Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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July 8, 2010

Avian center to aid affected waterfowl

By SAMANTHA PERRY Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD, Va. — Distressed ducks covered with diesel as a result of last weekend’s fuel spill in Beaver Creek and the Bluestone River will soon be en route to southern West Virginia for a rehabilitative cleaning.

Although the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality initially reported the state’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries cleaned some water fowl affected by the spill, the Daily Telegraph learned Wednesday the agency had not rehabilitated the ducks.

It was unclear whether or not concerned residents had attempted to clean the ducks, although officials emphasize untrained individuals who attempt this can do more harm than good.

Julia Dixon, spokesperson for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, said the wildlife rehabilitator the state would normally use for the ducks is currently in the Gulf assisting with the BP spill. However, the Daily Telegraph provided Dixon with contact information for the Three Rivers Avian Center in Brooks, W.Va., whose executive director, Wendy Perrone, had expressed an offer to help after being interviewed by the Telegraph Tuesday.

Although there were initial concerns about transporting the ducks across the state line, Dixon reported Wednesday afternoon that they had contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to transport the ducks to the West Virginia avian rehabilitation center.

“They are going to work directly with her (Perrone and the Three Rivers Avian Center) to get the ducks cleaned up,” Dixon said.

Perrone said she was contacted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wednesday afternoon, but no specific arrangements have been made as of yet for the transport and rehabilitation of the ducks.

Dixon said it is vital that the ducks be cleaned by trained rehabilitation specialists for several reasons. “First, for the health of the people, they may be exposing themselves to what may be a contaminant ... and for the health of the animals.”

“A lot of wildlife almost go into shock when handled by humans,” Dixon said.

— Contact Samantha Perry at sperry@bdtonline.com

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