PRESS RELEASE

L.D.W.F. Agents Discover Two Dead Seabirds in Grand Gosier Area

BATON ROUGE (May 6, 2010) - Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents discovered two dead gannets, possibly killed by the ongoing Deepwater Horizon oil spill, on May 5th.  A determination has not been made on the cause of the birds¹ deaths, but agents confirmed that the birds were covered in oil when found.

Sgt. Ray Champagne and Sr. Agent Aaron Hastings discovered the birds while patrolling closed fishing grounds near the Grand Gosier Islands off of Plaquemines Parish.  The agents relinquished the birds to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel in Venice who will be responsible for determining the cause of the deaths.

Gannets are large seabirds commonly found in Louisiana''s coastal areas.

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