Nature Corner: Protecting Wildlife from Plastic Petals

Guild Park will soon become busy with visitors making use of its beauty for their special graduation or wedding photo sessions. Park users should be aware that the use of artificial fabric or plastic flower petals and metallic or plastic confetti to enhance a picture have a significant impact on the park environment and wildlife.

Fabric or Plastic Flower Petals and Metallic or Plastic Confetti are made of materials such as polyester, nylon or plastic-coated foil that are not biodegradable. They contain toxic dyes, formaldehyde or heavy metals that are carcinogens that pollute the soil, lead to long-term environmental pollution and can cause extreme health risks to wildlife if ingested.

They are brightly-coloured which attracts wildlife and if ingested can cause choking. The sharp edges can also cause internal tears to the throat, digestive or respiratory tracts resulting in internal bleeding and infections. They can also cause digestive blockages resulting in malnutrition or death from starvation.

Two raccoons have been sickened in Guild Park in the last two months from ingesting these petals. They were choking and gasping for air until they were able to vomit them up. No wildlife should experience this kind of distress and it’s something I don’t ever want to see again.

The use of artificial flower petals and confetti is no cause for celebration. Please refrain from using them in our city parks. Don’t hesitate to contact 311 to report this type of litter in the park.

Audrea Porter

Vice-President, Friends of Guild Park

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Artificial flower petals may create a dramatic photographic effect, as at the Bank of Nova Scotia entrance, but when left behind they become litter that is often mistaken for food by birds and other wildlife.

Hundreds of artificial flower petals were left behind the historic Greek Theatre following a photo session at Guild Park’s historic Greek Theatre. Volunteers later collected this litter to protect wildlife and clean the area.