"Oil-Covered Birds" Appear on American Shores

Reports indicate that a "suspected" oil spill may have caused patches of tar and "oil-covered" birds to appear on U.S. shores. Hundreds of tar patches were found less than a week after local officials received reports of oil-contaminated birds along the stretch from Long Beach, Washington, to Lincoln City, Oregon. The diameter of these patches is approximately 2 to 4 inches. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) confirmed that the tar is "oil-based," suggesting that the substance originated from an unidentified oil spill. The U.S. Coast Guard has searched for the oil source off the northwest Pacific coast but has not been able to officially locate it. For the latest on the tar-like substance on the Oregon coast and southern Washington coast, visit https://t.co/vNlkRYq6Ma. This site will be updated regularly. — Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (@MyODFW) May 25, 2024