Picture taken Thursday, April 29, by NASA Satellite; drawn on by The Nerd
People…this just got personal. See that red star? That’s where I live. Mobile is only a two-hour drive from New Orleans, so it is not very far. This oil picture was taken on Thursday, but it is much, much worse now. The oil has already reached some land on the coast of Louisiana. Many organizations are looking for volunteers to help with the cleanup, but even if you do not live close there is something you can do. Just please remember: DO NOT just run to the beach and start pulling oiled animals from the shore to take home and clean. This oil is extremely dangerous and toxic, and there is a whole lot more to saving these animals than washing them with a bottle of dawn. They need serious medical attention that non-profit wildlife rehabilitation organizations are working for.
This really hits close to home for me, as I am a bird and wildlife lover. I worked for 5 years at the Environmental Studies Center Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (listed below) taking care of sick and injured wild animals. I’m really hoping this experience will help me get the chance to clean some birds. But even if you don’t have that kind of experience, please sign up anyway.
1. Mobile Bay National Estuary Program – The Mobile Bay NEP is taking volunteer info online. They also provide hotline numbers to report oiled animals and shorelines.
2. Pascagoula River Audubon Center – This organization specializes in birds and is offering a training course in cleaning oiled birds. You must sign up online for this free course. There are also phone numbers for reporting injured and oiled wildlife.
3. Environmental Studies Center – I love this place dearly. You can call and get on the volunteer list, but the center will not be accepting animals at this location. The International Bird Rescue Research Center is a rehabilitation group that specializes in oil spills and travels the country helping wildlife in areas where oil has affected them, and they have set up a warehouse here in Mobile. The Environmental Studies Center is lending support in the form of volunteers.
4. Donations – If you don’t live here, you can still donate to these important organizations by clicking on the links below:
International Bird Rescue Research Center
Environmental Studies Center – click on “Adoption Letter” to adopt an animal, “Wildlife Wish List” to view specific items needed at the center, and “Give a Hoot” to give a monetary donation.
Pascagoula River Audubon Center
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a mess to go help clean up…Zack Morris style.
P.S. If you don’t get that joke, I’ll be very sad.
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