Full Breakdown
Big Bear Lake’s Fourth of July Fireworks Raise Bald Eagle Conservation Concerns
7/4/2026, 11:09:03 AM
Event
On July 4, 2026, a fireworks display will be launched from a barge about two miles from the nest of resident bald eagles Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear Lake. The show will last under thirty minutes, and the fledglings Sandy and Luna will be twelve weeks old—a vulnerable stage, according to wildlife biologist Peter Sharpe.
Background
Jackie and Shadow have nested at Big Bear since at least 2022. Fireworks in 2022 and 2023 caused the adults to leave the area for days. After a predator loss of their first clutch in January 2026, they successfully raised a second clutch that hatched on April 4-5, 2026.
Data and Significance
Petitions opposing the fireworks have gathered over 40,000 signatures in 2025 and more than 43,000 in 2026. Bald eagles have a 70 % survival rate. Launch barge sits about two miles from nest and show will last under thirty minutes. At twelve weeks, fledglings remain dependent on parents and are learning flight. Disruption could raise mortality from disorientation, collisions with power lines or roads, and lead poisoning—hazards that have killed eaglets Stormy and Simba. Nest is livestreamed worldwide as a symbol of species’ recovery.
Official Statements & Criticism
Visit Big Bear calls the fireworks a “long-standing tradition” and an “important economic driver” for tourism. Visit Big Bear notes two-mile launch distance, duration, and its effort to “reduce loudest booms where possible.” Friends of Big Bear Valley’s media manager, Jenny Voisard, warns that sudden flashes and noise could cause fledglings to flee at night, raising collision risk with roads and power lines. She emphasizes the eagles’ dependence on their parents. Petitioners propose drone light shows or land-based displays farther away. California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been asked to review impacts but have not issued a formal response.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's not knowing what [Sandy and Luna are] supposed to be doing outside of the nest, knowing where they are, knowing where they're going, if they get separated from their parents or each other it could cause an issue,” — Jenny Voisard, Media Manager, Friends of Big Bear Valley
- “There's a road right there. So, there's just lots of dangers.” — Jenny Voisard, Media Manager, Friends of Big Bear Valley
- “The Big Bear community has coexisted with its wildlife, including bald eagles, for generations,” — Visit Big Bear, Statement
- “reduce the loudest booms where possible” — Visit Big Bear, Statement
Next Steps
Petitioners request relocating the fireworks launch site or substituting a drone light show. Organizers have expressed willingness to explore mitigation measures, but no definitive relocation decision has been announced.
