Two dead, oil – covered seagulls have been found off the coast of St. Lawrence Island. In a release issued today [Friday], the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation says that the two freshly dead birds were discovered by off shore hunters on December 10. No oil slick has been reported in the vicinity of the oiled birds, and no responsible party has been identified. The source of the oil remains unknown.
A U.S. Coast Guard plane was dispatched from Kodiak to survey the area around the island, but found no signs of an oil slick. Results are pending from a necropsy on one of the birds. ADEC continues to monitor the situation.
In November last year, about a dozen oiled animals washed up on St. Lawrence Island. Officials weren’t able to pinpoint a cause.
