Is the 4th of July harming nature?
By Isaac Rath and Katie Milesky
Photos by Isaac Rath and Dad
The 4th of July is a time for celebration in America - offices are closed, grills are fired up, and the most potato salad you’ll see all year is on the table. A big holiday tradition is lighting up the night sky with fireworks. While they are fun to watch, it should be noted that fireworks have more negative consequences and the increased risk of wildfires in dry climates or the occasional mangled hand. These fireworks cause loud, intense noise pollution that can be detrimental to local wildlife, especially birds. Birds have more sensitive ears than humans, and the harsh booming of up to 150 decibels can cause significant and permanent damage to their ability to hear. This can cause them to sing in a different pitch than they normally do, as they cannot hear themselves, which can cause issues in finding a mate.
You may not notice the harm you are doing by setting off fireworks, but studies show that birds in urban areas sing louder than birds in rural areas due to the effects of noise pollution. Last summer, when Katie was home from her journey on the Appalachian Trail due to an injury, she had spent the nights leading up to the fourth of July watching a Great Horned Owl family in a tree near her yard. The night of the fourth, when the loud banging of the fireworks were startling her (she hates loud noises), she couldn’t help but worry about the owl family, especially the young ones, who had never heard anything like this before and had no idea what a firework is. After that night, she never saw nor heard the owls again.
Noise isn’t the only pollution that fireworks leave in their wake. With each firework that goes off, particles of various sizes are released into the air. These particles can be hazardous to the health of both humans and wildlife. The goal of this isn’t to put a downer on your holiday, it’s simply to get you to think about the broader environmental impacts of your celebration, and how it may affect the other species who share the planet with us. All I ask is that when you celebrate Independence Day in the future, approach the celebration with consideration for more than just human enjoyment and aim to celebrate responsibly.
