PAWS Rehabilitated and Released
Rescued Seabirds

After more than three weeks of exhaustive care at PAWS, 21 rescued seabirds were successfully rehabilitated and returned to the wild. At each release a joyous crowd watched as PAWS Wildlife Center staff and volunteers did the honors of setting them free.

Watch this KOMO TV video below of the release of 11 Common Murres:

Also, watch raw footage of murre release on KING TV.

All of the seabirds were incapacitated by a harmful algal bloom off the coast of Washington and Oregon. Stormy weather mixed up the algae and created a foamy, soapy substance that soiled the birds’ feathers, damaging their ability to fly, float and keep warm. To avoid drowning and hypothermia, the birds struggled ashore where they were unable to feed or otherwise care for themselves. To help them regain their waterproofing so they could float and keep properly insulated, each bird was skillfully washed by hand to remove the harmful, slick substance.

Read the story in the Everett Herald.

How can you help?
The process of rehabilitatng the seabirds took a tremendous amount of staff and volunteer time and energy, and put an enormous strain on limited supplies and resources. With water and dryers constantly running, our utility bill alone will be sky high. The costs for hundreds of pounds of fish, and medical and rehabilitation supplies have already reached $30,000.You can help us cover these unexpected costs and future costs of disasters like this one by donating online today.

Specialized care The birds treated at PAWS were species whose populations are in decline in Washington State. All of them spend most of their lives in the water, and are physically unable to stand on land or hard surfaces. Because of this they require special housing to prevent further damage to their legs and feet.

A group of Western Grebes resting and drying in a net-bottomed pen.