Rescuers rush to save geese and ducks soaked in oil due to spill in Boston river
[byline]
A duck covered with oil walks along the banks of the Muddy River, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Brookline, Mass. Wildlife rescuers tended to dozens of birds that were soaked in oil after an apparent spill. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Original Publication Date: December 9, 2024 12:24PM
Publication Updated: April 11, 2025 7:24AM
BOSTON (AP) — Wildlife rescuers were rushing Monday to tend to dozens of geese and ducks that were soaked in oil after an apparent spill in a Boston river.
Police and fire departments were dispatched to the Muddy River on the border of Boston and the town of Brookline a little after noon on Sunday following reports of a possible oil leak, Brookline police said. Responders found that there was some kind of leak into the waterway that impacted wildlife — including numerous ducks and geese, police said.
The exact nature of the spill, and the exact location of the leak, were still under investigation on Monday, police and state officials said. State environmental officials and wildlife rescuers responded to the scene and were still on the job Monday, police and town officials said.
“We know that members of the community are concerned for the well being of the impacted wildlife and were interested in what they could do to help. On scene for something like this it’s important that we only use people with proper PPE and training,” Brookline police said in a statement.
Rescuers said it would take up to a month for the birds to be treated and released back into the wild. Twenty birds were accounted for by Monday afternoon, but dozens more were expected to need care, said Katrina Bergman, president of New England Wildlife Center, which was responding to the animals.
Josh Gahagan, a technician with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, carries an oil covered duck that will be cleaned near the Muddy River, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Brookline, Mass., as wildlife rescuers tended to dozens of birds that were soaked in oil after an apparent spill. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Bergman said most of the birds were Canada geese and mallards, which are a common sight alongside the Muddy River. The river is a popular site for walkers and joggers. The spill happened in the area of the Longwood train station, about a mile from Fenway Park.
Caring for the animals is difficult because they need to be cared for without stressing them out, said Zak Mertz, chief executive officer of New England Wildlife Center.
Giving the injured wildlife room to let rescuers tend to them was critical, officials said.
“We don’t want to cause them to do any extra activity, especially if they have oil in the mouth and nose, that could do more damage,” Mertz said.
Kerry Batchelder, veterinary technician with the New England Wildlife Center, tries to capture an oil covered duck along the Muddy River, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Josh Gahagan, a technician with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, carries an oil covered duck he captured near the Muddy River, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Brookline, Mass., as wildlife rescuers tended to dozens of birds that were soaked in oil after an apparent spill. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Kerry Batchelder, veterinary technician with the New England Wildlife Center, tries to capture an oil covered duck along the Muddy River, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Brookline, Mass., as wildlife rescuers tended to dozens of birds that were soaked in oil after an apparent spill. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Kerry Batchelder, left, veterinary technician with the New England Wildlife Center, tries to capture an oil covered duck along the Muddy River, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)A Boston Park Ranger tries to capture an oil covered duck along the Muddy River, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Boston, as wildlife rescuers tended to dozens of birds that were soaked in oil after an apparent spill. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Meaghan Still, veterinary technician with the New England Wildlife Center, tries to capture an oil covered geese along the Muddy River, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)In this photo provided by New England Wildlife Center, wildlife rescuers at New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass., responded on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, to rescue dozens of ducks and geese that were affected by an oil spill in a Boston river. (New England Wildlife Center via AP)In this photo provided by New England Wildlife Center, wildlife rescuers at New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass., responded on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, to rescue dozens of ducks and geese that were affected by an oil spill in a Boston river. (New England Wildlife Center via AP)In this photo provided by New England Wildlife Center, wildlife rescuers at New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass., responded on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, to rescue dozens of ducks and geese that were affected by an oil spill in a Boston river. (New England Wildlife Center via AP)In this photo provided by New England Wildlife Center, wildlife rescuers at New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass., responded on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, to rescue dozens of ducks and geese that were affected by an oil spill in a Boston river. (New England Wildlife Center via AP)In this photo provided by New England Wildlife Center, wildlife rescuers at New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass., responded on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, to rescue dozens of ducks and geese that were affected by an oil spill in a Boston river. (New England Wildlife Center via AP)In this photo provided by New England Wildlife Center, wildlife rescuers at New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass., responded on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, to rescue dozens of ducks and geese that were affected by an oil spill in a Boston river. (New England Wildlife Center via AP)In this photo provided by New England Wildlife Center, wildlife rescuers at New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, Mass., responded on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, to rescue dozens of ducks and geese that were affected by an oil spill in a Boston river. (New England Wildlife Center via AP)
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.
