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"If you talk to the animals they will talk to you and you will know each other.  If you do not talk to them, you will not know them.  What you do not know, you will fear.  What one fears, one destroys."
Chief Dan George

562.434.0141 - 379 Newport Ave Ste. 302 Long Beach, CA90814

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Oil Covered Ducklings

If you look closely at the blob of oil in the photograph on the right you will notice it has eyes, a bill, and a pair of exceptionally large webbed feet. This is an oil soaked Mallard Duckling, one of a clutch of eight; all soaked in oil. The eight blobs of oil were delivered to the Long Beach Animal Hospitalwhere the first concern was to prevent Hypothermia (a condition where the body cannot maintain its' proper body temperature and is often fatal).

This was followed by a charcoal suspension to absorb and flush out any toxins the ducklings may have ingested. The product on the ducklings was a petroleum based substance giving off very strong fumes and we were concerned about possible damage the fumes could cause to the young ducklings tiny lungs. We washed them immediately.

We placed the ducklings in LBAH's Hot Room and immediately administered warm fluids to fight dehydration. As the picture on the right shows, these ducklings were immediately given a warm bath.

After about nine baths, the babies were rinsed clean and were placed in a drying pen. After spending some time in the drying pen, our new charges regained their natural soft, fuzzy appearance.

We fed, cleaned and monitored the ducklings for four days. They were then placed with their new foster family where they will grow up and have the chance to become wild ducks again.

 

Copyright 2006 AWRE Inc.