Q. Last Canada Day, my dog ran away because of the fireworks. It got me wondering, if they scare dogs, they must scare wildlife too. How do wildlife deal with fireworks?
A. More studies and data reviews are being performed looking at the impacts of fireworks on wildlife, especially birds. It seems the impacts can vary depending on the time of year, the species, the type of habitat the animal uses, the type of fireworks used and how long the firework display lasts.
For instance, birds in open country appear to be impacted by fireworks more than birds in woodlands. Also, birds in the summer may be impacted by fireworks less than birds in the winter. The reason? Birds are more spread out in the summer. In winter, some birds roost together in large groups which can result in more birds being disturbed. Being disturbed in the winter also causes birds to expend important energy, energy they could be using to help stay warm.
Studies are finding that because of fireworks, some bird species take to the sky, flying higher and for greater distances, sometimes flying far out to sea. Some may forage more over the next few days following a firework display to make up for the energy they lost. Some species showed an increase in heart rate, returning to normal after a few hours. Other species may panic from the noise and light and because they can’t see well in the dark, hit buildings and other structures, even collide with other birds. Some species abandon their nests, leaving their nests an easy target for predators.
A bird expert with The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Academy states that fireworks are typically more of a nuisance to birds, in most cases they are not a danger. An exception may be with situations that involve a group of sensitive birds in one area. Piping Plovers, for example, only nest on a few sandy beaches of large bodies of water and that might be a desirable spot for a fireworks display.
What about other animals? In California, for the fourth of July fireworks, California Sea Lions and Harbour Seals that had been on land made their way to the water but returned to land the next day. Sea Otters were found in the same area shortly after the fireworks showing that they were only minimally disrupted. Some wildlife rehabilitation centres have reported an increase in wildlife sightings, including deer, on roads during fireworks.
To reduce the impacts of fireworks on wildlife you can:
- Avoid firework events during migratory times and near migratory routes
- Avoid fireworks during nesting season
- Leave it to the professionals
- Use something different! Try low-noise fireworks or drone and laser-based light shows
And of course, adhere to all local laws. Many provinces, territories, and municipalities have restrictions on the use of fireworks.
