Agency says dead, oiled birds reported in Texas, but state official there disputes report

Texas official disputes report on oily, dead birds

ROBERT, La. — Federal authorities responding to the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill say dead birds with oil on them have been reported for the first time in Texas, but a state official there disputes the report.

A wildlife report issued Sunday by the government command center in Robert, La., says two dead birds with visible oil were found in Texas, along with at least 36 dead birds that didn’t appear to have oil on them.

However, Texas General Land Office spokesman Jim Juydam says he has no reports of any oily dead birds reaching Texas. He says the spill was about 100 miles east of the Sabine River.

The April 20 explosoion of the Deepwater Horizon rig off the Louisiana coast triggered the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ROBERT, La. (AP) — Federal authorities responding to the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill say dead birds with oil on them have been reported for the first time in Texas.

A wildlife report issued Sunday by the government command center in Robert, La., says that two dead birds with visible oil were found in Texas, along with at least 36 dead birds that didn’t appear to have oil on them. The report did not say where in Texas the birds were found.

The previous day’s wildlife report didn’t list any dead birds in Texas.

Officials at the command center could not immediately comment on the numbers in the report late Sunday.

The worst oil spill in U.S. history has created an environmental crisis in the Gulf region. Millions of gallons of oil have spilled since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana on April 20, killing 11 workers.