Protect Your Large Animals and Livestock From Wildfire Smoke

Protect Your Animals During Smoke and Heat Episodes

• Limit activities that increase the amount of smoke breathed into the lungs. 
• This includes limiting all activity that requires effort. For horses, avoid riding, training, or forced walks. Similarly for cattle, avoid running them through chutes and postpone stressful elective procedures. Only essential activity should be considered during smoke events. 
• If it is hot, move animals to areas with more shade to keep them cooler and provide plenty of water near feeding areas. 
• Limit dust exposure by feeding low-dust or dust-free feeds, using low-dust bedding, and sprinkling or misting for the livestock holding areas. Limit activity that increases dust, such as sweeping aisles, using tractors, and changing bedding. Only essential management activity should continue.  
• Consider moving outdoor birds to a less smoky, cooler environment, such as a garage or basement.  Move potentially dangerous products, such as pesticides, out of the reach of animals in these rooms. 
• Give your livestock four to six weeks to recover fully from smoky conditions before resuming strenuous activity. 
• Protect yourself, too! Think about wearing a NIOSH Approved® N95® or P100® respirator while taking care of your animals. 

Prepare Before a Wildfire 

Know where to take your livestock if smoke persists or becomes severe, or if you need to evacuate. Good barn and field maintenance can reduce fire danger for horses and other livestock. 

Recordkeeping 

• Make sure your animals have permanent identification (ear tags, tattoos, electronic microchips, brands, etc.). 
• Keep pictures of animals, especially high-value animals, such as horses, up to date. 
• Keep a list of the species, number, and locations of your animals with your evacuation supplies. 
• Note animals’ favorite hiding spots. This will save precious rescue time! 
• Keep vaccination records, medical records, and registration papers with your Evacuation Kit. 

Preparing for Evacuations 

• Assemble an Evacuation Kit. 
• Know where you can temporarily shelter your livestock. Contact your local fairgrounds, stockyards, equestrian centers, etc. about their policies. 
• Identify trailer resources and train all horses and livestock to load in those trailers. 
• Make an evacuation plan for your animals. Plan several different evacuation routes. 
• Check with local emergency management officials before you need to evacuate. 
• Do not wait until the last minute. Corral animals to prepare for off-site movement. 
• Above all, ensure the safety of you and your family. 

Evacuation Kit 

This list has some recommended items for large animals and livestock. Your animals may have their own special requirements. 

• Supply of feed, supplements, necessary medications, and water for seven to ten days. 
• Blankets, halters, leads, water buckets, manure fork, and trash barrel.  
• Copies of vaccination records, medical records, and proof of ownership. 
• Tools: flashlight, heavy leather gloves, rope, shovel, knife, and wire cutters. 
• Animal care instructions for diet and medications (for animals left at a shelter). 
• Emergency cash, emergency contact list, and first aid kit. 

If You Must Leave Your Animals Behind 

• If evacuation cannot be accomplished in a safe and timely way, have a preselected, cleared area where your animals can move about. 
• Open gates, cut fences, and herd livestock into areas of lower fire risk. 
• Let neighbors and first responders know to be on the lookout for your animals. 
• Leave enough food and water for 48 to 72 hours. Do not rely on automatic watering systems. 
• Once you leave your property, do not return until told to do so by local officials.