As cleanup of the Gulf Coast oil spill drags on, it’s distressing to see pictures of oil slicks along the coastlines, especially photos of wildlife covered in oil. News headlines update us on how BP is trying to defend its actions on a day-to-day basis, but not much is said about the birds, turtles, and marine life whose habitats are now contaminated. While rescue workers are working to clean and treat wildlife and eventually release them into unspoiled habitats, the process is a long and rather complicated one.
Many people are eager to help the affected wildlife, but the task is not as simple as it may seem. The oil is not only dangerous to animal health, but to human health as well. Volunteers need to be trained in how to handle the hazardous waste, so they can avoid endangering themselves. Gulf Coast residents who are not trained should report any animals they see that have been affected by the spill, so that professionals can respond.
Rescue efforts vary depending on the animal species. For fish and other small marine animals like shellfish, rescue workers do not remove the animals from their habitat but set up booms that act protection from the oil slick. Larger wildlife such as birds, turtles, dolphins and sea otters are taken in, if rescue workers believe the animals can be saved without harming other animals or people.
After finding and collecting oiled wildlife, trained rescue workers give the animals full physical examinations. The animals are then warmed, fed, hydrated and rested for about 48 hours before they are washed in hot water and a cleaning detergent like the dishwashing liquid Dawn. Workers don’t wash the animals immediately because many of them are exhausted and dehydrated when captured, and an animal that has been stabilized before cleaning has a greater chance of survival than an animal that is immediately cleaned after its capture.
Post-cleaning, the animals are kept in rehabilitation, anywhere from a few days to a few months. The length of an animal’s stay depends on its condition. For instance, animals who have ingested oil are kept longer. Rescue workers give the wildlife final medical examinations, and then band and tag them, before releasing them in clean and oil free areas chosen by federal and state trustee agency personnel.
While tags and bands help monitor how well animals are doing after their release, it’s difficult to determine how many animals survive after being rescued, rehabilitated and released. Many animals are released into remote areas, and it’s possible that they may never be seen again by humans. The impact of the oil spill on wildlife seems pretty grim so far—workers have recovered 47 dead mammals, 957 dead birds, and 387 dead sea turtles. About 800 more animals have been found oiled but alive, and a just few have been cleaned and released. It’s still too early to tell how well rescued animals are doing once released.
Interested in helping with the wildlife rescue efforts? Whether you live near the Gulf Coast or not, Change.org has compiled a list of ways you can help. The Gulf Coast is home to many animal species—let’s do our part to help keep it that way.
Source: BecauseAction.com
