other fruit that drops from trees and bushes.

By clearing this natural debris, possums reduce insect swarms and prevent slippery messes on walkways and patios. Property owners appreciate having cleaner yards without constantly raking up decaying fruit themselves.

This free cleanup service keeps outdoor spaces more enjoyable for families and reduces unpleasant odors around homes.

Carrion Removal Experts

Dead animals create awful smells and attract disease-carrying flies and maggots to properties. Possums act as nature’s sanitation workers by consuming carrion before it becomes a serious health hazard or neighborhood nuisance.

Kansas landowners find fewer unpleasant surprises when possums patrol their acreage regularly at night. Roads, ditches, and fields get naturally cleaned without human intervention or expensive removal services.

This scavenging behavior helps prevent the spread of diseases that decomposing animals can transmit to livestock, pets, and people nearby.

Garden-Friendly Foragers

Unlike raccoons that destroy entire gardens overnight, possums carefully pick insects and grubs without uprooting plants or tearing up flowerbeds. They move slowly and deliberately, causing minimal disturbance to landscaping and vegetable patches.

Kansas gardeners notice their tomatoes, squash, and corn remain intact when possums visit compared to damage from other wildlife. These marsupials prefer protein-rich bugs over fresh vegetables, making them surprisingly respectful garden guests.

Most property damage blamed on possums actually comes from raccoons, groundhogs, or other more destructive animals.

Non-Aggressive Temperament

When threatened, possums rarely attack or bite. Instead, they hiss, show their teeth, or famously play dead until danger passes.

Kansas pet owners feel comfortable knowing possums won’t aggressively fight with dogs or cats like raccoons often do. Children can observe these interesting creatures from safe distances without parents worrying about unprovoked attacks or chasing behavior.

Their peaceful nature makes coexistence easy, and they typically waddle away when humans approach rather than standing their ground. Most conflicts resolve themselves when possums simply leave the area quietly overnight.

 

Gettin’ Even (Best Of)

By
Lee Pitts
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lee pitts

The Cotton Brothers wore clothes that weren’t. Their duds were made by a blacksmith instead of a tailor because as members of a three man fence crew down around San Angelo they faced three of God’s most dangerous inventions: barbed wire, brush that cut like it, and rattlesnakes.

Somehow the Cotton brothers, “Big” and “Little”, got teamed up with God’s fourth worst creation, Bosco Taylor. Bosco was born fully grown and was shaving by the time he reached the first grade, which is about as far as he pursued his higher education. Bosco was big enough to shade a rhinoceros and could probably out wrestle one if he knew what one was. But Bosco had a mean streak in him which caused the Cotton Brothers more grief than all the brush, barbed wire and rattlers put together.

“Bosco was always playing mean tricks on me and Little Brother,” recalled Big Brother. “Like the time we all sat down in a shady spot to eat lunch after a hard morning of stringing the devils’ hatband. We were famished and Little Brother couldn’t wait to open up his Star Wars Lunch Box and see what mom had packed. But instead of the usual peanut butter and jelly there was a baby rattler staring right back at Little Brother. Bosco had put that snake in his lunch box when he wasn’t looking.

“Bosco always made me and Little Brother do all the hardest chores too, like digging holes and pounding posts. His practical jokes went on non-stop, always crying “snake” when there wasn’t one. And there was nothing we could do about it. That is until one day we were punching holes in the ground out around Big Spring. The snakes in those parts were so thick you had to parade around on stilts. So in the course of digging holes it was only natural that me and Little Brother came across the biggest, deadest snake I had ever seen without the aid of liquor. It was then and there that I got the inspiration on how to get even with Bosco.

“Bosco always took a nap right after lunch and while he was busy snoring we made preparations. Little Brother got a fork out of his lunch box and bent back the middle two tines. Then I placed that dead rattler right next to Bosco’s leg. I got a shovel in my hands and gave Little Brother the sign. Little Brother jabbed that fork into Bosco’s leg backed up by two years of pent up hatred.

“Bosco woke up with a scream that would have raised the hair on a buffalo rug. The first thing he saw was Mr. Snake right next to his leg and the second thing he saw was me swinging that shovel right down on top of that snake and chopping him right in two. But it was too late. That dead snake had already done the damage, which Bosco was now trying to examine by dropping his drawers right there in front of God and everybody.

“Bosco was bellering like a fresh cut bull while me and Little Brother tried to tell him that the most important thing to do after getting bit by a snake is to stay calm. But that wasn’t Bosco’s nature and I guess it didn’t help none that me and Little Brother were telling him what a slow and terrible death lay ahead for him.”

“You gotta do something,” Bosco pleaded.

“Who… us? The two guys you have tormented for two years with your practical jokes?”

“After we let Bosco plead, beg and promise to be our loyal servants for the rest of his life we obliged. “I guess we could help,” I said.

“What are you going to do?” asked Bosco.

“We gotta cut you and draw out the blood if you want to have any chance of surviving,” Little Brother explained. ‘But when Little Brother drew out his pig sticker, a bone handled knife with a six inch blade, Bosco took one look at the knife and proceeded to pass out.”

“Miraculously, Bosco somehow survived his “snake bite” by trying to drown all his troubles. But it didn’t work. Me and Little Brother knew how to swim.”

True Confessions of Young Train Hoppers

By
Dawn Phelps
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0

Last week I wrote about Miltonvale, the town of Tom, Dick, and Harry.  Rarely I have joined the three boys for tea in the afternoon when they sometimes tell stories about when they were kids.

 

Anyway, during one of the sessions, they talked about how Dick was sometimes assigned the task of taking care of Harry while Harry was a toddler.

 

One story that Harry remembers is when Dick would pick him up and put him down the laundry chute where Harry had a soft landing in a pile of dirty laundry in the basement.

 

I asked Harry, “Wasn’t that scary to be dropped down the laundry chute?”

 

And Harry told me, “Yeah, at first.  But then as I got a little older, I would jump down the laundry chute myself for a short-cut to the basement.”

 

Another memory was one that Dick talked about—how he and his friend Bill used to play around the railroad tracks downtown all day.  One day while there were there, Dick and Bill accidentally took their first train ride.  

 

Here is how it went.  That day, Dick and Bill were inside a boxcar playing when the train began moving.  Instead of bailing off, they stayed on the train for their first ride.  At that time, the train usually stopped at every little town.  The first town after Miltonvale was Aurora.  

 

So, when the train stopped in Aurora, the boys jumped off and played in Aurora until a train heading toward Miltonvale came back through.  They hopped on the train and rode back home.  When asked where they had been, Dick told his mother they had been playing around downtown at the railroad tracks—partly true.  

 

Bill’s mother, now deceased, first learned about Dick and Bill’s train ride capers after I wrote about it for the Miltonvale Record a few years ago.  Dick’s mother probably never found out before her death in 2008.  

 

So, from then on—I’m not sure how many times—the two boys took train rides as far as Concordia and back until the conductor became wise to what they were doing.

 

Another train confession came from Merlin A. who has since passed.  He told the story while at Senior Citizens.  Merlin said, “I used to ride that railroad track from Oakhill to Longford,” Merlin said that he and some other boys would put a car on the railroad tracks for a ride.

 

One time, when he and his friends were riding the tracks, someone jerked the steering wheel, causing the car to jump off the tracks while the car was on a bridge.  Merlin said they knew there was a possibility a train might come along and said it was scary to look down off the bridge.  He also said they had a hard time getting the car back on the tracks again.

 

Merlin also talked about how his first-grade teacher took his class on a train ride from Miltonvale to Clay Center, then they rode back in vehicles—a memorable day for a six-year-old.   

 

There was another true confession of a train hopping by Harry.  By then,  Harry was a teenager.  He said they would put the car on the tracks at a train crossing and let some of the air out of the car tires. 

 

Harry said they learned they did not have to let as much air out as they first thought.  He said they just put the car in low gear and let it go—no need to steer.  He said that if the car went too fast, the car could jump the tracks.  

 

Harry said he and his friends would put the car on the tracks in Miltonvale and ride to Concordia.  He said Concordia is only about 17 miles by rail rather than 25.  

