{"id":16630,"date":"2026-06-20T04:04:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T04:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=16630"},"modified":"2026-06-20T04:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T04:04:11","slug":"debate-rages-in-big-bear-over-calls-to-move-or-tone-down-july-4th-fireworks-show-to-protect-nesting-eagles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=16630","title":{"rendered":"Debate rages in Big Bear over calls to move or tone down July 4th fireworks show to protect nesting eagles"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A debate is underway ahead of an Independence Day fireworks production set to light up the Big Bear sky, with some community members arguing the event supports economic growth, while others contend it may adversely affect the area\u2019s fragile ecosystem.<\/p>\n

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For more than 60 years, the tourism organization Visit Big Bear has hosted a free Independence Day celebration for the public. The evening\u2019s grand finale is a fireworks display over Big Bear Lake \u2014 the \u201c4th of July Fireworks Spectacular\u201d \u2014 operated by the Rialto-based pyrotechnic and entertainment company, Pyro Spectaculars.<\/p>\n

Visit Big Bear says the event attracts more than 125,000 visitors. This year\u2019s fireworks show is from 8:45 to 9:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

The pyrotechnic display is two miles from the nesting ground of the bald eagles Jackie, Shadow, Sunny and Luna, made famous by the 24\/7 livestream operated by the environmental group Friends of Big Bear Valley. The birds have become an international phenomenon, with roughly 2.4 million social media followers, including more than 1 million on its main Facebook page.<\/p>\n

Concerns about the tourism organization\u2019s fireworks show and the area\u2019s notable eagle residents prompted a now-closed 2025 petition to delay or ban the show entirely last year. The petition garnered 40,000 signatures and argued that fireworks posed a significant threat to Jackie, Shadow, and their 2025 eaglets, Sunny and Gizmo.<\/p>\n

Another Change.org petition, as of June 19, has nearly 11,000 signatures urging Big Bear leaders to relocate this year\u2019s fireworks launch site or consider alternative celebrations like drone light shows.<\/p>\n

Visit Big Bear issued a statement on June 5 addressing concerns about the renowned Big Bear eagles and informing the public that it would move forward with the fireworks show.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fireworks show is a long-standing community tradition and an important economic driver for Big Bear\u2019s local businesses, workers, restaurants, lodging properties, recreation providers, and families. That context is especially important this year after another low-to-no snow winter, which directly impacted many of our neighbors, employees, and small businesses,\u201d the June 5 statement said.<\/p>\n

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Visit Big Bear CEO Travis Scott said by phone Friday, June 19, that 70% of the community\u2019s tourism income comes during the snow season, between December and March.\u00a0 This snow season, according to Scott, was dire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe literally had zero snowfall in Bear Lake until March,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The lack of snow impacts every business and resort in Big Bear, Scott said, adding, \u201cWe can\u2019t take a chance of not having the holiday income that is generated from having the fireworks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBig Bear\u2019s tourism ecosystem is fragile too, and the Fourth of July holiday is part of the broader effort to help our community recover heading into the summer season,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

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The statement further notes that the tourist organization coordinates with local fire safety authorities and complies with the required safety protocols during the show.<\/p>\n

Still, some community feedback runs counter to the voices collected in Visit Big Bear\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

A Visit Big Bear Facebook post, which invites the public to review its June 5 statement, sparked a volley of opinions in the comment section, resembling an intense tennis match.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are definitely choosing tourist money over the best interest of the wildlife and the environment. What kind of stewards are you of that magical, beautiful place?\u201d Mary Green wrote in a comment on the post.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see any harm to Jackie and Shadow,\u201d said Kim Derichsweiler in another Facebook comment, \u201cThey are just fine. We have had fireworks up here for years. This will not stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Days later, on June 18, Visit Big Bear issued another statement featuring local voices supporting the fireworks display as a catalyst for economic growth.<\/p>\n

Among the several voices in the statement was Big Bear Mountain Resort President and Chief Operating Officer Wade Reeser, who said the fireworks show is a source of economic stability that coexists with the local environment and wildlife. The resort is regarded as one of the most popular mountain getaways in the area. The resort\u2019s ski season was cut short due to warmer winter temperatures.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe support Visit Big Bear\u2019s efforts to balance environmental stewardship with economic vitality by working with the appropriate regulatory agencies and wildlife experts, as well as implementing meaningful modifications to protect sensitive wildlife while preserving a tradition that supports local residents, businesses, and visitors,\u201d Reeser said in the statement.<\/p>\n

The statement also lists the risk management steps that Visit Big Bear is taking to ensure the fireworks show balances \u201cecological responsibility with community celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, Visit Big Bear has instructed Pyro Spectaculars to reduce the use of certain fireworks that produce the loudest booms. As of Friday morning, June 19, Pyro Spectaculars representatives had not responded to a request for comment on how it would reduce the sound of its fireworks.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says that the shock of fireworks can cause wildlife to flee, which could result in birds abandoning nests, \u201cleaving young vulnerable to predators,\u201d and fireworks can potentially start a wildfire. It advises keeping celebration festivities a \u201crespectable distance\u201d from wildlife habitats.<\/p>\n

Visit Big Bear states in the June 18 statement that it had coordinated with the USFWS to provide guidance regarding the fireworks show and how it may impact the bald eagles. The wildlife agency confirmed that while fireworks may cause some disturbance, they are not expected to result in nest failure (a bird\u2019s nesting attempt that ends before any offspring can leave the nest). It also said that setting the fireworks barge away from the nest further reduces the risk, a procedure Vist Big Bear said it would implement. (It wasn\u2019t immediately clear if the new location would satisfy advocates\u2019 requests that the barge be removed from the eagles\u2019 critical habitat).<\/p>\n

Thousands are still opposed to the fireworks exhibition regardless.<\/p>\n

Big Bear Lake Mayor Randall Putz declined to comment on his role as an elected official, since the city is not responsible for the show, but by email offered a personal perspective.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had a 4th of July Fireworks show for decades, and the eagles have proven resilient. I hope for everyone\u2019s sake this year is no exception. But considering the known impacts firework explosions can have on wildlife, pets, plus veterans and others living with post-traumatic stress disorder, my personal preference would be to embrace alternative forms of entertainment and celebration for the 4th of July,\u201d Putz said.<\/p>\n

Friends of Big Bear Valley media and website manager Jennifer Voisard said the group opposes fireworks, but \u201cwe are not going to formally go against it, and we have asked everybody to remain calm and simply hope that Jackie and Shadow and Sandy and Luna will be okay,\u201d she said by phone on June 16.<\/p>\n