Balloon Releases Kill Wildlife & Cause Environmental Hazards

Balloons kill wildlife, pollute the Earth, and waste helium, a non-renewable resource.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asks that Americans cease the release of balloons. Marine species like dolphins, whales, and turtles, as well as animals such as cows, dogs, sheep, and birds have all been hurt or killed by balloons. The animal is usually killed from the balloon blocking its digestive tract, leaving them to slowly starve to death. Animals can also become entangled in the balloon, or its ribbon, rendering them unable to move or eat.

The City of Cleveland banned large balloon releases earlier this year, not only to limit environmental harm, but to prevent power outages and fires caused by mylar balloons hitting power lines. The Alliance of the Great Lakes discovered 18,000 balloons and balloon pieces during beach clean-ups between 2016 and 2018.

To learn more, visit https://balloonsblow.org/impacts-on-wildlife-and-environment