The race to save the many birds and wildlife affected by the massive oil spill that hit Huntington Beach this past weekend continues with the help of the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center dedicated to rehabilitating and releasing injured or orphaned animals.
Dr. Michael Ziccardi, director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, told DailyMail.com that four oiled-covered birds were brought into the care center, including a Sanderling, an American Coot, a duck and a brown pelican.
'The sanderling, which is a small shorebird, is currently being treated at the facility,' said Dr. Ziccardi. 'It's a fairly intensive process to rehabilitate the bird, but the nice thing is we were able to treat it in the early stages and that makes a big difference.'
While the American coot and duck remain in treatment, the brown pelican was too injured to saved and was humanely euthanized said Dr. Ziccardi.
'It's much better than we had feared, but these are the early stages, it could be days, months before we see and understand the long-term effects of what will happen,' Dr. Ziccardi told DailyMail.com. 'I am cautiously optimistic.'
Dr. Duane Tom, a veterinarian with the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, is seen treating a sanderling bird after a Good Samaritan spotted the injured, oil covered bird. The shorebird was brought into the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach
The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center has received hundreds of calls to its hotline with reports of oiled birds and marine life. A sanderling bird slick with oil is seen in the water of Huntington Beach, California
The race to save the many birds and wildlife affected by the massive oil spill that hit Huntington Beach this past weekend continues. A crane is seen in the polluted water
An estimated 126,000 gallons of crude oil polluted the beaches of Orange County after a pipeline in the ocean burst over the weekend. Officials are still investigating the cause which may have involved a ship's anchor striking the pipeline
Dr. Michael Ziccardi, director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network told DailyMail.com that four oiled-covered birds were brought into the care center, including a Sanderling, an American Coot, a duck and a brown pelican
Emergency cleanup crews deployed over 2,000 feet of booms to prevent more oil from spilling into the Talbert Marsh, a 25-acre ecological reserve that is home to dozens of species of birds
Dr. Ziccardi is the director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network. The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center has received hundreds of calls to its hotline with reports of oiled birds and marine life
There has been an outpouring of calls from concerned people asking what they can do to help, but Dr. Ziccardi said the best way people can help is by not approaching an injured or oiled animal.
Dr. Michael Ziccardi (pictured) director of the Oiled Wildlife care Network reports a number of oiled birds are in for treatment after the oil spill
'It's not safe for the animal, and it's not safe for the public,' Dr. Ziccardi emphasized.
'California has the best success of any place in the world as far as oiled wildlife preparedness and response, and we have the best techniques.'
The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center has received hundreds of calls to its hotline with reports of oiled birds and marine life. The public has been asked to report any sightings via the hotline number at 877-823-6926.
Meanwhile, emergency cleanup crews deployed over 2,000 feet of booms to prevent more oil from spilling into the Talbert Marsh, a 25-acre ecological reserve that is home to dozens of species of birds.
The protected area is across from the the Huntington State Beach and is just one of the many sensitive bird habitats threatened by the oil spill.
An estimated 126,000 gallons of crude oil polluted the beaches of Orange County after a pipeline in the ocean burst over the weekend. Officials are still investigating the cause which may have involved a ship's anchor striking the pipeline.
Debbie McGuire, Executive Director of the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, said they are accepting donations for their non-profit, which first opened its doors in 1997 in response to the devastating oil spill of 1990 off Huntington Beach killing some 3,400 birds and countless fish.
The center is open 7 days a week, 365 days and donations can be made at WWCCOC.org.
A staff of California Department Fish & Wildlife examines a contaminated
