As much as we need the light, we also need the darkness.

But we’ve been inculcated with the notion that dark equals bad or scary and that we must illuminate the darkness to stay safe.

“Partially it’s because we’re diurnal people,” said Deborah Price, a DarkSkyColorado board member. “Humans are active during the day so darkness is scary. We’re not physically equipped to deal with darkness as well as a lot of wildlife that are nocturnal. Plus there’s been a whole history of scary stories about the dark and bad things happen at night.”

It’s a shame, as human bodies require it. Studies have shown cancer is more prevalent in people who live where there isn’t enough darkness, Price says.

“We may be diurnal, but our bodies need darkness to recuperate,” she said. “Melatonin is produced in our bodies in the absence of light, and this natural hormone helps prevent disease and helps with our circadian rhythms.”

And it’s not only us. Animals, birds and insects need darkness, too. More than half of wildlife species are nocturnal and light pollution is harmful to them. Predators who are designed to hunt at night, like mountain lions, can’t do it as well without enough darkness. Migrating birds use light from the moon and stars to move around at night, and when there’s too much light they can’t navigate. Thousands of birds are killed every night when, disoriented by the light, they run into lit buildings in large cities.

Insects, like fireflies, also rely on the darkness. When there’s more light it’s hard for them to patrol their territories or find mates.

“When sea turtles hatch on the beach, they follow the moonlight and starlight reflected on the ocean to get to the water,” Price said. “They get confused by light pollution and go in the wrong direction and die.”

Our world just keeps getting brighter, thanks to an ever increasing population that equals more lights. Before electricity was invented, people went outside at night to enjoy the skies, said Price, a retired environmental educator.

“They were more in tune with the outdoors and being in touch with darkness than we are today. All we have to do is flip a switch.”

And so many cultures from eons ago have put their own stories into the night sky, not only the Greeks and Romans, but American Indians, the Chinese and Africans.

“Cultures across the world have stories and identity tied into the stars and how they see themselves,” Price said. “When we can’t see the stars we lose some of that.”

The nonprofit DarkSky International program works with communities and others to evaluate and certify dark sky-friendly outdoor lighting equipment and projects. Colorado is home to 10 official DarkSky parks, including Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park, and five DarkSky communities, including Westcliffe, Silver Cliff and Crestone. Estes Park and Berthoud, near Loveland, are currently working to become DarkSky communities.

While we can’t immediately change the level of light pollution in Colorado Springs, we can start small right now in our own backyards. Only turn on lights outdoors when you need them. Don’t leave them on all night. And make sure the lights are downward facing and don’t shine up into the sky, which doesn’t do any good and wastes electricity. Motion detectors are better than lights that are on all the time. Ensure the light is going where it needs to go, though, and isn’t all over the place.

“People think it’s safer to have lights around the house, but sometimes it can attract criminals,” Price said. “They can survey the house and hide in the glaring shadows. Think about if you’re camping and let your eyes adjust so you can see around you. You can see fairly well. But if you’ve got a bright light shining you can’t see anything.”

And when you’re inside at night, pull the blinds down and shut the curtains so the light doesn’t escape outside. If you have LED lights, choose softer, warmer colors like reds, oranges or soft white. Avoid the bright blue or white lights. Find out more by going online to darksky.org.

“If you can see the stars and sky and see how much is out there, it makes you realize how small the Earth is and that we’re part of something so much bigger,” Price said. “We’re not the center of the universe.”