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OIL IMPACT On Wildlife - Fact Sheet, MAY-2010
OIL IMPACT On Wildlife - Fact Sheet, MAY-2010
FWS/Tom MacKenzie
including some that are threatened or term contamination.
endangered, live along the Gulf Coast
and could be impacted by the spill. Impacts to Wildlife and Habitat
Oil causes harm to wildlife through
Oil spills affect wildlife and their physical contact, ingestion, inhalation
habitats in many ways. The severity and absorption. Floating oil can
of the injury depends on the type and contaminate plankton, which includes
quantity of oil spilled, the season and algae, fish eggs, and the larvae of
weather, the type of shoreline, and the various invertebrates. Fish feeding
type of waves and tidal energy in the on these organisms can subsequently Sea turtles such as loggerheads and
area of the spill. become contaminated through leatherbacks could be impacted as they
ingestion of contaminated prey or swim to shore for nesting activities.
Oil can be categorized into five groups, Bird and turtle nest eggs may be
by direct toxic effects of oil. Larger
ranging from very light to very heavy damaged if an oiled adult lies on the
animals in the food chain, including
oils. Most oil has a density less than nest.
humans, can consume contaminated
water, so it floats. Oil tends to spread
organisms as they feed on these fish.
into a thin layer on the water surface Scavengers such as bald eagles, gulls,
as a sheen. Once in the water, oil Although oil causes immediate effects raccoons, and skunks are also exposed
undergoes weathering, a process that throughout the entire spill area, to oil by feeding on carcasses of
describes the physical, chemical, and it is the external effects of oil on contaminated fish and wildlife.
biological changes that occur when oil larger wildlife species that are often
interacts with the environment. immediately apparent. Long-term effects on birds and marine
mammals are less understood, but
Birds and Mammals oil ingestion has been shown to cause
Birds such as brown pelicans are likely suppression to the immune system,
to be exposed to oil as they float on the organ damage, skin irritation and
water’s surface. Oiled birds can lose the ulceration, and behavioral changes.
ability to fly, dive for food or float on the Damage to the immune system can
water which could lead to drowning. Oil lead to secondary infections that
interferes with the water repellency of cause death and behavioral changes
feathers and can cause hypothermia in may affect an animal’s ability to find
the right conditions. food or avoid predators. Long-term
consequences can include impaired
As birds groom themselves, they reproduction potentially impacting
can ingest and inhale the oil on their population levels.
FWS/Drew Wirwa
May 2010
FWS/Drew Wirwa