Firework safety for local wildlife

We’ve covered how to keep our cats and dogs protected around fireworks before. But as pet parents, we have a concern for other animals, too.

Whether it’s a neighbour’s pets, local livestock, or your garden full of birds and little critters, we should consider the harmful effects of fireworks on animals.

So, what can you do, as a pet parent, when it comes to animals and fireworks? Do fireworks impact wild animals, and how can you maintain firework safety for your neighbourhood of tailed and winged friends?

Find out how fireworks impact animals and what we can all do to help them below.

What's the environmental impact of fireworks?

We don’t want to be a downer here, but fireworks do have negative environmental effects, like:

• Air pollution

• Animal disturbance

• Fire

• Soil contamination

• Waste

• Water contamination

There are ways to limit the impact of each of these, though, which we'll discuss later.

What are the harmful effects of fireworks on animals?

We can split up the harmful effects of fireworks on animals into three categories: environmental, physical, and psychological.

Environmental

• Ingestion - Pollutants from fireworks are very toxic to animals that eat them by accident, and they lead to problems down the entire food chain, leading to long-term health issues for multiple creatures.

• Pollution - Chemicals from fireworks, like heavy metals, disturb the natural balance of the environment, leading to long-term issues for soil and water quality.

Physical

• Accidents - Panic leads to accidents, which is why birds often fly into things when fireworks are going off.

• Injury - Fireworks can scare pets and animals, leading them to take risks they don’t need to take. This can lead to injury due to things like falling from a height.

• Leaving their habitat - Fireworks can lead to wildlife leaving their habitats and nests, which leads to long-term issues for them and their young.

Psychological

• Strong fear - Loud bangs and flashes can literally scare wild animals to death due to intense fear and anxiety. This is due to their sensitive hearing and senses, which is why our cats and dogs struggle too.

• Excess stress - Like us, stress can negatively impact wild animals for the long term, causing significant increases in their heart rate and other stress markers, leading to health issues.

Animals and fireworks: how to protect nature on Bonfire Night

Here are some tips on how to protect your local wildlife:

Disposal

• Make sure you clean up all spent fireworks and cases, and soak them in water to prevent reigniting. Make sure you find somewhere to dispose of them properly, too. Animals regularly mistake fireworks and casings for food, which hurts them.

• Dispose of fireworks in your bin once they’re properly soaked. You should never put them in your recycling, for example.

• Seal fireworks properly after you’ve drenched them in water for a while, ideally overnight. You can put them in a sealed bag before putting them in your regular bin.

• Be aware of microplastics from fireworks, which can seep into rivers and waterways, causing further pollution. Try not to light your fireworks near waterways.

Engage with your community

• Encourage alternatives in your community, like drone or laser shows, instead of fireworks. Or try to consolidate celebrations into one firework display instead of multiple.

• Raise awareness and inform your community and neighbours about your animal safety concerns or talk to local councillors about it. Not many people are actually aware of the risks outside of “animals don’t like fireworks”.

• Support legislation for stricter firework use if you feel passionate about the subject.

Prioritising safety

• Avoid having fireworks near sensitive habitats full of animals like birds, bats, or other, small wildlife, which are prone to dying from shock. Birds, especially, are known to flee their nests or harm themselves in a panic during fireworks.

• Be aware of wildfires. While November and New Year’s are rarely dry in the UK, fireworks can still trigger dangerous wildfires in dry conditions, even if it’s cold.

• Keep fireworks well away from cattle, horses, and other farm animals. While farmers will likely keep them secure in preparation for noise, you should limit any potential panic.

What you can do if you’re having a fireworks event

Before fireworks

• Choose a safe location, and avoid letting fireworks off near wildlife habitats like lakes, ponds, and woodlands.

• Consider using low-noise fireworks.

• Check bonfires for wildlife if you’re building a bonfire pile. You must check these thoroughly for hibernating or nesting animals. Ideally, build the bonfire on the day it should be lit, and prioritise safety.

• Warn neighbours and local farms so they can prepare their livestock and pets beforehand.

During fireworks

• Follow good firework safety, follow instructions carefully, and make sure fireworks are aimed well away from hedgerows, trees, and other areas where animals and birds may shelter.

• Keep an eye out for wildlife during your event.

• Ideally, go to a registered event to prioritise safety and make sure you’re not near any protected habitats.

After fireworks

• Check for disoriented, injured, or scared wildlife and contact a local rescue organisation for advice if you find a disturbed or hurt animal.

• Pick up all debris and litter once everything has cooled down, and make sure you drench casings and fireworks in water for a while. Double-check for sharp plastics and cardboard as wildlife may eat these and hurt themselves.

• Soak all used fireworks in water, ideally overnight.

Environmentally-friendly alternatives to fireworks

Now, we know people love fireworks because, well, they’re fireworks - they’re loud, impressive and colourful. But if you’re open to it, there are lots of alternatives, like:

Drone light shows

This is where organisers use a load of LED-equipped drones to create choreographed routines without causing debris or noise. These are becoming popular at big events rather than small, private ones.

Laser light displays

Like the drone lights, these use powerful, choreographed lasers to create patterns in the sky. These are reusable and cause no pollution.

Low-noise and/or eco-friendly fireworks

Thankfully, the pyrotechnics industry is responding to concerns about the impact it's having on the environment, and you can now get “green” fireworks that use nitrogen-based propellants and biodegradable materials, like cardboard.

You can also get low-noise fireworks, where the loud bangs and sudden sounds are minimised. Our guide on sustainable pet parenthood has more tips on how to be a more eco-friendly pet parent.

Preparing your pet for fireworks

Our guide on how to protect your pet during fireworks can help here. But whether you're taking part in the festivities or not, preparing in advance is the most important step you can do.

As pet parents, this time of year is difficult, but with a little preparation and reflection, we can make sure our pets and their wildlife friends make it through the firework season without too much bother.

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