Consider Alternatives to Fireworks, for Animals’ Sake and Ours
Published by The Minnesota Reformer
On Dec. 31, 2011, 5,000 red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas. The birds landed on roofs, lawns and roads, covering the ground in a blanket of black feathers. “It just looked as if it had rained birds,” City Council Member Tracy Lightfoot said.
Scientists believe this unprecedented loss of wildlife was caused by New Year’s Eve fireworks. The hypothesis is that the large booms scared the birds from their roost, and the disorientation — combined with their poor night vision — led to fatal collisions.
Most of us associate fireworks with dazzling visual shows eliciting “oohs” and “ahhs” from crowds of onlookers. But there’s a dark side to these bright displays. Many wild animals, pets and people with a history of trauma face distress and even danger as fireworks approach on the Fourth of July.
