Resident urges Blair County to ban balloon releases, citing wildlife and safety risks

Rosemary Ellis, a resident of Altuna, told the Blair County Board of Commissioners on Thursday that balloon releases — even those marketed as biodegradable — "take six months to several years for them to break down" and pose a threat to wildlife, power lines and aviation.

Ellis, who said she spoke after an Altuna Area High School yearbook-sponsored balloon release at Mansion Park, told commissioners she had contacted Superintendent Brad Hatch and learned the school used biodegradable balloons and omitted strings. Still, she said, these products remain hazardous. "Wildlife often makes the mistake and thinks that these balloons are food," she said, adding that animals can become entangled in strings or ingest balloon material, with fatal results.

The comment cited local farm-animal risks and infrastructure concerns, noting that metallic (Mylar) balloons can cause power outages when they contact lines and that balloons have been known to affect aviation. Ellis referenced ongoing legislative work, saying state Senator Amanda Capaltti has introduced Senate Bill 879 "to make it unlawful to intentionally release balloons filled with lighter than air substances" and urged Blair County to lead locally and encourage state action.

Commissioners did not take immediate action on the request during the meeting; public comment concluded and the agenda proceeded to consent items and departmental presentations. The meeting record does not show a formal motion on the issue or a timeline for staff follow-up.