Lake Metroparks Decontaminating 18 Mallard Ducks After Mentor Oil Spill

Eighteen mallard ducks have become collateral damage during the recent 

Residents of Park House Apartments called Lake Metroparks because they noticed the ducks in Newell Creek had oil on their feathers. Consequently, the ducks were taken to the Metroparks' Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center in Kirtland so they could be degreased.

The oil makes it so the ducks' feathers are no longer waterproof, said Tami O’Neil, the wildlife care manager for the center.

"If they get oil on their feathers, they can't retain their body heat and they get hypothermic," she said.

If the ducks have enough oil on them, they are unable to fly, she added.

Caretakers have already given the ducks one bath. But they may need one or two more before they can be returned to the wild. Additionally, the ducks will need enough time to produce the natural oil that waterproofs their feathers.

O'Neil said the ducks also need their bodies flushed.

"When they have contaminants on them, they're preening constantly, so they ingest it," she said.

The contaminated mallards include six ducklings.

"The ducklings were pretty well covered because their bodies are closer to the water," O'Neill said.

O'Neill said all the ducks should make a full recovery.

"They're doing really well right now."

She added that it would take between $2,000 and $3,000 to decontaminate all of the ducks. The Metroparks will ultimately be reimbursed by Heavy Haulers, the trucking company that caused the spill.

Meanwhile, oil cleanup efforts around the city continue.

The eastbound entrance ramp to I-90 at Rt. 306 is expected to close Saturday morning for up to eight hours while crews excavate and remove the contaminated soil.

Cleanup is also occurring simultaneously on two small ponds on Stoneybrook Lane, a pond at Steeplechase Drive and  pond.

Heavy rains caused the biodegradable oil products to disperse into the waterways downstream from the site of the spill. Containment booms have been used to secure the spillage, which then allows vacuum trucks to collect the product.

The cleanup crews have been hired by Heavy Haulers.

The oil has not compromised the drinking water system, nor is it expected to have any long-term environmental impact.