Over the next few days, rescuers recovered 45 birds, many with skin damage from the oil as well as serious gastrointestinal problems. Seven of the birds died within a week.
Wildlife veterinarians released 37 of the rescued birds into the river Friday afternoon, according to the New England Wildlife Center. The nonprofit was among the first responders to the area on Dec. 8., when heating oil leaked from a storm drain into the water .
Almost all the ducks and geese rescued from an oil spill in Brookline’s Muddy River last month were released to the wild on Friday after three weeks of medical treatment, officials said.
The surviving birds underwent an intensive cleaning process and were placed in heated pens for recovery. Veterinarians administered antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication and monitored the birds’ ability to preen their own feathers, which allows them to thermoregulate in cold water.
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Wildlife officials had considered releasing some of the birds before the others, but they all responded favorably to their treatment, said Zak Mertz, the wildlife center’s chief executive.
“We’ve swim tested all of them, they’re all eating really well, and frankly, we’re not doing them any favors by keeping them any longer,” Mertz said, “because we can see that they’re sort of raring to get out of the cages.”
One goose, which was found and treated later than the others, is still being held for observation, Mertz said.
Mertz said all the birds being released are behaving normally, adding that their feather quality had improved and their digestive systems — “which, when you’re a goose or a duck, is a very productive system” — appeared healthy.
“I think a lot of these guys were pretty lucky that we were able to get them as quickly as we did, and intervene as quickly as we did,” he said. “Because it probably did make a long-term difference.”
The cause of the oil spill is under investigation by the state Department of Environmental Protection. A spokesperson for the agency said Friday that the management group of a local condominium complex had been informed the property was potentially responsible for the spill.
Brook House, located on Pond Avenue, was previously found responsible for leaking oil into nearby Leverett Pond from an underground fuel tank in 2022, according to the town’s Public Works Department. A trustee of the complex told the Brookline News last month that Brook House was cooperating with the current investigation but it had not agreed to cover the cleanup costs from the Dec. 8 spill.
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Brook House could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday.
Oil-absorbent booms remain in the Muddy River as a precaution, but wildlife center staff have been assured by state officials that the water is clean, Mertz said.
Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.
Dozens of rescued birds released after medical treatment
