Oil Spill in Boston’s Muddy River Leaves Animals Coated in Oil. BOSTON – Following an oil spill in Boston’s Muddy River on Sunday night, animals in Boston and Brookline were left smeared in oil.
Oil-stained birds
Residents in Brookline reported seeing birds near the Longwood T Station on Sunday afternoon that were covered in what seemed to be mechanical oil.
Dr. Priya Patel, the wildlife medical director of New England Wildlife Centers, stated, “We were informed that a number of birds – ducks, geese, waterfowl, et cetera, were possibly exposed to the oils.” “Our goal is to catch as many as we can down here. We will return any that we gather to our hospital.
According to Patel, when birds are coated in oil, their waterproofing is disrupted, causing them to become chilly and possibly hypothermic.
“Getting these animals into care as fast as we can is going to be what is the difference between them surviving and not,” Patel stated.
Assistance with wildlife rescue
A local wildlife rescue organization is on the site to assist, though it is unknown how many animals were impacted.
The founder of Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, Jane Newhouse, stated, “We’re just standing by in case they need an extra hand, but we have looked at the birds and definitely some of them worse than others.”
Some of the birds are simply covered, and the water appears to have a sheen to it. It also smells really bad when you get close to the water. Therefore, we are quite worried about them.
The specific source of the oil spill is unknown. According to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, it appears to have originated upstream and subsequently spilled into Leverett Pond and the Muddy River.
According to Alice Colegrove, a resident of Brookline, “there are a lot of ducks that just need to be scooped up, picked up, and transported.”
Containment booms are being used along the river by Boston and Brookline firemen to prevent the oil from spreading.
The search and rescue operation along the Muddy River will go on till Monday, Patel said. The cause of the oil spill is yet unknown.
