Welfare of Animals During Natural Wildfires

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity globally, and their impact on animal welfare — both wild and domestic — is one of the most significant and rapidly growing climate-linked welfare challenges.

Key Facts

The 2019-2020 Australian Black Summer fires affected an estimated 3 billion animals
Koalas can suffer severe burns because they climb trees rather than fleeing fire
Livestock in fire zones are sometimes too numerous to evacuate and perish in large numbers
Post-fire habitat loss creates months to years of food and shelter scarcity for survivors
Wildlife organizations have developed smoke inhalation treatment protocols for fire-affected animals

Welfare Considerations

Wildfire welfare impacts extend far beyond immediate fire mortality. Burn injuries cause prolonged, extreme suffering — charred paws, respiratory damage from smoke inhalation, and skin burns requiring months of treatment. Surviving animals face secondary harms: loss of food sources, shelter, and cover; increased predation risk in denuded landscapes; and physiological stress from repeated fire exposure as fires return more frequently. Pre-fire vegetation management and post-fire rehabilitation are both essential.

What You Can Do

Donate to WIRES, HSUS Disaster Animal Response, and local wildlife rehabilitation organizations
Support prescribed burning and vegetation management programs that reduce catastrophic fire risk
Advocate for fire-resilient habitat corridor protection in wildlife conservation planning
Prepare livestock and pet emergency evacuation plans before fire season begins