Hawaii Wildlife Center called to Michigan oil spill

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Emergency Wildlife Response Teams Called in Following Kalamazoo River Spill

Emergency Wildlife Response Teams Called in Following Kalamazoo River SpillHawaii Wildlife Center’s president and director Linda Elliott has been called to Marshall, Michigan to assist in clean-up efforts resulting from an oil spill that occurred on July 26, 2010. Elliott, on behalf of Hawaii Wildlife Center, is collaborating with Focus Wildlife as their onsite Animal Care Manager.

Focus Wildlife is a wildlife emergency response organization based in Washington State and contracted by Enbridge Energy Partners, the company that owns the 30-inch pipeline on the Kalamazoo River. The Canadian pipeline, originally built in 1969, developed a leak just outside of Marshall, Michigan. Estimates provided by Enbridge were that approximately 19,500 barrels of crude oil leaked in to a tributary and made its way in to the Kalamazoo River.

Enbridge is working with Focus Wildlife, the Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to minimize the impact on birds and wildlife in the area. A temporary wildlife response facility was set up immediately and is operational.

“Each spill, however large or small, is potentially catastrophic to wildlife,” emphasized Elliott. “The Michigan spill underscores the importance of having immediate emergency wildlife response resources. It reminds me why I’m so passionate about the Hawaii Wildlife Center and the importance of getting our Center completed. We need to be prepared for this scenario in Hawaii – particularly given our geographic remoteness and our many endangered species.”

More: http://www.hawaii247.com/2010/08/09/hawaii-wildlife-center-called-to-michigan-oil-spill/

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