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 20
Message to Everyone
Photo: S. Lott, New Jersey
Loggerhead sea turtle was tangled in latex balloon & ribbon
"This is Wally, a wash back Loggerhead. We found her while picking up trash on the beach back in 2009. She was entangled in Sargassum seaweed, a natural floating habitat for sea turtles, with a party balloon and string. She was released via boat back into the Atlantic thanks to the Marine Science Center because washbacks do not have the strength to swim back out to the Sargassum patch."
Photo: C. Derivan
Photo: C. Derivan
Mylar Balloon
Photo: S. Keenan, Elizabeth Morton National Wildlife Refuge Noyack, NY
Rose Bowl Balloons
Arroyo Seco Foundation, found near a newly-restored stream area by the Rose Parade route.
Latex balloon bouquet in tree
Photo: S. McKiniry, North New Jersey
Latex balloon litter with sea whip
Mission: Clean Beaches
Balloons Can Cause Power Outages
Photo: J. Sachs - Maryland
Latex in seaweed
Photo: T. Ledbetter, San Diego, CA
Balloon Pollution
Photo: E. Fox, Hatteras Island, NC
Another National Park with Balloon Pollution
Photo: E. Tenella, Biscayne National Park, FL
Mylar balloon in vegetation
Mission: Clean Beaches, Melbourne, FL
Mylar Balloon in Preserve
Photo: P. Miller, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve, FL
Latex Balloon Pollution
Timber Hell, New Jersey
Photo: Good Beach Bad Trash
Photo: Good Beach Bad Trash
Puget Sound
Photo: Community Cleanup Project
Pennsauken, New Jersey
Photo: Good Beach Bad Trash
Jupiter Inlet, Florida
Photo: L. Emerson
Wildlife Refuge
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Melbourne, Florida
Photo: Mission: Clean Beaches
Photo: Mission: Clean Beaches
Bahia Tenacatita
Bahia Tenacatita, on the Gold Coast of Mexico.
Photo: Pacific Sailors
Photo: Pacific Sailors
Haddonfield, New Jersey
Photo: Good Beach Bad Trash
Niantic, Connecticut
Photo: T. Wyatt
Island Beach State Park, New Jersey
Photo: V. Woodman
Hong Kong
Photo: R. Keep
Ella Bay, North Queensland
"Balloons blow down under in Australia too! A collection I made whilst performing a 5-hour turtle nest survey at Ella Bay, North Queensland."
Covehythe, UK
Photo: Fly in the Face Blog