Louisiana shores up supplies to aid oiled wildlife in Gulf of Mexico

New Orleans -- More than 3,000 cages have been moved into Plaquemines Parish at the southern tip of Louisiana to aid rescued wildlife from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mike Strain, DVM, director of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, reports state officials have been moving assets into staging areas to help biologists and wildlife rehabilitation specialists care for oiled birds and other mammals impacted by the catastrophe.

Resources have been positioned in Plaquemines Parish, Strain reports. Wildlife are also being treated at nearby Fort Jackson Rehabilitation Center in Buras, Louisiana.

Strain says LDAF continues to watch the oil slick's movement and study the possible impact to domestic animals and agriculture as it reaches landfall. The latest estimates are that more than 100 miles of coastline have been impacted by the oil slick.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that 32 national refuges remain at risk from the disaster. In addition, the National Wildlife Federation reports that 154 sea turtles, 12 dolphins and more than 20 migratory birds have been found dead or dying on Gulf beaches.

The 3,000 or so crates transported to the staging areas in Louisiana were used in the pet evacuation during hurricanes Gustav and Ike.