Oily birds prove to be elusive for cleanup crews
Aug, 07 2006 - 10:40 PM
SQUAMISH/CKNW(AM980) - While government and environmental officials concentrate on an oil spill clean-up near Squamish, wildlife groups are weighing in on the question of what to do about oil-soaked birds.
While it is estimated there are between 50 and 100 affected birds government officials say they cannot approach the birds at this time.
Janice Dickie with the Wildlife Rescue Association says it is possible to get in to rescue the birds and says the cost at only one to 10 per cent of the overall clean-up cost, "So, to put that in perspective, if you only think of one per cent, it would cost more to clean one rock on the beach than it would to give an animal a second chance at life."
Dickie says they have trained rescue and rehabilitation staff on standby to help at anytime and is asking why they have not yet been contacted by the authorities.