Oiled Wildlife Response & Services
Oiled Wildlife Response & Services
Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research is one of just a handful of organizations in the United States that can manage an oiled wildlife response effort. Our professional team is ready 24/7/365 to join, lead, or assess a response situation.
Help! I found an oiled bird!
If you have found an oiled or contaminated bird, DO NOT attempt to clean the bird or give it a bath. The process is far more complicated than portrayed in commercials. Keep the bird warm and call Tri-State at 302-737-9543 or your local wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Please leave decontamination to the professionals. We understand that the first impulse is to clean an oiled animal, but if it is not done correctly, this cleaning will do far more harm than good. Cleaning oiled feathers successfully is a complex procedure with specific steps, starting with stabilizing the bird first to ensure it can endure the wash procedure. Precise ratios of detergent to water must be used and are calculated based on the type of contaminant and degree of contamination. Washing and rinsing must be done at a certain temperature, and the bird must be carefully dried afterward or hypothermia will set in. After the wash, proper supportive care must be provided for a successful outcome. In addition, many petroleum-based products can be hazardous, and appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn when handling and washing oiled birds. If you have an animal trapped on a sticky trap or glue trap, please DO NOT attempt to remove it. Pulling an animal off these traps can cause severe injuries. Place tissues on any exposed sticky surfaces to prevent the animal from becoming stuck even more, and take the animal to Tri-State or your nearest wildlife rehabilitator.
For Corporate Colleagues
Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research has been responding to wildlife affected by oil spills since 1976.
Tri-State has a trained, dedicated staff on call 24 hours a day to respond to wildlife contaminated by oil spills anywhere in the world. Tri-State is one of only a handful of organizations in the country that can professionally manage a response to a major spill. Rehabilitation of oiled wildlife is a complex, crisis-oriented endeavor. Tri-State takes a teamwork approach to oil spill training and response, emphasizing the need for regulatory agencies, responsible parties, state and federal wildlife professionals, colleagues in wildlife care, and concerned citizens to work together both in preparations for and response to oil spills.
