RETHINK CELEBRATING WITH BALLOONS

How often do you come across a mylar balloon out in nature? While many folks will purchase balloons as a way to express love and appreciation for loved ones many will buy them as a decorating accessory for weddings, graduations, birthdays, funerals and sadly many will release balloons into the environment. These balloons however will stick around for years to come after that special occasion. When folks release them into the environment they are actually littering and leaving a trace. Towards the bottom of the article is a link to a petition to bam mylar balloons in San Diego County. Please sign even if you are not a resident. PETITION HERE

Latex balloons, some consider them to be bio-degradable but they can take anywhere from 6 months to 4 years to break down and decompose. Researches did a study observing balloons floating in seawater and found that in 12 months the balloons still retained their elasticity.

“Latex balloons float for just 10 hours, but can take a year or more to degrade, long enough to repeatedly wrap around or be ingested by turtles, sea birds and marine mammals. Scientists who work with stranded whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles have found balloons, parts of balloons and balloon string in the stomachs of many of these dead animals. In 2003, volunteers collected 4,228 mylar and latex balloons just from New Jersey beaches.” Patricia Sullivan, Honolulu Environmental Policy Examiner 2010 (Balloons kill marine animals)

Consider the havoc that these balloons cause to wildlife. Here is an article by NOAA on Saving Sea Turtles . These balloons are also being found in some remote areas as well.

In 2003, the Department of Fish and Game, along with the Angeles and San Bernardino national forests, began tracking local populations of bighorn sheep to better understand the animals long-term management needs. Researchers captured and marked sheep with radio collars to monitor their movements. When a marked animal dies, the collar emits a “mortality signal,” which helps biologists locate the remains and determine the cause of death. During these routine mortality investigations, biologists regularly found remnants of latex balloons in the animals’ stomachs.

“We have found everything from small latex fragments to entire balloon bouquets completely impacting the animals’ digestive tracts,” says Jeff Villepique, a DFG associate wildlife biologist. “If this were happening in just one location, we would probably consider it an anomaly. But our greatest concern is that this appears to be a ubiquitous occurrence in bighorn sheep populations that inhabit the urban-wild interface of southern California and in the adjacent high deserts.”

MORE ON BALLOONS BLOW

Now the second culprit the mylar balloon. This is not a bio-degradable material and are made with mylar nylon. Mylar balloons are far less friendly to the environment. They are made from metalicized polyester, which is dirty in both production and disposal. The ribbons attached are also problematic. They are often found entangled in wildlife or in their digestive systems. Many times the ribbons will get tangled up in power lines and have caused power outages, explosions to causing fires.

So why do people want to support an industry that is harmful to the environment and wildlife? Lack of education and awareness. We need to urge that a ban be brought on the sale of mylar balloons and latex balloons starting at the state level and going for a federal ban.

In April 2021 a law was passed in Hawaii banning the release of balloons, it is a similar law that was passed in other states like California. In January 2019 a legislative law was passed banning the release of balloons yet accidents do happen.

Just two weeks ago I found a near its end of its life mylar floating across Park Blvd. just as I was exiting the Joshua Tree National Park. The ribbon got tangled in the branches of a Creosote Bush, Larrea tridentata. I pulled over and picked it up. Within a couple of hours I pulled another one entangled in a shrub while heading to Pioneertown. While banning the release of these environmental threats into the sky seems helpful, we still find that is an issue. Please petition your local county and state to ban the sales of both latex and mylar balloon. Sicco Rood of the Anza Borrego Desert Research Center has started a petition, though it is for San Diego County and may not apply to you/us, it is a step in the direction o

I am reaching out to folks with experience in writing petitions for some advice on steps for a state wide ban and will soon write my first petition. I encourage everyone to do the same, spread the information, sign Anza Borrego petition, share with your friends/family. Educate others on how destructive these balloons are to wildlife and the environment.