Not long ago we accompanied a few refuge staff members on a hike at Desert National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is the largest national wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states, covering more than a million and a half acres. Consequently, we were able to hike to a remote canyon that is rarely, if ever, visited by the public.
To arrive at the starting point, we drove quite a distance up a rough dirt road that required high clearance vehicles. We finally parked and left the vehicles and then hiked across the desert several miles to the entrance of the canyon.
Signs of human activity in this area were limited to pictographs painted on rock walls hundreds of years ago. No other signs of civilization existed. Except, that is, for a string of six Mylar balloons trapped by cholla cactus spines.
Finding Trash
“I never go out on the refuge without finding at least one Mylar balloon,” says Amy Sprunger, manager of Desert NWR.
When driving along a road even in a remote area, you might see bottles and cans thrown from cars by careless visitors. You may spot license plate holders, door handles, and other car parts removed from vehicles that traveled too fast. You could also come across articles of clothing and bags of discarded garbage. All of this by the side of a road.
Remote Locations
But Mylar balloons, as well as latex balloons, can travel miles to the remotest locations before descending to a level that allows innocent vegetation to snatch them and secure them in place. These balloons come in all styles and colors depending upon the event celebrated, and they do not decompose with time. We have stumbled across them in the farthest reaches of deserts, mountains, plains, and other remote landscapes, and we have wondered what people were thinking when they released them. Some balloons, of course, escape their tethers; but we have witnessed many released on purpose.
The last Mylar balloon we rescued from the desert was pink and inscribed with the endearments “Princess” on one side and “Birthday Wishes” on the other. Perhaps the little princess found it difficult to hold onto the balloon. Perhaps it was freed on purpose. Whatever happened, it found its way to a remote desert region generally unspoiled by litter and other waste.
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Balloon Releases
“Countless balloons are released around the world every day,” says balloonsblow.org. “Numerous non-profit organizations and charity groups perform mass balloon releases to raise funds.” That’s not to mention private celebrations that feel compelled to release balloons to document the event. These can have major impact on the environment and its wildlife.
Effect on Wildlife
Marine species as well as terrestrial animals such as tortoises and birds have been injured and even killed by balloons. “The animal is usually killed from the balloon blocking its digestive tract, leaving them unable to take in any more nutrients,” says balloonsblow.org. “It slowly starves to death.” This has even happened to bighorn sheep that have mistaken latex balloons as nutrient-rich foliage.
Besides mistaking these items for edibles, wildlife can become snarled in balloon debris. “The animals can become entangled in the balloon and its ribbon making the animal unable to move or eat.”
In the Future
Perhaps in the future the sale and the release of Mylar balloons will be banned and the public will become aware of the litter the balloons create and the hazards to wildlife.
And perhaps one day when the little “Princess” grows up, she will be made aware of the effects of Mylar balloons and other balloons. And perhaps she will become involved in the efforts to eliminate them.
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