Yellowstone oil spill concerns local authorities Jul 22, 2011 A
recent oil spill in the Yellowstone National Park area has
concerned local park officials in regards to the wildlife, NBC-
affiliate KULR-8 News reports. The International Bird Rescue
team surveyed the waters of Yellowstone in places of high oil
content. Although some birds were found with oil on their
feathers, the rescue team assured the news source that the cases
were of little risk to the animals. Oil spills may disable a
bird's ability to fly from predators, as its feathers can become
sticky and heavy, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
reports. Birds may also experience hypothermia, loss in body-
weight and loss of appetite. The rescue team does not solely
maintain the safety of birds. Plants are also being examined,
and the team managed to rescue a snake that was affected by the
oil spill, and then release it back into the wild. Although
critical cases weren't found, this was no walk in the park for
the International Bird Rescue team.