This is a large commercial fishing industry, plus it is home to migratory birds, sea otters, and many other marine mammals. ... Seabirds were dying by the thousands and sea otters were dying quickly in the black muck. A special rescue center was made, but it was only big enough for a few sea otters at a time. Because of its size, in the end only 357 otters were treated and rescued. ... In addition, 144 bald eagles were dead, 22 whales were missing, 5,500 sea otters had died of exposure, and the tidal zones along 1,244 ...

• Word Count: 2102
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

Among the many casualties were 2800 sea otters, 300 harbour seals, 250 bald eagles, as many as 22 killer whales, and an estimated quarter-million seabirds. ... Twenty-three species of wildlife were affected by this oil spill, and only two species, the bald eagle and the river otter, have fully recovered. The species that are well on their way to a comeback include pink salmon, pacific herring, sea otters, mussels, black oyster catcher, common murre, marbled murrelet, and sockeye salmon. ...

• Word Count: 1492
• Approx Pages: 6

The ocean -- it is a vast sea of blue that is the home of millions of aquatic animals. ... The water spreads out the PCBs in the ocean, but when sea life comes along these particles attach themselves to the sea creatures, and slowly collect. ... When we dispose of these chemicals, they find their way into the sea. ... This makes it so it does not hurt as many fish; however, for the water birds and the sea otters, and other creatures that surface often, it coats them in oil. ... The Government sends out many boats to clean up the oil from the sea. ...

• Word Count: 1422
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

On a seemingly regular basis, the nation's newspapers and television screens are wallpapered with vivid images of tankers spilling crude oil, also known as petroleum, and oil soaked sea birds in various stages of death and decay. ... In many cases involving tankers, offshore wells, and other deep-sea spills, a sizable portion of the oil catches fire. ... "The famous "Exxon Valdez" oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound resulted in the deaths of 15,000 otters, predominantly as a result of ingesting oil." ...

• Word Count: 1820
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate