Numbers of Oil Soaked Animals in the Gulf Increasing: What It Takes to Help Those Rescued

The number of birds found alive in the past several days has increased to 289 with 86 arriving on one single day according to Sharon Seltzer on her Care 2 blog post.  They are primarily brown pelicans thickly covered  in oil, and some are hardly recognizable. Another 547 birds have been found dead.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 278 sea turtles have been hurt by the spill.

Scientists and others with specialized skills in marine life are on standby to either receive animals or send their teams to the area.

"All of the rescued wildlife exposed to the oil must be thoroughly cleaned. The process for the pelicans is painstaking and a large warehouse in Louisiana is being used for the job. And after the procedure the birds remain at the make-shift rehab center for 7 to 10 days before being transported to Florida and released...

Some are flown in by helicopter and others arrive at the warehouse in dog carriers.  All are stressed by their unfamiliar surrounding and handling by humans.  ABC News explained the details of the cleaning process..."

The next few weeks will be critical for all wildlife affected by the oil spill...

Read full story here at the Care 2 blog by Sharon Seltzer

Posted By:

Dawn Kairns  

Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life

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