Birds soaked in oil from Ike damage

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<In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, The Wildlife Rehab and Education Center is preparing to wash oiled wildlife that has been observed on the Texas Coast. Executive Director of the WR&E Center Sharon Schmalz has contacted the Texas General Land Office (TGLO) Oil Spill Prevention & Response Division to utilize their 40 foot oiled wildlife cleaning trailer. So far, the WR&E Center has received four impacted Brown Pelicans from Galveston and two more are in route. Two of the pelicans are soaked with oil while the other two have an unknown substance on their feathers. Another 20 of this endangered species have been spotted in Galveston, Seabrook and Kemah.

The WR&E Center has responders trained in ICS (incident command system) and HAZWOPER certified (ability to deal with hazardous substances) that are authorized by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to care for oil impacted wildlife. If anyone in the general public comes across oiled wildlife do not handle or wash the animal. Call the Houston SPCA Disaster hotline at 713.435.2990 to report the sighting immediately. It is against state and federal laws for the public to handle or wash wild animals.

All oiled wildlife that the WR&E Center receives will be cleaned in the TGLO wildlife trailer which has flash hot water heaters for proper washing. The animals will be set up in a triage, administered rehydrating fluids, once stable they will be washed then dried under heatlamps, encouraged to begin to self feed fish, exercised in flight cages and then finally released back into the wild.>>

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