 |
A rehabilitated
crested auklet swims
in pool at IBRRC's
bird care center in
Anchorage, Alaska.
(IBRRC photo) |
The
Alaska Wildlife Response
Center (AWRC) located in
Anchorage, is a program of
the International Bird Rescue
Research Center (IBRRC).
IBRRC is recognized throughout
the world as the leader in
oiled wildlife rescue and
rehabilitation. Major funding
for the Alaska Wildlife Response
Center is provided by Alyeska
Pipeline Service Company
and Alaska Clean Seas.
History
Historically,
oil spills without existing
or centralized facilities
have consistently yielded
lower success rates in oiled
wildlife rehabilitation. During
the Exxon Valdez oil spill,
the scale and geographical
circumstances once again emphasized
this fact. Clearly, logistical
continuity must be a priority
during oil spills.
In 1991, IBRRC
proposed the concept of the
AWRC to the petroleum industry
as a proactive regional approach
to oil spills involving wildlife.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
and Alaska Clean Seas became
the centers primary sponsors.
Purpose
The purpose of
the Alaska Wildlife Response
Center (AWRC) is to reduce
the impact of oil contamination
on wildlife by:
• Providing
a centralized and specifically
designed "turnkey"
oiled wildlife response facility
for the state of Alaska.
• Providing
professional personnel from
IBRRC in the event of an oil
spill involving wildlife.
• Facilitating
well-directed research efforts
on the effects of oil on wildlife
and techniques to mitigate
those effects.
• Providing
specialized services to the
oil industry, wildlife trustee
agencies, and the scientific
community in preparing for
an oil spill.
• Providing
an IBRRC Alaska Representative
to network with industry and
trustee agencies on a regular
basis.
The AWRC has 12,000 square feet of building space dedicated to animal care. This is divided into animal holding areas for pens and pools, bird washing and rinsing room, food preparation kitchen, laundry area and separate animal hospital and lab rooms. There is also 3,200 square feet of additional indoor space divided into offices, training room, lunch room, bathrooms and storage areas. The outside area is 17,500 square feet with 3 pools and additional trailer space. When the AWRC is not being used for spill response or training, it is the home of Bird Treatment and Learning Center (Bird TLC), a local wildlife rehabilitation organization.
 |
AWRC
is located centrally
located in Anchorage,
Alaska |
Contingency Planning
IBRRC works with
the petroleum industry and
government agencies in planning
for the capture and rehabilitation
of oiled wildlife. Planning
includes identification and
stockpiling of necessary supplies
and resources and the design
of practical search and collection,
stabilization, and transport
programs. The AWRC is crucial
to all of IBRRC's planning
efforts in Alaska as it is
centrally located and is the
only "turn key"
oiled bird rehabilitation
facility in Alaska.
Training
IBRRC provides
training programs available
to government and industry
personnel and private organizations.
Trainings include safety procedures,
search and collection, stabilization
procedures, and the transportation
and rehabilitation of oiled
wildlife. Opportunities are
available for interested individuals
to receive on-scene training
at oil spills outside of Alaska.
Response
The AWRC in Anchorage
answers the need for a facility
ready to receive oiled wildlife
within hours of notification
of a spill. Designed to care
for all species of native
Alaskan birds as well as small
terrestrial and aquatic mammals,
other than sea otters, response
time is cut to a minimum.
Cleaning facilities, critical
care unit, clinical laboratory,
cages and pools are in place
and ready to go. Drawing on
the IBRRC response team, volunteers
from Bird TLC and the community,
AWRC can be fully staffed
with wildlife care professionals
within a few hours.
Research &
Rehabilitation
IBRRC's research goal is
to improve rehabilitation
procedures for wildlife primarily
through clinical trials and
post-release monitoring.
In addition, analysis of
data from spills, studies
in nutrition, husbandry and
medical protocols are also
evaluated and improved. Our
ultimate goal is to minimize
the stress and length of
the rehabilitation process
while assuring that the animals
cared for have the best possible
chance for survival in the
wild.
IBRRC & Bird
Treatment and Learning Center
(Bird TLC)
Since 1994 these
two organizations have joined
forces to create a unique
relationship that benefits
the wildlife and people of
Alaska. Bird TLC is a non-profit
bird rehabilitation organization
based in Anchorage that treats
approximately 1,100 wild birds
a year. This includes up to
70 bald eagles annually. With
limited funds and no facility
available large enough to
house these birds, the decision
was made to allow Bird TLC
to utilize the AWRC when it
was not being used for oil
spills.
The benefits of
this cooperative relationship
are many. Bird TLC has a place
to carry out its valuable
work, volunteers provide regular
maintenance of the AWRC and
an unlimited source of experienced
volunteers are available to
aid IBRRC in an oil spill.
Bird TLC volunteers provided
half of the work force during
the 1996 Pribilof Island spill
that resulted in the release
of 127 king eiders and other
species.
Location:
Alaska
Wildlife Response Center
6132 Nielson Way
Anchorage, Alaska 99518
(907) 562-1329
![[ Yahoo! Maps ]](http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/mp/gr/mplogo.gif)
Directions to center |
