Livestock

Livestock in Wildfires: Emergency Welfare and Recovery

Wildfires cause catastrophic welfare harm to livestock through burns, smoke inhalation, and the psychological trauma of disaster.

Key Facts

The 2017 California wildfires killed over 50,000 farm animals including horses and cattle
Smoke inhalation causes respiratory damage that may not be apparent for days after exposure
Burns covering more than 50% of body surface are typically fatal even with treatment
Horses exposed to wildfire have chronic PTSD-like behavioral changes documented afterwards
Climate change is increasing wildfire frequency and severity in fire-prone regions

Welfare Considerations

Livestock in wildfires suffer acute burns, airway damage from smoke, and the terror of rapid environmental change. Animals that escape initial burns may die days later from respiratory damage or infection in burned tissue. Horses that survive major fires show long-term behavioral changes including hypervigilance and fear of fire-related stimuli. The increasing frequency of severe wildfires means this welfare challenge is growing.

What You Can Do

Create a livestock emergency evacuation plan before wildfire season
Maintain trailer access and practice loading livestock under stress conditions
Register your property with the local agricultural emergency response network
Advocate for expanded agricultural emergency response funding in your state
Donate to farm animal disaster relief organizations like United Animal Nations