How badly has the oil spill affected the wild life ?

We have all seen pictures and videos of wildlife covered in black, sticky oil after an oil spill. These pictures are usually of oiled birds. Many people are not aware that it is not just birds that get affected during a oil spill. Other marine life such as marine mammals can also suffer from the effects of an oil spill.

Not all oils are the same. There are many different types of oil and this means that each oil spill is different depending on the type of oil spilt. Each oil spill will have a different affect on wildlife and the surrounding environment depending on:

-the type of oil spilled,
-the location of the spill,
-the species of wildlife in the area,
-the timing of breeding
-and even the weather at sea during the oil spill.

oil effects wildlife by coating there bodies with a thick layer of oil. Over time many oils get sticker (called weathering)and soo effects the wildlife more violently. Some fish are attracted to oil because it looks like floating food.

Animals covered in oil at the beginning of a spill may be affected differently from animals who come across the oil later. The weather conditions can make it reduce or increase the potential for oil to cause damage to the environment and wildlife. For example, warm seas and high winds will encourage lighter oils to form gases, and will reduce the amount of oil that stays in the water to affect marine life.