How to help wildlife rescue operations underway since Gulf oil spill

PHOENIX - A disastrous spill still leaking oil into the Gulf has many would-be volunteers wondering what they can do to help.

Sarah Porter is the Executive Director of Audubon Arizona , the local branch of the Audubon Society.

She said given the highly specialized nature of the kind of clean-up needed in the Gulf, the best way to help is to donate money to groups, like theirs, currently working to save wildlife.

She said without training in wildlife rescue operations and how to work with toxic, noxious materials, it is difficult to find placement as a volunteer.

Here is a list of groups working to save wildlife impacted by the Gulf Oil Spill:

-- Audubon Society has teams on the ground helping with the clean-up. You can donate by visiting https://loon.audubon.org/payment/donate/OILSPILL10.html .

-- Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research is the organization which treated the first oiled bird discovered in this spill.  To support their efforts with a donation, visit http://www.tristatebird.org/donations .

--The New Orleans-based Audubon Nature Institute has positioned triage units in the affected areas to treat any affected sea turtles or marine mammals, such as sea otters. You can support their efforts by making a donation at http://www.audubontransactions.org/support/fund1.php or by calling 504-861-5107.

--The International Bird Rescue Research Center   has a team of specialists prepared to assist with rescue efforts.  If you want to volunteer, they suggest calling the BP Community Support Team Hotline at 866-448-5816.

-- Mobile Baykeeper , based in Alabama, is an environmental group participating in cleanup efforts. They are currently taking donations to support their work related to the spill on their website at http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/support-join/donate