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Bill to ban balloon releases awaiting action in the North Carolina State Senate

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published February 27, 2025 at 7:01 AM EST
A mylar balloon with fish and the quote “Making A Splash” with a tire track in the sand as the background.
M. Gosselin
/
National Park Service
Nearly 1,800 balloons were picked up on beaches at Cape Hatteras National Seashore last year.

A bill to ban balloon releases is awaiting action in the North Carolina State Senate.

Senate Bill 20 would ban the intentional release of balloons in the state – with sponsors saying they harm the beauty of North Carolina and pose a danger to wildlife and marine animals.

A live Gervais' Beaked Whale washed up in Emerald Isle recently and died soon after, and researchers say the female calf was killed by ingesting a plastic balloon.
N.C. State University Center For Marine Sciences And Technology
A live Gervais' Beaked Whale washed up in Emerald Isle recently and died soon after, and researchers say the female calf was killed by ingesting a plastic balloon.

In November 2023, a necropsy found a Gervais’ Beaked Whale calf that was found on the beach in Emerald Isle died from eating a plastic or mylar balloon.

Read more: A whale calf died on an ENC beach from eating a balloon and an NC researcher says plastics are a danger to cetaceans

If the bill passes, people who release them can get a $250 fine.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston