BP (NYSE:BP) Spill Cleanup, Wildlife Fatalities

As BP (NYSE:BP) continues on with spill cleanup attempts, the pollution caused by oil and chemicals is proving fatal to wildlife. This is just the beginning as oil is hitting our shore lines.

Kim Hubbard, a Audubon photo editor just arrived in Louisiana. She's already seeing the effects of the oil spill on animals, one of her photos include an oiled Kemp's Ridley sea turtle. This is a daily occurrence and collection of oiled wildlife.

On a conference call today with several NOAA officials and U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials, it was reported that eight turtles have been collected, two later died. Of the 66 birds that have come in, 43 have died and 23 are alive and being rehabbed. There is much concern for marine animals as well like manatees, whales, and dolphins.

Robert Weisberg, a physical oceanographer and modeler from the University of South Florida, reported that once the oil hit the loop current it was only a matter of a week before it was carried to Florida's straits and then just another week after that before reaching Miami's straits. The NOAA reported Wednesday that the oil slick had already reached the loop current.