Ban the Bang! needs you to send in your experiences about animals, wildlife and also people who have been badly affected by fireworks.
Read more below or you can simply click here to VOTE and support the campaign

"Wildlife is literally being frightened to death".

This is the Looking Glass online campaign to ban the public sale of loud or any potentially damaging fireworks.

A couple of recent comments sent in:

" Because of persons unknown setting off fireworks at 17:20 on Sunday 27th Sept (2009) in a rural area, my terrified Collie bolted onto a main road and was killed by a car" ... N. H-W Northampton, UK.

"I am a vet and feel strongly about the lack of control of potentially lethal fireworks. The distress they cause to animals is a disgrace in our so-called animal loving nation." ... L.F. Walsall, UK.

Read more of the latest voter comments then sign the Ban the Bang! petition

UK Fireworks Season

When will a UK government accept that fireworks and animals (and also frail and elderly humans) DO NOT MIX?
If you are UK MP reading this then please vote on this campaign and get in touch. Ban The Bang! is collecting enough evidence to support the urgent necessity of an effective reworking of UK firework laws.
Read our sensible non-killjoy proposals then vote.

Cat suffers horrific firework attack

For more on this see our recent voters comments ... Just one of hundreds of similar incidents happening across Britain each year while lethal fireworks are still readily available to the public.

Read our sensible non-killjoy proposals then vote.

This picture of a drowned badger was sent in by a voter whose neighbour's noisy firework party caused the wild animal to panic and run into the garden pond.
For more on this incident see Voters Comments November 2004

Firework fans ...
Do you think this is a killjoy campaign?
Click Here to find out why it's not and what the campaign's proposals are

... or read through the introduction below first.

The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) tells Looking-Glass and VeggieGlobal:
"I would like to see a severe restriction on the sale and use of fireworks at the very least. I find it strange that we have restrictions on weaponry in the UK yet fireworks are now equivalent to minor explosives in power."
Ian Peters, Wildlife Advisor

Battersea Dogs Home tells Looking-Glass and VeggieGlobal:
"Having worked in animal shelters for a few years, in the UK I have witnessed first hand the increase in lost pets and strays coming in during traditional firework seasons."
L. Jenkins, The Dogs Home Battersea

Why Ban The Bang?
If you are a pet owner then you've no doubt seen how distressed animals can get during festival times as fireworks bang and flash in back yards across the country. Not only all kinds of wild and domestic animals, but also children, the elderly and those of a nervous disposition can be seriously affected by modern, excessive fireworks, which are easily bought from your local stores. Communities are increasingly conscious of the unsociable behaviour caused by irresponsible neighbours and youths who set of fireworks without any consideration for their local environment or other residents in their community whether human or animal.

As fireworks get noisier, sound levels are reaching decibels that can not only damage human hearing but also frighten animals and birds literally to death.
If the noise doesn't kill them then birds and mammals in your local neighbourhood can easily become disorientated and suffer in other ways.
Looking-Glass has researched this issue for many years now and have experienced the aftermath of extreme fireworks on wildlife, finding severely distressed or dead birds and other creatures around gardens and woodland areas close to private and even so-called organized displays located in environmentally sensitive areas.
As fireworks have now become increasingly used throughout the entire year through multicultural celebrations and the trends of fireworks used at weddings and parties, this also means nests can be abandoned during breeding seasons, leaving baby birds to die.
Research is also needed as to the detrimental effects fireworks may be causing to migratory birds.

It's a widespread problem not just in the UK but world-wide.
In the UK, more and more people use fireworks to celebrate personal occasions and other events like religious festivals and now the latest craze, weddings. So besides traditional UK celebrations like Guy Fawkes night, the threat to wildlife is now extended throughout the entire year. New laws imposed in 2004 to curb the use of fireworks have made no difference at all. (See Campaign News Updates)
Many people - even some pet owners - have no consideration for their local wildlife when using fireworks.
With the dramatic decline in numbers of bird species throughout Europe, louder and more extreme firework products are not helping matters in the slightest. The house sparrow has now become a rare sight across many areas of the UK, and we suggest that loud fireworks may be contributory to their dwindling numbers. Small creatures can simply die of shock from the very loud explosions of "aerial bombs" and similar fireworks being set of just metres away from them.
In rural areas adjacent to wildlife habitats, the threat is increased even more. Loud and excessive aerial fireworks can seriously affect wildfowl, songbirds, owls, deer, badgers, voles and many other animals native to your own area of the world. Apart from severe shock and burns, animals can also suffer from broken ear drums.
While "extreme" fireworks remain available over the shop counter then the world's struggling wildlife continues to be adversely affected. Besides this, many domestic animals become lost during firework celebrations - usually the fault of careless owners who have left their pets outside.

In Australia, most territories have banned the public sale of all fireworks. We assume that the main reason is to eliminate the risk of fireworks setting off bush fires etc. But the secondary effect of course means that animals have a safer chance of survival throughout the year. In more temperate climates such as the UK, fireworks don't pose such serious fire threats during the wintry months.
In the US, some states have seasonal firework bans for the same reason, usually during drought periods. However some American cities have banned them totally, even the so called "safe and sane" variety. American community services remind the public that fireworks are the cause of thousands of fires and injuries throughout the country each 4th July, but little or no mention about the major impact on wildlife - which of course also suffer through fires and fright caused by fireworks.

