Balloon release

What kinds of thoughts does the sight of a balloon illicit for you? Birthdays? Weddings? New babies? Grand openings? Circus clowns? UFO sightings? Unfortunately, I no longer associate balloons with joyous occasions, instead I think of litter. Yeah, litter. Like the type of refuse you see strewn along the side of the road. Except this balloon litter is not located near any roads but somewhere in a remote forest or wetland. This is where I typically find the remains of balloons when I am out bushwhacking. And I find this balloon litter way too often. And it infuriates me every time.

Metallic balloon found near Sand Lake

Most recently I found the remnants of a balloon along a stream while heading to Streeter Fishpond in the Five Ponds Wilderness (read about it here). But this was not the first time I found the remains of a balloon in a remote area. I have picked up balloon litter numerous other times in many different places during my outdoor adventures. The two incidents that come readily to mind were a single Mylar balloon in a wetland east of Sand Lake in the Five Ponds Wilderness in 2007 and several different Mylar balloons along the southern portion of Northville-Lake Placid trail in the spring of 2009. And I know there were many more incidents too. These balloons seem to be ubiquitous and overly attracted to remote and wild areas.

How do the balloons end up in these remote areas? Some are intentionally released to celebrate an event or when their owners tire of them. Others escape when the opportunity arises such as when their unsuspecting young owner loosens their grip ever-so-slightly. These balloons then flee into the sky and eventually take refuge where they are least likely to be found, such as in a secluded area. Unfortunately for the balloons (and perhaps their owners) they are sometimes found by an irate bushwhacker who collects them and ensures they are disposed of appropriately.

Balloons come in two different types: latex and metallic. Latex or rubber balloons are the colored and round balloon typically used during mass balloon releases. Metallic balloons, commonly referred to as Mylar balloons, are usually irregularly shaped and have pictures or writing on them. These types of balloons are commonly purchased for special occasions such as birthdays, new babies, etc. Both types of balloons are commonly inflated using helium which gives them their lighter than air properties.

Latex balloons

Latex balloons are manufactured from the sap of the rubber tree and therefore are both natural and biodegradable. Exposure to light accelerates the degrading process begun by naturally occurring bacteria. Although latex balloons may be biodegradable, they are often decorated with ribbons and streamers that are typically NOT biodegradable (i.e. they are usually made of nylon or other plastics). These decorative items can possibly entangle animals or be ingested by them. This was the type of balloon I found when approaching Streeter Fishpond.

The metallic balloons are made of metalized nylon, which is a type of plastic and thus essentially non-biodegradable. How long these balloons will remain present in the environment is anyone’s guess. This is the type of balloon I usually find while bushwhacking through the backcountry.

Mylar balloons

And why would anyone get irate just because they find an occasional old balloon lying on the ground or entangled in a tree, shrub or other vegetation? First, and foremost, old balloons are litter and their presence detracts from the enjoyment and appreciation of these wild areas. Second, the balloon fragments can be accidently ingested by animals mistaking them for food items (this is more of an issue within aquatic habitats than in terrestrial ones). And finally, balloon litter reflects our society’s attitude toward the natural world and our place within it. It continually saddens me that our society is willing to contribute to the trashing of our natural world merely for a few moments of self-centered joy such as that a balloon provides.

Regardless of their biodegradable status, the release of any helium-filled balloons is still littering. Although paper is biodegradable, if you throw it out the window of your automobile you can still be ticketed for littering. There is no reason the same should not be done for any type of balloon release. This would be applicable to not only mass balloon releases but single balloons as well. Anyone who releases a helium-filled balloon would be fined just like any other person caught littering. And if a child accidentally releases a helium-filled balloon, the child’s parents could be held fully culpable for the child’s crime and have to pay the appropriate fine. And crying will not get you out of the fine either!

Balloon release

Better yet, to prevent our wilderness areas from being covered with balloon waste, the sale of any helium-filled balloon regardless of the manufactured materials should be made illegal (a summary of state laws against balloon releases can be seen here). No more happy birthday balloons, no more wedding balloons, no more grand opening balloons, and no more circus clowns carrying balloons. And for those whiners who cry “But what will I give on birthdays or when a love one is sick?” I say just get a card like everyone else, would ya? And make sure the card is made out of recycled paper!

Bozo the Clown

Okay, maybe I am going a little too far here for what is mostly just an aesthetic problem. Wildlife and vegetation do not care whether balloon litter is scattered all over the countryside and some animals might even incorporate them into their lives (e.g. bird nesting materials). This is primarily true in terrestrial habitats but these balloons could have a more deadly impact in aquatic environments where the fragments can be mistaken as food and ingested by numerous organisms (click here for more details). Maybe a more practical solution than making these balloons illegal would be to require a weight to be incorporated into the balloon to insure it could not drift away and litter our natural areas. This would keep the balloon close the surface and thus be easier to collect and dispose of appropriately.

So the next time you celebrate a wedding, a new born baby, a grand opening or a trip to the circus with a helium-filled balloon, please think about the impact that balloon could have on the natural world and substitute a more environmentally-friendly alternative (check out for some ideas here). If not that, then please think about the poor bushwhacker who has to carry the remains of your balloon back to civilization and what he might do to the next balloon-carrying circus clown he encounters.