Balloons have long been a fitting end to many a celebration. Releasing them into the air seems like such a freeing action, the balloons floating away in the wind, carried ofto unknown destinations. Our fancies fly with the fluttering ribbons tied to the balloon.

Unfortunately, the balloon released today may be the death knell for some unlucky sea creature or land animal who mistakes it for food. It’s not only the ribbons or strings that can entangle some part of an animal, it’s also the material itself causing harm. Even biodegradable latex balloons are not that biodegradable, taking years to break down. Swallowed pieces of balloons can block digestive tracts, and have been found in a variety of animals both in the sea and on the land. Balloon pieces have also been found on beaches and near sea turtle nests.

The Alabama Gulf Coast was the nesting place of approximately 7,000 sea turtles during the 2014 season. Thousands of nesting turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The turtle babies hatch and then make their way back to the Gulf of Mexico. Balloon pieces have been found near sea turtle nests and are a cause for concern to conservationists because of the danger they pose to turtles who may get tangled in the balloon remains or mistake it for food.

Keep your celebration safe and fun by using other ways to celebrate a special occasion. There are several alternatives for balloon releases, including planting trees or flower gardens and using pinwheels, bunting, kites, ribbon dancers, lighted candles or luminarias. The Balloons Blow organization has a website devoted to making people aware of the danger of released balloons and what you can do to protect the environment and its denizens.