It’s hard to just sit and watch as efforts to minimize the damage from the huge oil spill from a rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico are under way, especially as . . . wildlife conservation groups are beginning to report on the daily devastation impacting the Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida coastal areas.

How can you help? As with most natural or in this case man-made disasters, skilled volunteers are most needed in the immediate response to crisis.  But as this turns into a long-term crisis, a number of organizations are recruiting and training unskilled volunteers who live nearby or who want to travel to the region to volunteer.  Please note: DO NOT travel here to volunteer before you have made arrangements and have registered and secured an opportunity with a group that needs you.   And as a matter of safety, be aware that all oil-contaminated materials and animals should only be handled by trained, paid workers and not by volunteers.

Here are some volunteer opportunities we know about:

The Audubon Society, which is affiliated with the Louisiana Coastal Initiative, is making its Center for Birds of Prey in Florida available for bird cleansing and rehabilitation and is seeking volunteers. Elsewhere, Audubon said it was gearing up to mobilize volunteers and provide assistance as the oil reaches land in Louisiana and elsewhere. Find a local office.

The Deep Water Horizon response team is looking for help in identifying shoreline and animals affected. Oiled wildlife should not be captured but instead reported at 1-866-557-1401. To report areas with oil ashore or to leave contact information to volunteer in the affected areas, call 1-866-448-5816.

ALABAMA

The Alabama Coastal Foundation is collecting contact information from volunteers for cleanup efforts along the Alabama coast should the oil spill reach the state’s shores. Call 251-990-6002

The Mobile Baykeeper is asking for contact details of volunteers is collecting contact information for volunteers to respond anywhere along the Gulf Coast, if needed. Call 251-433-4229.

FLORIDA

Save Our Seabirds is a Florida bird rescue group that is looking for support as its response team prepares to help oiled wildlife. Call 941-388-3010.

The National Wildlife Federation is looking for volunteers and support to help spot distressed or oiled wildlife, and to assist in the cleanup and restoration efforts along the coast of Louisiana.

LOUSIANA

The Greater New Orleans Foundation, which serves the 13 parishes that comprise New Orleans, has opened the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund, which will offer emergency grants to nonprofit organizations helping the victims of the oil spill, and address the long-term economic, environmental, and cultural effects of the disaster.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana‘s mission is to help restore and protect a sustainable coastal Louisiana. They are accepting volunteers and support to assist with spill recovery efforts.

If you know of any more organizations working in the Gulf to help victims of the oil spill, please post them in the comments here.  We will check them out and share these on our website as they arise.

Photo by Mike Baird via Flickr.

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