
Balloons have a celebratory allure but we can easily adapt to less harmful festive traditions. Balloons may seem like a fun addition to birthday parties or weddings, but once they are released, they pose a great danger to wildlife. Land animals like bighorn sheep and owls as well as marine animals such as dolphins, turtles and birds mistake them for food or get tangled in the plastic string with deadly consequences. There are plenty of ways to celebrate while avoiding releasing balloons into the environment. Lara O’Brien with Blue Planet Global Impact at the University of Michigan suggests to instead “plant native trees or flowers (in designated areas), fly kites, wave flags or banners, light candles, blow bubbles, create chalk drawings, paint murals, organize a community walk, run, or bike ride, or even do trail or river cleanups."
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Photo by ricky_banner, Flickr