Oil Spill Threatening Local Wildlife and U.S. Coastline

Oil continues to rush into the Gulf of Mexico and efforts to curb the flow have failed repeatedly. The massive oil slick grows by approximately 5,000 barrels each day and seems to have already harmed local wildlife.  

Wildlife is in danger in the Gulf of Mexico

The spill is expected to seriously affect major industries such as fishing and tourism around Louisiana and Florida, but the environmental effects and harm to wildlife is much more immediate.  

Here is a basic outline of major wildlife that will likely be affected by the oil touching down on the U.S. coast.  

According to BBC News, the National Audubon Society declared that this oil spill could possibly become a “catastrophe for birds.”  

There are hundreds of species of birds that thrive in the wetlands of Louisiana and the U.S. coast near the Gulf of Mexico. Not only do many species live in these environments, but other birds also migrate over the Gulf of Mexico and could be harmed by the fumes from burning oil.  

Brown Pelican

 Species of birds that face imminent danger from the oil slick are Herons, migratory birds like the Caspian Tern, song birds like Orioles and Flycatchers, and birds who are already facing habitat destruction like the Reddish Egret. Louisiana’s state bird, the Brown Pelican, is also at risk.  

Sea Turtles are also under a major threat from the oil spill. There have already been over 20 dead turtles that have washed up along a 50-mile section of the coast, a sign that the oil could be contaminating their food or the turtles themselves. 5 of the 7 species of sea turtles live in the Gulf.  

For wildlife like the Mottled Duck, contamination of their habitat will could mean certain disaster. Marine life including sperm whales, dolphins, sharks, shrimp, crab, and certain fish will also be affected.  

Sperm Whale

The extent of the damage will be determined by the amount of time it takes for BP and U.S. resources to stop the leak of oil. It could take over 3 months to stop the 200,000 gallons of oil rushing into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon rig.  

Photo galleries featuring wildlife involved in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill:

TIME Photo Gallery   –   BBC News Photo Gallery   –   ABC News Photo Gallery