Most of these balloons are those falsely marketed by the balloon industry as “biodegradable latex.” All photos were taken by Balloons Blow on Hutchinson Island, Florida, USA – unless otherwise noted. All photos with citations may be used for education purposes.
Balloons Blow Gallery
Puffin tangled in Suzuki balloons. Luckily it was found, untangled and released. Photo: Jill Fraser Photography - Whitby, UK
Sea turtle passing balloon and ribbon - Clearwater Marine Aquarium
I recently encountered a horseshoe crab with a balloon tangled around her legs. She was upside down on Slaughter Beach in Delaware during the annual spawning frenzy. I removed the balloon, set her upright, and she safely returned to the ocean." - Doug Bevington
Latex Balloons in Hawksbill sea turtle
These balloons were removed from inside a Hawksbill sea turtle in August 2011.
Photo: Lance Ferris
Australian Seabird Rescue
Australian Seabird Rescue
Shearwater
Balloon pulled from a Shearwater's throat.
Photo: Ian Hutton, Australia
Photo: Ian Hutton, Australia
Loggerhead sea turtle & latex balloon
Cattle egret consuming a latex balloon
Photo credit: Pam Bedsole
Green sea turtle dead from plastic and balloons
“This green sea turtle died from ingesting marine debris, including balloons and plastic bags. We find debris in 3 out of every 10 turtles.”
Both items at the bottom right are balloons. One purple and one white.
Photo: Kathy Townsend, Turtles in Trouble
April 2014
Guillemot caught in balloons
Luckily, this Guillemot with a balloon tied tightly around its leg was found & saved!
Farne Islands National Trust, UK.
Photo: David Steely
Latex Balloon fragment in stomach of green turtle
Fragments of a blue latex balloon found in the stomach of green turtle stranded dead near Blackpool, UK.
Photo: Rod Penrose, Marine Environmental Monitoring, UK CSIP
Plastic and Balloons found in Green Sea Turtle
This is a photo of all the plastic found in a small green sea turtle that stranded in South Carolina.
DuBose Griffin
Black-footed Albatross killed by latex balloons and cotton string
Dead Black-footed Albatross entangled in latex balloons & cotton string on Zmudowski Beach, California.
Visit SIMoN
Photo: C.Miller/P. Brown (BeachCOMBERS)
Photo: C.Miller/P. Brown (BeachCOMBERS)
Kemp's Ridley
Kemp’s ridley juvenile from 65 NM west of Sarasota, FL. The turtle had ingested the latex end of a balloon. The synthetic ribbon trailed from the turtle and was wrapped around the front flippers. The balloon was removed by lavage and turtle released.
Photo: Blair Witherington
Photo: Blair Witherington
Gull eating balloon
Series of 12 images
Photo: Counting Coots
Photo: Counting Coots
Rusty blackbird killed by latex balloons
Photo: D. Gurniewicz, Indiana Dunes, Indiana
Anhinga with latex balloon & ribbon stuck on beak
This Anhinga has had this balloon caught on his beak since at least September 28th, 2012. A group of people are still anxiously waiting for an opportunity to help this poor bird 🙁
Photo: J. Patterson, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Anhinga with latex balloon & ribbon stuck on beak
Photo: A. Ledbetter, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
National Trust, UK
Photo: Richard Gilbert
Photo: Richard Gilbert
Juvenile Kemp’s Ridley
A juvenile Kemp’s ridley treated for ingestion of a balloon by the Sea Turtle Hospital at Mote Marine Laboratory. The young turtle washed up on a sandbar Tuesday, July 14, 2009, near the south end of Lido Key, Florida. Swimmers who found the turtle called Mote biologists, who brought the turtle in for treatment. the turtle is 22.1 cm carapace length and 1.5 kg on admission to the hospital.
Underwater Times
L. Byrd – Sea Turtle Hospital, Mote Marine Laboratory
Underwater Times
L. Byrd – Sea Turtle Hospital, Mote Marine Laboratory
Kemp’s ridley after ingesting a balloon
This juvenile kemp’s ridley attempted to ingest a balloon along with several yards of nylon ribbon. Luckily the ribbon & balloon were removed & the turtle was able to be released.
Photo: Mote Marine Laboratory
Photo: Mote Marine Laboratory
Latex balloon excreted from a green sea turtle
“A green sea turtle rehabbing with us excreted this.”
Photo: North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Photo: North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Juvenile Kemp’s Ridley
Underwater Times
L. Byrd – Sea Turtle Hospital, Mote Marine Laboratory
L. Byrd – Sea Turtle Hospital, Mote Marine Laboratory
Dead Osprey Chick
Many osprey & other birds use human garbage in their nests, as well as balloons. Sadly, this Osprey chick didn’t survive its encounter with balloon ribbons in its nest this summer at Sedge Island.
The New Jersey Osprey Project
The New Jersey Osprey Project
Black-winged petrel tangled in balloon ribbon
Recently, while cleaning up Bondi Beach, they came upon this unfortunate scene. A beautiful black-winged petrel entangled in a balloon’s ribbon. These pelagic birds only come to land for breeding. They are known to feed on cephalopods on the sea surface, perhaps mistaken identity.
Photo: Responsible Runners, Bondi Beach, Australia
Photo: Responsible Runners, Bondi Beach, Australia
Mylar balloons and a Long-beaked Common Dolphin
Photo: Shane Keena, Dana Point, California
Young Screech Owl hanging by balloon & its ribbon
This young Screech Owl was found in Pinellas County, Florida hanging by its wing, for who knows how long, at Sawgrass Park. Fortunately, they were able to get a ladder & cut him down & bring him to Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.
Photo: D. Sauvageau
Photo: D. Sauvageau
Dead Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
Found on Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia with ribbon coming from its mouth. A necropsy later confirmed the two latex balloons in the digestive tract. One, with a ribbon attached. The balloon ribbon extended from the esophagus nearly 150cm through the GI to the junction of the colon.
Photo: USFWS Eastern Shore of VA and Fisherman Island NWR
Photo: USFWS Eastern Shore of VA and Fisherman Island NWR
Ribbon coming out of mouth of a dead Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
Photo: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Ribbon in throat of dead Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
Photo: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Balloon ribbon from a balloon
The balloon ribbon extended from the esophagus nearly 150cm through the GI to the junction of the colon. Connected to a white latex balloon found inside a dead Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle.
Photo: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Photo: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
2 latex balloons inside a dead Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
Photo: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
2 latex balloons that killed a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
Photo: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Lamb entangled in balloon
This newly born lamb nearly died after becoming entangled with a Marks and Spencer promotional balloon.
Full Article
Goldfinch entangled in balloon string
A goldfinch found hanging by a balloon string would have surely died from starvation or injury if it had not been found.
Photo credit: R. Arnold
Swans with latex balloon
Photo: Nacho/Flickr