Livestock and Wildfires: Emergency Welfare Response

Wildfires are an increasing emergency for livestock welfare, requiring farm-level preparedness and coordinated emergency response to protect animals.

Key Facts

Australia's 2019-20 Black Summer fires burned over 18 million hectares and killed or displaced an estimated 3 billion animals
California wildfires have killed hundreds of thousands of livestock and caused billions in agricultural losses
Livestock evacuation is complicated by the need for transport, safe destination facilities, and animal identification
Burned livestock survivors face welfare emergencies from respiratory damage, burns, and hoof injuries
Some jurisdictions have established livestock emergency response plans and designated evacuation routes
Recovery and rehabilitation of burned livestock require sustained veterinary and financial support beyond immediate emergency response

Welfare Considerations

Wildfire represents one of the most acute welfare emergencies for farm animals. Animals unable to escape burns experience excruciating pain from thermal injuries. Smoke inhalation causes respiratory damage that kills slowly over days. Survivors with severe burns or hoof damage face difficult euthanasia decisions. The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires driven by climate change means that livestock wildfire welfare planning is no longer optional but an essential component of farm management in fire-prone regions.

What You Can Do

Advocate for farm-level emergency preparedness requirements including livestock evacuation plans
Support emergency livestock welfare funds that deploy rapidly during wildfire events
Donate to veterinary emergency response organizations that treat burn-injured livestock
Engage with local emergency management authorities to ensure livestock are included in disaster planning
Raise awareness that wildfire is a climate-linked animal welfare emergency alongside its human cost