Fireworks are torture for animals

August 1st and the environment.

According to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), more than two thousand tonnes of fireworks are sold annually in Switzerland. Twice as many fireworks as 20 years ago.

The health-damaging fine particulate matter concentration in the air is never higher than on August 1st – the national holiday. The ignited fireworks cause around 360 tonnes of fine particulate matter every year.

More and more people and animals feel disturbed by the noise emissions, fine particulate matter, etc. from fireworks.

Already hours before celebrations like New Year's Eve or national holidays, many revelers begin with the banging. In addition to the deafening noise for animals, the smell of ignited fireworks can also trigger a flight instinct. Very high peak sound pressure levels are sometimes measured during fireworks.

This noise is unwanted sound for those affected, which disturbs them psychologically, physically or socially. The disturbance depends both on a purely physical component, the sound, as well as on personally influenced perception and attitude towards the noise source. While part of the population enjoys fireworks, the banging represents a nuisance for others. Including refugees from war zones.

Impulsive noise startles animals as well as humans. As an indirect consequence, accidents can occur that are attributable to unpredictable fright reactions. Additionally, pets are often missing for days after fireworks.

Many animals suffer during the banging of fireworks because they have much more sensitive hearing than humans. The banging causes pain and often excessive stress and panic, which can lead to heart failure particularly in older animals. Pet owners should be more careful, because year after year animals die as a result. If an animal is unprotected, the owner risks that their dog will subsequently become more fearful and also react sensitively to other loud noises. If a dog shows no fear, this is no guarantee forever. This can change rapidly if the dog is exposed to a surprising loud bang or with advancing age.

Prevention is often helpful

While cats usually instinctively hide, one prepares a resting place for the dog in a quiet room, to which it should get accustomed beforehand. Then it means shutters down and radio or television on, so that music somewhat suppresses the fireworks noise. These precautions during fireworks also apply to other suffering small animals like ornamental birds. Many animals also respond to homeopathic remedies like certain globules, hydrosols or Bach flower drops. However, this should already be tested on the animal beforehand and discussed with a veterinarian.

Because the dog reacts to moods, the people around it should best remain calm. If the dog seeks protection from humans, however, one grants it this. Slow stroking or light massage can provide support. Ignoring an animal seeking protection, as is often advised, is wrong. The frightened dog should not be unsettled by additionally pitying behavior. It is also important not to reinforce dogs in their fear – behave calmly and radiate composure, this also conveys security to the four-legged friend. If panic-like anxiety states persist, only one thing helps: dog into the car and seek out a noise-safe underground garage or area with it for a few hours.

Basically, every hearing-capable (vertebrate) animal is startled by unfamiliar banging and can, depending on distance to the noise source, be exposed to hearing damage like humans. Depending on animal species and noise form (e.g. sudden bang), possibly in combination with light forms (e.g. strong illumination of the room in darkness), consequences like increased attention and heart rate, evasive movements up to abortions, panicked flight with occasional fatal consequences and the displacement of entire populations have been proven. Based on the above explanations, it is recommended for fireworks to increasingly focus on light rather than bang effects, if the fireworks are needed at all.

Do not leave children unsupervised with sparklers, as they sometimes try to "scare" animals with them – this can lead to accidents.

Horses are flight animals that easily panic when in danger. They then try to overcome obstacles such as electric fences that they would otherwise avoid. Therefore, they should be brought to a safe stable early in any case. It also repeatedly happens that people intentionally throw fireworks into stables or at animals. Therefore, a trusted person should be in the stable or at least conduct regular checks to prevent such dangers from becoming reality in the first place.

Wildlife is also – unsurprisingly – extremely disturbed by firework noise. Wild animals are thereby reminded of negative experiences with hobby hunters, for example. Therefore, no fireworks should be ignited at forest edges, clearings, or in parks and nature facilities. Measurements with radar devices over three years in the Netherlands showed that several thousand birds each year rose to great heights shortly after midnight at the turn of the year. The movements lasted at least 45 minutes, with high bird swarm densities measured at 500 m altitude. The highest bird density was recorded over meadows and wetland habitats, including those in nature reserves, where waterfowl spend the winter. Flight reactions during firework episodes were also observed in Switzerland, albeit to a lesser extent: after the Lake Night Festival in 1992 in Thun, the population of black-necked grebes in the affected lake section had declined sharply; the birds settled in an area of the lake several hundred meters away. About 7 weeks after the episode, the black-necked grebes resumed their normal habitats. Of the other species, a group of about 400 coots disappeared. This group was found again 1 km upstream from the festival site. Around 4 weeks after the festival, the first animals appeared again at the festival site, where they reoccupied their old resting and feeding areas.

Fireworks should not be used at all or used sparingly and not set off several days before the festival day.

Death in the bonfire

Countless living beings such as hedgehogs, slow worms, salamanders, shrews, and toads burn annually in the piled-up wood stacks. The dry pile forms a seemingly safe shelter for many wild animals. On the evening of the national holiday, however, the sudden gathering of people blocks every escape route. The wood pile becomes a flaming inferno for the animals from which they cannot escape. To prevent small animals from nesting in the wood piles of traditional fires, these should be stacked short-term (e.g., only on the day of burning), states a fact sheet from Swiss Animal Protection (STS). A protective fence should be erected around large fires right at the beginning of wood stacking. This is quickly installed and is only removed shortly before burning, 1 to 2 hours beforehand.

What pet owners can do against fireworks:

The room should be darkened and the television or radio turned on to shield oneself from the outside as much as possible.
Animals should definitely be offered retreat possibilities.
Small animals should be offered additional hiding possibilities.
An alternative for calming pets' nerves are homeopathic remedies or Bach flowers. Medical sedatives should only be used in exceptional cases and after veterinary consultation.
In rural areas, it is generally quieter from experience. Anyone who wants to do their dog a favor can leave the city with them during the national holiday.
Special treats can be provided to convey to the dog that the noise brings something positive. For dogs that have not yet experienced many firework nights, fears can be reduced this way.
Dog walking should be done for the last time on August 1st in the early evening, so that one is not out with the dog during the loudest time from dusk onwards.