Gull’s Feet Tell the Story

Months ago I wrote of my concern about shorebirds walking in oil from MC252, better known as Deepwater Horizon, that was washing ashore.

Three images show gulls walking in oil-contaminated sand on June 28th, 2010. The other photos were taken October 30th, 2010 at the same location. They include: Gull with lower leg missing. Foot with large growth on it. Ankle with bleeding growth. Bowed leg of gull. This is a small sample of leg and foot issues I continue to observe with this flock.

I have been observing this flock of gulls since before the oil came ashore. A few injuries are not unusual but the high number of injured feet and legs of this flock AFTER the oil sure makes me wonder if there is a correlation between the oil and the cancer-causing components in it, their wading in it, and the injuries many of the birds have. Doesn’t seem like a big leap to draw this conclusion to me.

These people were observed walking in oily water on June 30th, 2010. Most people who come to the beach spend a week here. If they walked every day for a week in it, I wonder what possible growths could occur or debilitating inflammations might occur. I hope it doesn’t, but it’s not a big leap to think it could happen. Birds walked in the heavy oil often looking for food so their exposure was greater. But still….

I hope I am wrong, I hope and pray I am 100% wrong in my concern; however, people that swam in this toxic soup (I have video and still images of children, teens and adults swimming in heavily contaminated crude oil) most likely put themselves at a very high risk for cancer in the next several years. What about the workers who spent 12 hour days, seven days a week for months working on the beaches, breathing the fumes?

How can we hold BP accountable for potential cancers and other auto-immune diseases? There is a huge unknown of what may happen to humans and wildlife. If we pay attention to the gulls, they have a message. Their feet gives a clear story, at least to me, of what the future here could look like.

Share this with others if you are concerned as well.