Wildlife trapper waits for the call from BP

As the oil spill worsens more and more help is needed with clean up.

One Brevard County wildlife trapper was trained and thought he was on his way to help with the cleanup efforts but after weeks of being on standby he is now frustrated with BP.

Wildlife trapper James Dean spent the day fishing with his son in Melbourne, instead of helping with wildlife rescue efforts in the Gulf of Mexico like he had been planning.

Last month he said BP paid for him to travel to Sarasota and take a training class.
But it's been weeks, and he's still on standby. 

"I'm annoyed because I’ve actually been turning work down in order to be able to go ahead and go when they do call me," said Dean

Dean said he was told he would get called at a moment’s notice and was under the impression that his services were needed immediately, so he started referring trapping calls in Brevard County to other trappers. But weeks later and still no call, his bills are piling up.

"It's hurting my business because I’m slowing down on my trapping because I don't want to have traps set out and then get called and run around, pulling traps and dealing with customers that may get upset with me doing that,” Dean said.

According to BP’s website, they have more than 20,000 people that have signed up to help.

DeepWater Horizon Response Officials told News 13 over the phone there is no shortage of volunteers, and anyone working with the oil needs to go through special training. They said there is a constant cycle of people helping with the efforts.

Dean will get paid for his efforts if he eventually gets called to help in the Gulf of Mexico.