The Dangers Of Balloon Releases: Protecting Texas Wildlife & Livestock

I know I will get some flak for this, but balloon releases are terrible, and it's time for everyone, particularly in Texas, to stop. I would love to see a ban enshrined in Texas law.

"But how DARE you tell me I can mourn/ raise awareness/ celebrate the way I want to!"

This way: if you were mourning a death, raising awareness for a cause, or celebrating an accomplishment by putting a goose, a calf, or a pet dog in a headlock and choking it to death, I would be in the right to tell you that you are doing something terrible, right?

Well, that is exactly what balloon releases do.

Why Are Balloon Releases Such A Terrible Thing To Do In Texas?

They kill wildlife, livestock, and pets. I hate to tell you this, but no balloon has ever made it up to heaven. It has sent some animals there, painfully.

At some point, they go too high, and "atmospheric pressure is dramatically reduced at high altitudes, so a helium balloon expands as it rises and eventually explodes."

They shatter into pieces even smaller than they normally would if you popped them on the ground, making them appear to be food to all types of animals below. So a tortoise, a lamb, or a kitten can choke on them or become impacted by the fragments in their intestines.

Additionally, animals can become entangled in the balloon strings.

Are Balloon Releases A Problem For Texas Ranchers?

Absolutely. Even Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller has taken to social media to speak out about them. Warning, the image is upsetting:

Calves love to eat wildflowers. Calves often mistake balloons for flowers, and then they choke and die. It is costly and heartbreaking to the rancher.

Why Are We Wasting Helium In Texas, Anyway?

Helium is a finite, non-renewable resource that is vitally important in medicine and technology. The applications are fascinating- I encourage you to read the BBC's article about it.

So why waste this precious resource that saves and improves lives?

How Do I Have My Event Without A Balloon Release?

There are a million other ways to celebrate, mourn, or raise awareness that don't involve littering and endangering the lives of animals. Even ones with good photo opportunities.

So be kind, and keep your balloons out of the sky.

The Fastest Animal In Texas: Meet The Pronghorn 'Antelope'

While sometimes called an "antelope," the pronghorn is the only species in its scientific family. Pronghorns are the fastest animal on land in Texas- reaching up to 60 miles per hour. They are also majestic, beautiful, and adorable creatures.

Gallery Credit: Renee Raven