05/25/2026
Friday's oil spill in East LA sent crude oil into the River, and it's been moving downstream ever since. As of this weekend, 25 birds have been collected and are being treated for oil contamination.
The agencies on the ground -- CDFW, the Coast Guard, the Oiled Wildlife Care Network -- are doing their jobs. We're watching closely and will have more to say as the picture becomes clearer. Candice, our CEO, is at the River today to see the cleanup barriers and the bird rescue operation firsthand.
Though some might prefer to think of the LA River as a storm drain, it is a living ecosystem and deserves to be respected and protected. Those responsible must be fully accountable for remediation, environmental impacts, and long term restoration.
If you spot an oiled or distressed bird along the River, please don't approach it. Call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 1-877-823-6926.
Photo: KTLA
