Officials say now is the time for large animal owners to begin making evacuation plans ahead of a wildfire.
That starts with having multiple places to take evacuated animals.
"I would recommend now, before we're in an evacuation, to reach out to family and friends that are outside of your area ... to see if they could accommodate your animals," said Linda Newman, program supervisor with Butte County Animal Control. "If they can't, that's what we have the emergency shelter for."
"Get [your animals] used to coming to you and getting caught, and practice loading them in the trailer even if you don't go anywhere with them ... It'll make it so much easier during a stressful event."- Linda Newman, Butte County Animal Control program supervisor
During a disaster, emergency shelters often have limited capacity, Newman said, so they're best used as a backup.
It's also important to do practice evacuation drills with your animals to get them used to the process, she said.
"Get them used to coming to you and getting caught, and practice loading them in the trailer even if you don't go anywhere with them," Newman said. "Just so that they're comfortable getting in the trailer. It'll make it so much easier during a stressful event."
Doing these drills can also make it easier for emergency workers to care for animals if their owners aren't able to evacuate them.
Nikolay Ostrovskiy, program manager with Butte County Public Health, said the county works closely with the North Valley Animal Disaster Group and they’ve found if animals are trained they’re more comfortable with being helped during a disaster.
“We can rescue a lot more animals that way," Ostrovskiy said.
"The worst thing is to find you've got a flat tire when you need to evacuate quickly. So just make sure your equipment's good. Know where all your halters are, any feed, water that you may need to pack up."- Linda Newman, Butte County Animal Control program supervisor
Officials also recommend animal owners regularly check equipment like holding pens and trailers.
"The worst thing is to find you've got a flat tire when you need to evacuate quickly," Newman said. "So just make sure your equipment's good. Know where all your halters are, any feed, water that you may need to pack up."
If a fire does break out, Newman said, it’s important that animal owners begin the process of evacuating right away.
"When you get your evacuation warning, that is the time to start getting ready to leave," Newman said. "Our shelters will accept animals when you're in a mandatory evacuation [order] zone. So while you're in the warning, is a great time to get everything loaded up and ready in case it does escalate to a mandatory order."
Wildfire evacuation checklist for large animal owners
Make a plan
- Identify evacuation locations outside your area, such as family, friends or other facilities. (Evacuation shelters should be used as a backup.)
- Confirm each location can take your animals in an emergency.
- Have a plan for if you’re not there when disaster strikes.
- Have multiple evacuation routes planned to get out safely.
Prepare equipment
- Inspect and maintain your trailer. Check tires, lights and hitch.
- Ensure holding pens and gates are functional.
- Keep halters, lead ropes and emergency gear in one accessible location. (It’s advised that leads and halters are non-nylon and fire resistant.)
- Tattoos, microchips, branding, ear tags or spray painted symbols are a good idea to prevent mix-ups and help prove ownership.
Practice
- Regularly practice catching and haltering your animals.
- Practice loading them into the trailer, even if you're not going anywhere.
- Familiarize animals with travel routines before an emergency happens.
Pack essentials
- Assemble a go-kit that includes:
- Water and feed
- Buckets and containers
- First-aid supplies
- Medications
- Animal identification (e.g., veterinary records, proof of ownership, microchip information, photographs.)
When fire strikes
- Evacuate during a warning. Don’t wait for a mandatory order.
- If you can’t evacuate animals, leave them with identification, food and water. (During a fire, you should close-off the barn gates so animals can’t access that area and release animals into the pasture for the best chance of survival.
- Know where the nearest emergency animal shelter is, and use it as a backup if needed.
More resources
Includes planning help for if you’re home during a disaster and if you’re not. They also have a one-sheet specifically on preparedness for horses.
Includes a Small Farm Preparedness Guide, emergency contact cards and help on how to pack evacuation kits for livestock, poultry or rabbits.
Includes preparation and evacuation information and links to more guides from the CDFA, The Humane Society, Cal Fire, USDA.