In many areas of the world, New Year is a time for fireworks. Europe and Latin American countries are particularly unpleasant places for animals and wildlife due to the extreme volume of fireworks. These easily match the decibel levels of large real bombs. In Italy for example, kids are casually setting off these kinds of fireworks around the streets and suburbs throughout the entire Christmas period. There, Looking-Glass has actually witnessed a small bird drop dead of fright when a loud banger (more resembling a small stick of dynamite) was let off near its perching place. This kind of example ties in with many comments received by Ban the Bang! voters - some who have observed groups of dead birds and fledgelings around areas after firework displays. We even have reports of dead birds found in sanctuaries after nearby firework displays.
Many animals have been reportedly hit by cars during firework celebrations as they run in panic.

People are also affected by misuse of fireworks, and one harrowing comment describes a woman whose husband was killed by a firework during their wedding reception. Many voters also comment on how frightened their young children get from the excessive noise of modern fireworks. Ban the Bang! even receives multiple votes from residential homes for the elderly. We have even had reports from a UK barracks were some soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress, after returning from war zones, have been affected by the loud bangs of a local firework display.

In fact, the more Ban The Bang! builds up a dossier of what has become the most conclusive proof ever of the negative impact of irresponsibly used fireworks, we continue to be surprised by the diversity of incidents and circumstances which highlight their detrimental effects on a world-wide scale.

The EU are proposing to ban the public sale of loud fireworks - but only those that exceed a specified sound level. However, this proposal has no relevance to the effects on animals and wildlife and is directed at the potential damage to human hearing only.
At present commercially available "Air Bombs" are reaching levels of well over 105 decibels ... that's louder than Concorde was during take off!

We don't want to be total killjoys here. (Many enjoy the visual delight of properly controlled fireworks)
We present you this campaign on various levels depending on geographical location.
In low fire risk regions like the UK and similar temperate regions we suggest that there's still a place for small non-animal threatening firework displays in your back yard. In these countries only aerial (rockets etc.) and "banging" or "screaming" fireworks should be withdrawn from public sale.
In a way, this kind of ban will not be any threat to firework manufacturers, and if anything, it should give them reason to sensibly change their methods and introduce more visually inspiring low level, quiet and safe fireworks.
Noisy and aerial fireworks should only be used in controlled licensed displays. And such displays should only be allowed in urban areas - and at least 2 km away from any potential wildlife / living habitats. Noise levels of such displays should not exceed 85db.
Click Here to find out more why Ban The Bang! is not a "killjoy" campaign and to find out what our balanced proposals are

Now You Can Help - in THREE Ways.

1. PLAIN VOTE:
Click here to vote a ban on the public sale of fireworks that bang.

2. VOTE AND CONTRIBUTE:
Alternatively, besides just voting, you can also add a comment or report after you have voted. Remember, to help this campaign succeed once and for all, hard quantifiable evidence needs to be collected to complete this research and your contribution is vital.

3. VOTE and THEN MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE BAN the BANG POSTER:
Whether you just vote or vote and contribute don't forget to download your free Ban The Bang! poster.
To the Voting Page.

CLICK HERE to SIGN THE PETITION

Tell a Friend about this Campaign

Please see our Ban the Bang feedback page for important campaign updates

Click Here to find out why Ban The Bang! is not a "killjoy" campaign and to find out what our balanced proposals are

What Else Can You Do To Help?

A firework code to help wild animals and birds.
During firework celebrations, only buy fireworks that don't pose a threat to wildlife. I.e. nothing that bangs or screams and no aerial fireworks like rockets or starbursts.
If you have lots of trees in your garden then it's not a good idea to have any kind of aerial type fireworks. Birds are quietly roosting in trees all around you at night. Just because you can't hear or see them doesn't mean they don't exist after sunset!

Protecting your own pets.
Never allow your pet outside during firework celebrations. If you have animals in hutches outside and can't move them indoors, then cover the hutches with heavy blankets. This will help reduce the noise and the animal should also remain undisturbed by flashing lights. Keep cats and dogs indoors, close windows and blinds and create an audible diversion for them, like turning on some music - this should be reasonably loud but soothing sounds to try and divert the animal's attention from the outside).
If available in your country, get your cat or dog microchipped. As we have already mentioned many cats and dogs run away from home in a panic when there are fireworks around and tend to get lost. With a microchip implant it's far easier to reunite an animal with its owner.

Wild animals and birds that are shocked or injured.
Keep an eye out for animals and birds in shock that may have fallen from trees. In most cases human intervention will add to the animals distress and we recommend you keep a watchful distance from the animal / bird and make sure no one else goes near it. If the animal continues to behave in a shocked state for more than three or four hours or is clearly injured then you should alert your local animal welfare organization as soon as possible. They will send someone to investigate further.
Important Note: Tell your local animal welfare organisation to link up free with The Lost and Found Animals Network (LaFAN). If an animal is lost through fright during firework activities, LaFAN provides a simple method for the public to track down a rescue place in the vicinity of their lost animal. The LaFAN website address is http://www.looking-glass.co.uk/lafan

Keep a check on the elderly and young children.
The elderly are particularly susceptible to loud disturbances. They often live alone and have pets which can become nervous and agitated by the noises. It's a good idea to check on elderly neighbours if you think they or their pets may be suffering during firework periods.
Very young children also need comforting at night during loud firework activity as they often wake up frightened by the bangs outside.

If you are aware of any incidents involving the suffering of any animals through the use of fireworks then please use our contact page

CLICK HERE to SIGN THE PETITION

Ban The Bang Campaign MENU

Bang The Bang Front Page
Ban The Bang Campaign Updates, Reports and Incidents
Ban The Bang Voters Comments (an interesting read)
VOTE HERE - Read the proposals then vote to Ban The Public Sale of Fireworks that Bang
Tell a Friend about this Campaign
Why Ban The Bang! is not a "killjoy" campaign
Enjoy an environmentally friendly firework display

top of this page