Page 9 - My FlipBook
P. 9
A LOSING BATTLE
Out on the blackened beaches and at rescue centers, people of all ages and
backgrounds worked to help oil-soaked birds and other wildlife. Some drove
from Los Angeles and other cities miles away, determined to do their part.
But the army of volunteers was no match for the devastation. Frightened
birds sometimes plunged farther into the muck to escape rescuers. Though
some animals were pulled out alive, most later died at the cleanup centers.
Barbara Harbor. Oil-soaked debris from the previous weekend’s
storm washed ashore. The overwhelming smell of tar drowned out the
clean, salty ocean breeze and blanketed the region. Residents of local
communities could do nothing as the tide deposited choking black
goo on once-pristine beaches. The slop, slop, slop of oil replaced the
comforting roar of the ocean. Oil-coated seabirds struggled and died.
Dead fish, seals, and whales began to wash up on the beaches. People
stood on the beach, helpless, and cried.
Oil-covered seabirds washed up
on shore in Santa Barbara as a
result of the Platform A spill.
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