Dead And Oil-Covered Ducks Found In Wake Of Exxon Oil Spill In Arkansas (VIDEO)

The environmental consequences from the recent oil spill in central Arkansas are already started coming into focus after dead ducks and other birds covered in oil have turned up in the wake of the spill, according to the Associated Press.

About 12,000 barrels of water and oil spilled from ExxonMobil's Pegasus pipeline after the pipe ruptured in Mayflower, Ark., about 20 miles northwest of Little Rock.

While two dead ducks and several oil-soaked birds have turned up, officials in Mayflower said they do not expect to find many more dead animals as oil cleanup efforts continue.

"I don't expect a great number of them," said Allen Dodson, Faulkner County judge who is the top executive for the county where the spill occurred. "I'll be thoroughly disappointed if there are."

The ruptured pipe sent oil flowing down residential streets, moving quickly into the community's storm drain system, onwards into a drainage ditch and towards the nearby Lake Conway before officials were able to contain the spill.

Twenty-two homes had to be evacuated, and several residents are still unable to return home.

"The oil is extremely thick. It is like removing gum from someone's hair. That's how thick it is getting it out of feathers," said Lynne Slater, executive director at HAWK Center, a wildlife rehabilitation organization, according to local news outlet The Log Cabin Democrat, which also published a slideshow of cleanup images.

She said several animals, including several "oiled ducks" have been treated and appear to be recovering.

Exxon launched a public relations campaign in the wake of the spill, including heavy advertising on the website of the local Mayflower newspaper.

The Arkansas Attorney General's office plans to open an investigation into the cause and impact of the incident and has reportedly asked Exxon to preserve all documents and information relating to Friday's spill.

RELATED: Latest Exxon Oil Spill Disrupts Community, Threatens Environment In Central Arkansas (VIDEO)