Protect Your Large Animals and 

Livestock from Wildfire Smoke

Your animals can be affected by wildfire smoke. If you feel the effects of smoke, they probably do too! High 

levels of smoke are harmful. Long exposure to lower levels of smoke can also irritate animals’ eyes and 

respiratory tract and make it hard for them to breathe. Reduce your animals’ exposure to smoke the same 

way you reduce your own: spend less time in smoky areas and limit physical activity. Animals with heart or 

lung disease and older animals are especially at risk from smoke and should be closely watched during all 

periods of poor air quality. Take the following actions to protect your large animals and livestock against 

wildfire smoke.

Protect Your Animals During Smoke Episodes

• Limit strenuous activities that increase the

amount of smoke breathed into the lungs.

• Provide plenty of fresh water near feeding

areas.

• Limit dust exposure by feeding low-dust or

dust-free feeds and sprinkling or misting the

livestock holding areas.

• Consider moving outdoor birds to a less smoky

environment, such as a garage or basement.

• Give your livestock 4 to 6 weeks to recover fully

from smoky conditions before resuming

strenuous activity.

• Protect yourself, too! Think about wearing an

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.

Record Keeping

• 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 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 just some recommended items for 

large animals and livestock. Your animals may have 

their own special requirements.

• Supply of feed, supplements and water for 7 to

10 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, or 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 officials.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • EPA-452/F-19-001

For more information: 

• Get air quality information: Check your local news, the airnow.gov website, or your state air quality

agency’s website.

• Reduce Your Smoke Exposure Fact Sheet: https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/smoke_fires/reduce-yoursmoke-exposure.pdf

• Learn more about wildfire smoke: Wildfire Smoke, A Guide for Public Health Officials:

https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/wildfire_may2016.pdf

• American Veterinary Medical Association. Get more tips and information on caring for pets and

livestock during a wildfire:

https://www.avma.org/public/EmergencyCare/Pages/Wildfire-Smoke-and-Animals.aspx

https://www.avma.org/public/EmergencyCare/Pages/Large-Animals-and-Livestock-inDisasters.aspx