Environmental Damage - Animals

Invertebrates include a majority of the animals that would be affected, since they make up the largest group in the animal kingdom, such as:

• Insects
• Spiders and other arachnids
• Shellfish
• Sponges
• Urchins, anemone, coral
• Jellyfish
• Octopi and squid
• Worms
• Snails
• Crustaceans

Thousands of animals die right away from being covered with the oil, with more dying in subsequent weeks, months, and years as the food chain is disturbed.

Organisms and animals at the bottom of the food chain will absorb crude oil components from living in a contaminated environment. Predators will eat these prey and gradually get sick, or ingest oil residues from their hair, fur, or feathers due to grooming.

For example, oil soaks into birds' feathers and reduces its insulating capability. They ingest the oil as they preen or groom the oil off, which causes health issues such as kidney and liver damage.

To learn more about Oil Spill Cleanup visit our Oil Spill Cleanup Hazards Online Training web page.