turtles are susceptible to oil coating during a spill since 

 they surface at 1 to 3 minute intervals while actively 

 swimming and at least every 30 to 40 minutes when resting. (See 

 Chapter 3 for the effects of oil spills on marine organisms.) 

 Also, some mortality could result if spills reach nesting 

 beaches. Nesting season lasts from late spring through summer 

 and eggs or hatchlings, as well as adults, could be oiled 

 during this period. Death of eggs could also occur through 

 asphyxiation of embryos if the sand in which they are buried 

 is covered with oil. Also, hatchlings are disoriented by 

 lights. Therefore, young turtles attracted to lighted off- 

 shore structures would be vulnerable to attack by predatory 

 fishes known to concentrate around offshore platforms (Ogren 

 1977). 



The red wolf inhabited the Coastal Prairie in 

 southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. This species 

 may be extinct due to breeding with local canines. 

 There have been no studies done concerning ingestion of crude 

 oil by wolves or consumption of oil coated birds and fish. 

 However, no direct impacts to the wolf from offshore leasing 

 are anticipated (USDI , 1976b: 111-38) . 



The southern bald eagle also maintains a fragile nesting 

 population in some areas of Terrebonne and Jefferson Parishes 

 in Louisiana , and in Brazoria, Galveston, Refugio, and Calhoun 

 counties in Texas (USDI, 1976b: Visual No. 4). These 

 are not expected to be impacted by future lease sales 

 (USDI, 1976b< 111-38). 



The Mississippi sandhill crane has a small population on 



the coast of Jackson County, Mississippi (USDI, 1976b: 



Visual No. 4), but since there is no OCS activity in that 



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