Balloon Litter A Hazard To Fish, Wildlife And The Environment - The Fisherman

Balloon Litter A Hazard To Fish, Wildlife And The Environment

New York DEC field staff often find littered balloons, even when working in the state’s most remote areas. DEC staff have been picking up balloons they find while doing field work. Fish and Wildlife Technician, Briana All says, “I’m hoping that by collecting these balloons we find in the woods and putting them on display, people will realize that when they release balloons they are littering. There is only one place these balloons will end up—back on the ground or water far from where they originated.”

Littered foil or latex balloons and their strings can be found on the ground, stuck in trees, in water bodies, and other sensitive ecosystems. Finding waste balloons in any wild place doesn’t just take away from the experience of being in these environments—when balloons end up as litter, they can also become a hazard to fish and wildlife or can become microplastic pollution. Wildlife can and does mistake the balloons as food and tries to ingest them, blocking their intestines causing them to starve. Wildlife can also get tangled in the ribbons, which inhibits their movements or strangles them.

Be part of the solution:

  • If you celebrate with balloons, make sure they are tied down tight, and avoid balloon releases. Many balloons end up in the environment after being released at celebrations and memorials.
  • Dispose of balloons properly in the trash. Balloons do not belong in the recycling bin.
  • Consider alternatives to balloons such as bubbles, bells, paper or fabric garlands, reusable banners, or planting a native tree, shrub, or flowers in remembrance of a loved one.

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