Fireworks stress wildlife, particularly bald eagles in Big Bear, California. Friends of the Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) emphasized the harmful effects on local wildlife, including the eagles Jackie and Shadow, and presented evidence to the city. Despite these concerns, fireworks displays continued. Such loud noises cause eagles to flee, risking injury due to poor nighttime vision. Additional wildlife, including other birds and mammals, face serious consequences from fireworks. Fireworks also present environmental threats by releasing harmful toxins, affecting air quality.
In 2023, FOBBV created a presentation outlining the many negative impacts of fireworks ahead of a Memorial Day show. The loud noises of the nighttime spectacle cause the eagles to enter fight-or-flight mode and fly off into the night.
Bald Eagles are not the only animals impacted by fireworks. Other local birds become disoriented and some even have heart attacks and die. Mammals have been known to run into busy roadways.
Eagles do not have great nighttime vision and risk injury when they flee a scene in such a way. In 2019, for instance, Jackie and Shadow left their chick Simba unprotected and without food for the night because they were scared.
Fireworks pollute the environment. Toxic substances such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and strontium negatively affect air quality.
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