The Canadian government is investigating a series of four oil spills, or seeps, in areas around the Alberta tar sands extraction operations. Alberta's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development reports that waterfowl, beavers, tadpoles, frogs, muskrats and shrews have been affected.
As of August 8, 2013 16 birds, seven small mammals and 38 amphibians have been reported killed. A small number of animals are being cared for at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton. The Ministry is monitoring the sites, treating it as a significant event and wildlife deterrents have now been put in place to prevent further losses.
The use of pressurised steam to loosen up the bitumen has resulted in a few blowouts in the past but these slow seepage incidents are not well understood. To date 950 cubic meters of bitumen is reported as uncaptured, affecting approximately 50 acres of land within the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, which is off limits to casual visitors.The first seep was noted in 2009 but the reason for the seeps has not been determined. Possibilities include operating practices, mechanical issues or geological anomalies which could cause the oil to seep out rather than be pumped through the wells.