Oiled Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

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)
 

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