On the front lines caring for animals affected by oil spill

On April 20, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is assisting with the disaster response in two ways—providing medical care for animals directly affected by the oil spill along the Gulf coast and providing medical care for non-oiled injured animals brought to LSU by state and/or animal rescue groups. 

Arriving along the Gulf coast on May 1, Dr. Charity Uman (LSU 2010), Tristan Colonius (Class of 2011), and Margaret Jensen (Class of 2011) were some of the first veterinary students to provide support to the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (http://www.lsart.org), International Bird Rescue Research Center (http://ibrcc.org), Tri-State Bird Rescue (http://www.tristatebird.org/) in south Louisiana. The LSART mobile unit is providing Internet access and a mobile command unit to the IBRRC and Tri-State personnel and volunteers at the rehabilitation center at Fort Jackson in Plaquemines Parish.  

As the disaster response continues, veterinary students are now taking the lead with Dr. Renee Poirrier (LSU 1988), LSART director, facilitating and communicating between Tri-State and LSART. The veterinary school volunteers, who underwent special hazardous materials (HAZMAT) training, are located at two sites along the coast: the rehabilitation center at Fort Jackson in Buras, La., and Grand Isle Stabilization Center in Grand Isle, La. Eli Landry (Class of 2013) is working with companies contracted to transport the oiled animals from various marinas to Fort Jackson. Steven Buco (Class of 2013) and other veterinary students are staffing and leading the Grand Isle stabilization site. Dr. Uman originally coordinated the Grand Isle site, which is now being coordinated by Buco. Melanie Reed (Class of 2013) was key in assisting with the set-up at the rehabilitation site at Fort Jackson and is a key communicator for LSART. 

In addition to transporting animals, veterinary students are working as wildlife paraprofessionals under the direction of the Tri-State, IBRRC, and LSART. Working under the direct supervision of veterinarians, the students are stabilizing the oiled animals with oral fluids and nutrition. The LSU SVM’s mobile emergency response unit is on stand-by and ready to support the stabilization stations if needed. 

Thus far, the following LSU SVM alumni, faculty, staff, and students are participating in the response: LSU SVM Alumni - Dr. Charity Uman (LSU 2010), Dr. Allison Gordon (LSU 2010), and Dr. Jennifer Bruno (LSU 2010); LSU SVM veterinary students - Tristan Colonius (Class of 2011), Margaret Jensen (Class of 2011), Heather Bryant (Class of 2011), Brandon Landry (Class of 2011), Shannon Landry (Class of 2011), Casan Pulaski (Class of 2012), Brent Koonce (Class of 2012), Callie Habrun (Class of 2012), Anthona Nauta (Class of 2012), Chelsea Dowler (Class of 2012), Desiree Thomas (Class of 2012), Jenny Lagergren (Class of 2012), Monica Azzolina (Class of 2012), Stephen Carroll (Class of 2012), Steve Buco (Class of 2013), Melanie Reed (Class of 2013), Eli Landry (Class of 2013), Tim Thiboeaux (Class of 2013), Grant Fontenot (Class of 2013), Grayson Doss (Class of 2013), Emily Burke (Class of 2013), Lindsey Thomas (Class of 2013); LSU SVM faculty - Dr. Rebecca McConnico (associate professor of veterinary medicine [LSU 1987]), Dr. Laura Riggs (assistant professor of equine surgery), Dr. Kirk Ryan (assistant professor of veterinary medicine), Dr. Mustajab Mirza (assistant professor of equine surgery); LSU SVM interns and residents – Dr. Michelle Gardner (equine medicine and surgery intern; and LSU SVM staff - Cindy Meeker (equine veterinary technician), Toni Accardo (equine veterinary technician), Sabyl Sprinkle (equine veterinary technician), and Jaden Kifer (student worker). Many additional veterinary students have taken the required HAZMAT training and are working as wildlife paraprofessionals. 

On May 1, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine received the first non-oiled injured bird, a yellow-crowned night heron, at the request of the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. The heron was found by Tri-State Bird Rescue and transferred by LSART to the WHL. The bird presented with a clavicle fracture (minimally displaced) and will remain at the WHL for at least four to six weeks while the fracture heals. The heron is scheduled to be returned to the wild once it is rehabilitated. LSU has received another night heron, seven brown pelicans, two white pelicans, a cormorant, three laughing gulls, a purple gallinule, a tern, and a gannet. 

The WHL stands ready to care for all incapacitated animals not directly affected by the oil found in the area of the oil spill response. The number of injured wildlife not affected by the oil found in this area may increase as more responders begin to work in what normally would be a low population area. This will lead to the identification of sick and injured animals that otherwise may not have been observed by the general public. These animals may be affected by the inability to obtain food, natural injuries, boat injuries, or stress. 

The WHL cares for wildlife at no charge to individuals or agencies that present animals for veterinary care. The WHL relies on monetary gifts to cover all costs and subsequent rehabilitation and release back into the wild.

 To make an online contribution, please go to https://www.lsufoundation.org/contribute.php and, in the section labeled “Please select your gift designation(s),” select your beneficiary unit (“School of Veterinary Medicine”) and choose a fund (“Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana”). You may also mail your check or money order made payable to “LSU Foundation” (please put “SVM Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana” in the memo line) to LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Office of Institutional Advancement, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. For more information about giving to LSU SVM, please contact us at 225-578-9900.

 First Photo: Two volunteers in protective gear wash a brown pelican at the Fort Jackson rehabilitation center in Buras, La. 

Second Photo: Cassan Pulaski (left, Class of 2012) works with other volunteers to wash a brown pelican at the Fort Jackson rehabilitation center in Buras, La.  

Third Photo: Dr. Javier Nevarez, assistant professor of zoological medicine and director of the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana, with a yellow-crowned night heron (a non-oiled, injured bird) brought to LSU after it was rescued by Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research and transported to LSU by the Louisiana State Animal Response Team. 

Fourth Photo: Two brown pelicans being rehabilitated at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana.