Overview
- Visit Big Bear and city organizers have said the July 4 display will go forward with mitigation measures that include a launch from a barge about two miles from the nest, limiting the show to under 30 minutes, and trying to reduce the loudest booms.
- A Change.org petition urging cancellation or relocation has gathered roughly 12,500 to 15,000 signatures and Friends of Big Bear Valley has sent officials a formal letter documenting concerns for the eagle family.
- Friends of Big Bear Valley and other advocates note Jackie and Shadow hatched a rare second clutch in April and say the eaglets Sandy and Luna are practicing wing flaps and are likely to fledge around the holiday, a stage when parents’ presence at night is critical.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not issued a new public assessment for 2026 after its 2025 finding that fireworks posed no nest‑failure risk once last year’s eaglets had already fledged.
- Local officials emphasize the event’s economic role after a low‑snow winter and expect big holiday crowds, citing roughly 125,000 visitors for the weekend and below‑normal hotel occupancy that organizers say the fireworks help address.