BP Oil Spill and Wildlife: How is the Spill Affecting Wildlife?

As the Oil Gushing From the Deepwater Horizon Rig Continues, How is the Oil Affecting the Wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico?

The pictures of the oil soaked birds and the dead fish and sharks lapping up on shore are heartbreaking: what was once a delicate and teeming ecosystem is now in places a brown bog with some animals so oil covered they can barely move.

• Wildlife and Fish at Risk
  

Scientists studying the Gulf now are trying to determine how much damage is being inflicted on wildlife. The Exxon Valdez disaster occurred over 20 years ago and some are saying that the fact the ecosystem is almost back to normal should be reassuring for the wildlife in the Gulf. 20 years is a long time however, and there is more oil in the Gulf than what spilled in to Prince William Sound in Alaska. 

For some scientists it is too early to determine the damage, and others say what they have seen so far is just a small indication of the damage to come:

The Deepwater Horizon Response website released a report on July 3 that said wildlife teams have been conducting surveys by air, land and water and they collect both dead and alive wildlife affected by the spill. They have also set up a hotline for residents to call to report oiled wildlife.

There were stories however, of BP burning endangered sea turtles because they were rounded up in booms where oil was burnt off and the crews did not stop to remove the sea turtles before setting fire to the oil. BP, environmental groups, and the U.S Coast Guard have now agreed to allow wildlife observers to accompany oil-incineration vessels to remove the turtles before any burning starts.

Also on July 3 it was recorded that so far 881 live birds with visible oil have been recovered, 240 dead birds with visible oil, 0 live birds with no visible oil and 880 dead birds with no visible oil.

There have been 102 live sea turtles with visible oil, 11 dead sea turtles with visible oil, 50 live sea turtles with no visible oil and 82 dead sea turtles with no visible oil.

Two live marine mammals with visible oil have been recovered, 3 dead marine mammals with visible oil. 3 live marine mammals with no visible oil and 43 dead marine mammals with no visible oil.

Some sources cite more however, but most agree that birds such as the Brown Pelicans have been the hardest hit. The Washington Post reports that 1,200 birds have been found dead so far, but that number may be underestimated as many birds seek refuge in the marshes and are never found or counted:

The Deepwater Horizon Response's strategy is to minimize the contact between oil and wildlife, but in some places in the Gulf that strategy is already a distant reality. 

It is clear however, that one of the greatest tragedies in this spill are the many species of wildlife that call the Gulf home and can't cry out for help when the oil reaches their door.

Photos

Wildlife at Risk in the Gulf of Mexico | Photo 02

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