Wildfires cause acute welfare suffering to wildlife and domestic animals through burns, smoke inhalation, habitat destruction, and food scarcity, with specific rescue and rehabilitation challenges.
Wildfire animal welfare harm operates at multiple timescales. During the fire itself, animals face burns, respiratory damage from smoke inhalation, and death from heat and flame. Survivors with burned feet or airways may suffer for days or weeks without treatment. The post-fire landscape presents ongoing welfare challenges as food and water sources are destroyed. Horses and livestock that cannot be evacuated face burns and respiratory damage. Wildlife rehabilitation for burned animals is highly specialised - koalas with burned paws, wombats with singed fur, and bats with wing membrane damage each require species-specific treatment. Prevention through prescribed burning and habitat management reduces wildfire intensity and animal welfare harm.