 

While in Concordia, they partied and drank some beer.  Then they turned the car around and headed back home, sometimes taking a little beer home with them.  No need for a designated driver—the car knew the way home.  

 

So, there you have it—train tales from Tootleville—childhood stories of three young Miltonvale train hoppers.

 

[email protected]

 

Lettuce Eat Local: Getting A Cold Shoulder

By
Guest Columnist
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Amanda Miller
Columnist
Lettuce Eat Local

 

It happens every year, and every year, I am unprepared.
The cold. It comes.
It doesn’t come quite like clockwork, more like axial-tilt-work as the seasons change, but the temperatures always drop at some point. Our average first frost date in this area is October 16, and although this next week looks like it will dip pretty close, I still don’t think we’ll quite get down to 32 degrees yet. So even though the warmer weather has hung around mercifully late, I’m still not ready.
I’m not ready for socks, for shoes, for actual pants. I live in my Chaco sandals, and I like it that way. As reliable as the weather change every year is my fatuous dissent from it. Though I often get cold easily, fall finds me waging my personal war against colder temperatures; “You can’t make me put on shoes!” I yell and shake my fist at the sky, shivering in my shorts.
Spoiler alert: it is very ineffective.
So as I sit here defeatedly yet comfortably ensconced in my slippers, leggings, and sweatshirt, I think of the garden. It’s outside obviously, in the dreary cold, so I’ll simply think about it from my cozy vantage point inside until I actually have to go out. There hasn’t been much left of our garden for a while now, not since the grasshoppers and army worms ravaged it, but now everyone else’s garden is starting to look sparse too. The last bits and bobs of everything are being harvested, or even possibly abandoned to wage their own war against the weather after a long enough gardening season.
Some gardeners bid farewell to their plants with lament, I’m sure, although more often than not I detect at least a hint of vindictive glee at the close of the warm months. I experience both sides of the emotions, varying in leaning and intensity with the years.
I haven’t sobbed exactly when I’ve had to go out and gather up all remaining fruits the evening ahead of a frost, but it certainly isn’t my favorite activity; all those poor unripe tomatoes and peppers, only reaching their partial potential.
At the same time, there is something undeniably satisfying about ripping out scraggly plants that did their job (or not), and are ready to call it quits right alongside you. The hours and hours spent in the garden were a valuable part of spring and summer, but now we’re done.
It’s time to pick the fall green beans for the last time, time to dig those sweet potatoes, time to put some pumpkins on the porch or on the dinner table. We didn’t have any of the usual tomatoes and peppers to finish up this year, but fortunately, generous others did, so we have a bag of beautiful bell peppers that got left on our kitchen table. They will creep into our meals for the next couple weeks, reminding us of warmer weather while simultaneously fitting well into warming dinners.
Which is nice, because my toes are still cold.
Lettuce Eat Local is a weekly local foods column by Amanda Miller, who lives in rural Reno County on the family dairy farm with her husband and two small children. She seeks to help build connections through food with her community, the earth, and the God who created it all. Send feedback and recipe ideas to [email protected].

Unstuffed Pepper Casserole

I love the idea of stuffed peppers, but eating them turns into a bit of a mess (at least for us) and you eventually just cut them up into pieces anyway. Enter unstuffed peppers, which is not only easier to eat but also to make. It’s no longer a shame to turn on the oven, and just as the garden is yielding the last bits and bobs, so this recipe can work great to use up the leftovers from here and there.
Prep tips: this is also easy to fix ahead to bake later, or to freeze for a quick winter meal.

1 pound ground hamburger
1 large onion, diced
3 cups cooked brown rice
3 cups black beans, drained
2 cups tomato sauce or pureed fresh tomatoes
½ cup barbeque sauce
salt, pepper, red pepper
several bell peppers, any color, large diced
½ pound sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Brown hamburger and onion in a large skillet or pot. Stir in rice, beans, and sauces; adding salt, pepper, and red pepper to taste. Transfer to a baking dish, then top with a full layer of diced peppers and the cheese. Bake uncovered at 375° for about half an hour, until the peppers are tender.

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