Thoughts for the Fourth of July

A soapbox derby racer nears the finish line during an annual competition in Douglas on Friday, July 4, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Shirley and Twila Dean

I know Juneau has the tradition dating back to the 1800s of the Juneau fireworks. This tradition is completed by many volunteers who work for our community preparing and sending Juneau the roughly 25-minute show, which they have performed safely and fantastically since the beginning. During the last few years people have enjoyed their own fireworks well into July.

This being said, I would like the community to think about the impacts and lingering toll on the environment, people and animals.

Fear and stress responses have been well documented in pets and wildlife. Weather radars have recorded masses of birds taking flight and studies have show that seals and sea lions also flee.

Bill Bateman, a professor of ecology in Australia who is an author and researcher on the impacts of fireworks, reports that animals may abandon habitats completely or when they return they have much less energy for survival.

The effects are worse here because fireworks occur during our migration season of waterfowl. Arctic Terns and Seabirds are actively nesting on the dredge islands and hunting for fish.  Most of the songbirds in Juneau have finished their mating and singing rituals by early July, but they are still actively feeding their young. Birds frightened by fireworks may abandon their nest and leave chicks behind.

Studies have also confirmed that fireworks can also cause short-term surges in air pollution and leave toxins in the water and soil that harm wildlife and people over the long term. Air pollution worsens in the hours after the fireworks metal and gases like sulfur dioxide. Additionally, fireworks are wrapped in plastic and leave behind debris that can be ingested by animals and break down into microplastics.  Anyone who has walked Sandy Beach or areas where people have their own shows knows the garbage left behind.

There are ways to reduce these harms if people want to change the impacts. For example, there could be restrictions on using fireworks with less chemicals, restrict using personal fireworks, restrict sensitive areas, or ban them outright. 

We need to move beyond the 1800s in our thinking about this. We have been forced to change many of our human behaviors since then and this “tradition” needs change. Drone shows are increasing around the country and world. They are quieter and do not release the intense bursts of pollution, and this type of show would be a more inclusive experience for people and animals sensitive to the noise of the fireworks.  Especially in the current time of wars.  Fireworks cause many to relive horrible war noise and destruction of environments, people and animals. So in keeping Juneau a wonderful place for all beings let’s try to open our hearts and minds to rethink this “tradition.” As Dr. Bateman said “You have to look first for options that are more sustainable but still don’t take the pleasure out of these things.”

Thank you for your consideration of new ways of doing things.

Have a peaceful, safe celebration this summer.

• Shirley and Twila Dean live in Douglas.