Gargoyles, 'scare cannons' used to keep wildlife away from Husky oil spill area

Efforts to protect wildlife from the Husky oil spill that include using noise cannons and gargoyles continue in Saskatchewan, the government says in its latest update.

As much as 250,000 litres of oil and other chemicals spilled into the North Saskatchewan River east of Lloydminster when one of Husky's pipelines ruptured.

Since then, some 800 people have been involved in the cleanup effort and much of the material spilled has been removed from the river.

In its update on Monday, the provincial government said shoreline cleanup on the most heavily-impacted area is complete, although the cleanup continues in other areas.

There have been 141 wildlife mortalities in total in connection with the spill 91 animals and 50 aquatic species. Sixteen animals are recovering and 17 have been re-released into the wild.

The estimated number of "observed non-impacted wildlife" is over 45,000, the government said.

A wildlife deterrent program has been launched to keep animals out of cleanup areas.

Workers have deployed "scare cannons", decoys and gargoyles.

Last month, the spill sent a number of communities along the river into crisis mode as they scrambled to obtain drinking water.

Subsequent tests have indicated the water in the river is now safe for human consumption.