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Muddy River oil spill coats ducks and geese in Brookline, Boston
As of Sunday night, wildlife officials had taken in 15 to 20 impacted birds, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
An oil spill in the Muddy River Sunday left “numerous” ducks and geese coated in a greasy film, according to officials.
Police and fire crews responded to the area near the Longwood MBTA stop around noon, the Brookline Police Department said in a statement, noting the leak also affected Boston’s side of the river.
“It was determined that there was some sort of leak into the water, and wildlife was impacted,” Brookline police said. “At this time, the exact nature of the leak is not known nor is the exact location of the leak.”
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The New England Wildlife Center said it was able to capture “the most significantly impacted” ducks and Canada geese and bring them back to its hospital for triage and treatment. The pollution is suspected to be from heating oil, according to the center.
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“Our priority is to clear airways and flush oil from the eyes and mouth, and provide heat support to help them compensate,” the New England Wildlife Center said in a statement. “We will begin the washing process once they are stable enough to undergo the procedure.”
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said it was alerted Sunday to an oil spill in the Muddy River from nearby Leverett Pond. In 2022, Brookline’s Department of Public Works said it had responded to multiple instances of fuel oil discharge into Leverett Pond and pointed to an underground fuel tank at an adjacent condominium complex as the likely source. At the time, the condo complex retained a licensed site professional and a contractor to mitigate the spill, per the Brookline DPW. Authorities have not said whether the same complex could be connected to Sunday’s spill.
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As of Sunday night, wildlife officials had taken in 15 to 20 birds, according to MassDEP. The department has also activated its emergency response team, according to Danielle Burney, a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
“Our contractor, Clean Harbors, has deployed booms and other absorbent materials along a one mile stretch of the river to contain and manage the spill,” Burney said.
The New England Wildlife Center will “continue to monitor the area to ensure the safety and well-being of the local wildlife,” Burney added. “We want to assure the community that there is no threat to public safety. Our team is actively investigating the source of the spill, and we will provide updates as we assess the situation.”
In the meantime, officials are asking bystanders not to approach or attempt to capture the birds.
“They are very stressed and contact with the oil may be harmful to humans and pets,” the New England Wildlife Center explained. “Many of the remaining birds are still able to fly so we don’t want to cause them additional harm or cause them to leave the area.”
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