{"id":333857,"date":"2026-05-27T03:04:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/333857\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T03:04:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T03:04:19","slug":"dozens-of-oiled-birds-rescued-after-an-east-la-oil-spill-what-to-do-if-you-see-one-long-beach-post-news-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/333857\/","title":{"rendered":"Dozens of oiled birds rescued after an East LA oil spill. What to do if you see one \u2022 Long Beach Post News"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article was originally published by LAist<\/a> on May 25, 2026.<\/p>\n

Topline: The Oiled Wildlife Care Network said it has taken in 25 birds affected by an oil spill as of Sunday night. The pipe rupture Friday released more than 2,000 gallons of crude oil into an East Los Angeles neighborhood, affecting the Los Angeles River.<\/p>\n

About the rescue:\u00a0Trained responders have stabilized the birds and taken them to the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care & Education Center for additional care. According to UC Davis\u2019s\u00a0Oiled Wildlife Care Network<\/a>, the responders include UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, International Bird Rescue, and Huntington Beach\u2019s Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center.<\/p>\n

If you see oiled animals:\u00a0Don\u2019t touch them. Instead, call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network\u2019s hotline at 1 (877) 823-6926. The sooner you call it in, the better the animal\u2019s chance of survival.<\/p>\n

Why you shouldn\u2019t handle them:\u00a0The same reason the birds need to be rescued \u2013 touching oil and breathing in fumes is\u00a0dangerous<\/a>\u00a0to animals (including humans). Instead, call the hotline and leave it to people with proper training.<\/p>\n

Where you might see oiled wildlife:\u00a0It\u2019s more likely close to or downstream from East L.A., though the oil sheen reached as far down as Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach. Oil-absorbing mechanisms kept it from reaching the ocean, and efforts to mitigate the spill appear to be working, the city of Long Beach\u00a0said yesterday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How the incident occurred:\u00a0Crews drilling a fiber optic cable in East L.A. reportedly struck a 16-inch petroleum pipeline early Friday morning. See\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for the backstory.<\/p>\n

For people near the spill:\u00a0Learn more about the health risks, and how to keep yourself safe from them,\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kyle Chrise contributed reporting.<\/p>\n

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