Finding balloons in conservation lands is an all-too-common occurrence these days.
That’s because the activity is incompletely .regulated and public education may be lagging.
Florida bans releases of 10 or more balloons unless they area biodegradable or photodegradable. Violations can bring a $250 fine.
The problem many have encountered is not with mass balloon releases, but with individual releases, either intentional or accidental, that can be carried many miles–some have been documented to travel hundreds of miles–into wildlife habitat.
Perhaps the best approach is to work to persuade people to use more environmentally sensitive practices to celebrate events, remember loved ones and other uses.
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