While we all continue to grieve for the lost lifestyle in the Gulf Coast community there are animals suffering and dying right now in the national nightmare that is the Gulf oil spill. These creatures have never had a voice and never had a vote in the decisions made by we humans.
Many of these species are endangered but there are organizations who work tirelessly to help keep these wonderful animals a beautiful part of our world. This diary is dedicated to aiding those organizations.
To report oiled wildlife, please call 1-866-557-1401.
Monitoring the Manatee for Oil Ills
By JOHN LELAND
New York Times
Published: June 20, 2010
APALACHICOLA, Fla. — To the people who know her best, Bama is a skittish creature: smart, a good traveler, does not mix much with her peers. On a recent afternoon, Allen Aven watched her from an anchored pontoon boat, counting the time between her breaths.
"This is a good environment for her," Mr. Aven said, looking around the busy, narrow waterway of Scipio Creek, across from the Up the Creek Raw Bar. "It’s sheltered from wave action. There’s lots of vegetation, and it’s relatively fresh water."
A large gray snout belonging to Bama, a manatee, broke the water’s surface.
"Breath," Mr. Aven yelled.
The rest of the article is here
Support The Save The Manatee Club here
Support The Save The Manatee Observation and Education Center here
Help manatees here
Many aquariums from around the country are gearing up to help:
From The Virginia Aquarium
Oil Spill Response
Official Aquarium Response to the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
I know it has been difficult in the last few weeks to watch the events unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the Deep Horizon drilling rig tragedy and resulting massive oil spill. As the spill continues to grow, a real environmental disaster is beginning to be realized. In the face of this challenge, government agencies and others are preparing and implementing wildlife rescue plans that encompass many animal groups, including marine mammals, sea turtles and birds.
The Virginia Aquarium’s many years of working with animals through our collections and stranding response have put our organization in an excellent position to provide assistance to the recovery team. The Aquarium has been involved from the beginning of the response planning through our ongoing relationships with NOAA Fisheries national stranding networks and through our professional affiliations with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA).
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center is helping. Donate here
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is helping. Donate here
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is helping. Donate here
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is helping. Donate here
We've all seen the horrifying pictures of our beautiful seabirds covered with oil. The organizations below are helping and help all year round around the world.
Support Papa Tortuga at the Tecolutla Turtle Preservation Project here
Contribute or adopt a bird to the International Bird Rescue Research Center
Save Our Seabirds has a wish list of things they need
Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary also has a wish list here
Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research needs donations
Contribute to the World Bird Sanctuary here
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a highly respected organization, has put out a call for birdwatchers to add their observations about healthy and oiled birds to eBird. More info here
June 21, 2010
Sea Turtles Swimming into Deep Trouble
(CBS) Thirty five miles into the Gulf, the chase is on. Wildlife agents and turtles are swimming into deep trouble, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.
A green sea turtle pulled out of the Gulf looked clean. But Mandy Tumlin, a Louisiana state turtle expert, says the danger could be internal.
"Ingestion or inhalation that we just don't know about," Tumlin said, because it is difficult to know where the turtle has been or what it has eaten.
The rest of the article is here
Support the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program
There are a number of good ideas on how to help sea turtles here
Put your needlecraft talents to good use by supplying the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies with knitted/crocheted or sewn towels to aid in their efforts in caring for and cleaning oiled marine mammals.
iPhone users in the Gulf can download the Noah Project's app to document distressed animals and the spill's impact on wildlife
More information about Noah here
Buy Dawn dishwashing detergent! $1.00 from every bottle will go towards the Marine Mammal Center and the International Bird Rescue Research Center. Activate your donation here.
The Institute For Marine Mammal Studies needs donations
Donate to the Natural Resources Defense Council
Check out the Everyday Wildlife Champions Facebook page
Support The Marine Mammal Center
Adopt a dolphin and support the Ocean Conservation Society here
Ideas for helping to save sharks can be found here
Add your voice to Defenders of Wildlife Action Center's call to the President to stop offshore drilling now!
Donate $10 or more to The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center, get the confirmation for your donation and receive one of the beautiful sketchcards available on this site
Consolidated Fish and Wildlife Collection Report