Rescued Animal Count From Oil Spill

Posted: May 31, 2010 4:39 PM by Letitia Walker

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says 69

oiled birds have been brought to rescue centers along the Gulf of

Mexico, with 53 treated in Louisiana.

It says crews have found a total of 494 dead birds, but at least

348 did not have any oil on their bodies. It says 29 dead birds

were oiled, and another 117 are unclassified.

Twenty-four of the live birds have been released - 22 from

Louisiana and one each from Alabama and Florida.

For the first time, the listing included a reptile other than a

sea turtle. It didn't say whether it was a snake or land turtle -

only that it was found alive in Louisiana, and had not been

classified as oiled or not oiled.

The number of rescued sea turtles is up to 17, with four listed

as oiled and the rest unclassified.