Barrier islands wildlife refuge off La. coast closed as oil advances

La. wildlife refuge closed as oil advances

NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed a sensitive barrier islands habitat for nesting birds and other animals as oil advances from the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

The federal agency said Friday that the Breton National Wildlife Refuge was closed to the public to allow cleanup and wildlife recovery missions to take place.

The wildlife service says they had to close the area to limit the disturbance to nesting sea birds. Oil reached the refuge on Wednesday.

The area is off the coast of St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes and includes Chandeleur, Grand Gossier and New Harbor Islands.