Planning and Preparation of Livestock and Facilities for Wildfire

1. Planning and Preparation of Livestock and Facilities for Wildfire Joe C. Paschal Livestock Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension Corpus Christi, Texas j-paschal@tamu.edu

2. Characteristics of Animal Response to Wildfire • Surface speeds vary from 5 to 40 miles per hour. • Wildfires generate smoke, heat and sound. • Livestock are very sensitive and responsive to wildfire anywhere within their sensory range. • Normal reactions vary from nervousness, to panic, to aggressive and resistive escape attempts. • Livestock are often injured or killed by fleeing from a wildfire into fences, barriers and other fire risks. • Once the flight syndrome kicks in, it is retained long after the smoke, heat and noise stimuli are removed.

3. Some animal species such as alpacas, llamas and especially horses become virtually unmanageable in the face of oncoming wildfire. • In situations like this, experienced handlers (as many as possible), proper equipment, and a firm and prompt evacuation approach is needed. • If time is limited because of fire ground speed, open possible escape routes and recapture animals later. • In the case of a fast moving fire, some landowners spray paint their phone numbers on the sides of livestock before setting them free. Others attach identification tags to animals. • If you choose to leave a halter on your animal, consider attaching identification—such as a luggage tag. • Firefighters may cut fences and open gates if time and safety concerns allow.

4. Evacuation Planning • Identification • Animals are identified • Pictures/papers • Health • Vaccinations up to date • Records • Evacuation • Truck/trailer/tires • Evacuation route(s) • Destination • Water/feed • Halters/ropes/panels • Neighbor/Buddy system • Practice

5. Disaster Kit • Ownership/health records • Extra tack/ropes/halters • Feed/hay/supplements • Veterinary first aid supplies • Medicines • Feed/water buckets/hay nets • Blankets/tarps • Flashlight/lantern • Electric fence/posts

6. Minimizing the Effect • Know fire weather/conditions • Reduce fuel loads • Proper grazing management • Remove trees, brush and high grass from area • Reduce the density of trees and brush in pastures • Disk/mow fire guards • 20 feet for perimeter fences • 10 feet for inside fences • Store feeds and fuel away from structures • Don’t burn trash or brush near barns, buildings or livestock

7. Minimizing the Effect • Prepare and practice an evacuation plan • Build with inflammable or fire resistant material • Metal barns/roofs • Metal posts/pens • Wire fences • Electrical fences • Maintain electrical wires • Bury and note location • Maintain fire extinguisher • Protect well or water source(s)

8. Worst Case Scenario (if you cannot evacuate AND have time) • Move livestock to largest pasture with the lowest fuel source • Short grass, little or no brush, few or no trees • No flammable materials (or structures) • Access to water (tank or pond) • Away from any pastures with higher fuel sources • If pastures are small cut fences in several places • Prepare a fire guard (or two) between the pasture and the approaching fire • Fill spray equipment

9. Worst Case Scenario (cont.) • Large livestock will move from fire and may survive a fire if they are not severely burned or have breathed super heated air in their lungs • Smaller stock may not • Burned livestock will need to be • Treated for burns and possibly for secondary infections and smoke inhalation • Fed and watered • Sheltered • Severely burned animals will need to be destroyed

10. Afterwards • Evaluate damage to buildings, pens, corrals, fences, feed, pastures, water well, fuel storage and electrical wiring • Treat injured animals (burned or otherwise) • Consider humanely destroying severely burned or dying animals (reduce suffering) • Secure survivors to reduce straying and away from fire damaged areas and protect from weather • Take pictures of damaged buildings and injured livestock • Reduce stress and use low stress handling • Dispose of deads

11. Thank You! Dr. Jason Cleere jjcleere@ag.tamu.edu