Oiled Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

Oiled Wildlife Citizen Responders Offered Free Hazardous Waste Operations Class (HAZWOPER - first 50 registrants)

Location:             Marine Spill Response Corporation Office, 1330 Industry Street, #110 Everett WA
Date and Time:     February 27, 2010, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Instructors:         Federal/state agency personnel and private response organization representatives
Lunch:                On your own
Registration:        Please register by phone (360) 902-8125 by no later than February 19th.

There is no charge for this class, but pre-registration is required. Due to our desire to train as many individuals as possible you will be required to confirm your attendance prior to the class so as to minimize no-shows. This will allow us to contact individuals on the waiting list and offer them the opportunity to attend. If you register and fail to attend, you will not be contacted for future classes. Space for the class is limited, so please sign up early if you wish to attend.

To report an oiled bird: Call the Washington Emergency Management Division at 1-800-258-5990.

Oiled birds are often the most obvious sign that an oil spill has affected wildlife. Lots of seabirds spend the majority of their waking (and sleeping) hours on the waters of Puget Sound or the outer coast every day. Unfortunately, after a spill, many birds become exposed to oil as they sit on the water's surface.  Because oil is less dense than water, it floats, and this puts those birds who spend the most time on water, at greater risk.

Fortunately, no major oil spill has affected substantial numbers of birds in Washington waters in nearly twenty years (since Nestucca and Tenyo Maru, in 1988 and 1991, respectively). Despite this favorable trend, Washington is in the process of adopting a set of plans (including a network of mobile rehabilitation trailers) to care for any oiled wildlife in an effective and efficient manner.

This oiled scoter is being cleaned by volunteers
(Photo: Oiled Wildlife Care Network, UC Davis)
 

New mobile wildlife equipment unveiled

On November 19, 2009, Marine Spill Response Corp. (MSRC) and Clean Rivers Cooperative, Inc. showcased their new mobile equipment to rescue and care for oiled wildlife.  At right, Spills Program Manager, Dale Jensen stands in front of one of the mobile units and speaks to the audience.

News Release - Oiled Wildlife Rescue and Response Goes Mobile

Below, a view of a sink, washing station (and bird decoy) and overhead air vent inside one of the mobile units.

A Number of Oiled Wildlife Care Organizations Possess Washington and Federal Rescue and Rehabilitation Permits: