Program Night November 17 Oiled Wildlife Response in Washington

Program Night November 17

Oiled Wildlife Response in Washington

As you watched the TV images of oil-soaked pelicans and gulls during the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year, did you wonder how you could help if an emergency like that occurred in Washington?

Andy Carlson will tell you how, in a presentation at Eastside Audubon Program Night on Thursday, November 17.

For the past five years, Andy has served as the Wildlife Rescue Coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. In his talk, he'll explain how citizens can be ready to help injured wildlife during an oil spill emergency.

As part of the WDFW Oil Spill Team, it's Andy's job to make sure industry, contractors, and state and federal agencies are ready to act if wildlife is affected by a spill. He'll describe the wildlife response plan that's in place for Washington and the roles for equipment and personnel, including volunteers.

He'll give an overview of what it takes to clean a bird that's been affected by an oil spill, and talk about the response plan for marine mammals.

Although it's been 20 years since a major spill in Washington, it's not uncommon for a small vessel to run aground and put wildlife at risk of injury from escaped oil. Andy's presentation will give perspective on the history of oil spill incidents in the state.

Andy is a fish and wildlife biologist who has worked for WDFW for more than 20 years, the last 12 on the Oil Spill Team. He lives in Olympia.

Admission is free and the public is welcome at this Eastside Audubon event.

Date: Thursday, November 17

Refreshments and social time: 6:30 p.m.

Program begins: 7 p.m.

Location: Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, 308 Fourth Avenue South, Kirkland. (Map.)