A dead seal found recently tangled in balloons in Jamestown, RI, became entangled after it died, according to a rescuer, who made it clear to the press that this is not an isolated incident and that balloons and other litter pose risks to wildlife: “We do see it frequently, that animals become tangled even after they’re deceased. There’s just tons of balloons and other marine debris out there.”

Yikes! That takes the air out of our fondness for balloons. It’s a grim reminder that if you can’t dispose of balloons responsibly, you shouldn’t be using them at all.

It’s mind-blowing how many balloons we see dangling from trees, floating in rivers, or strewn along beaches near our Friends of Animals headquarters in Fairfield County, CT. Perhaps they were originally tied around someone’s mailbox to announce to the world someone had a child, graduated or had a birthday. Or they were given to a child to take home from a party.

• If you can’t envision a celebration without balloons, the MOST responsible thing is to not use them outdoors at all. This will reduce the chances of them flying away by accident and becoming a threat to wildlife.
• Always tie balloons tightly or weigh them down with appropriate weights.
• After deflating latex balloons and foil balloons, cut the strings off and cut them and the balloon waste into small pieces and dispose of them in your regular trash. This helps prevent the balloons from accidentally flying away when you’re trying to dispose of them.
• You can also inquire about specialized recycling programs for latex and foil balloons in your area