Researchers hope to better understand production and feed losses, how and when owners evacuate their animals, and how perceived wildfire risk affects the costs and availability of fire insurance. | Photo: iStock

Researchers at the University of California (UC), Davis, and UC Berkley are polling horse ranch operators to determine how wildfires affect their operations.

Beatriz Martinez Lopez, DVM, MPVM, PhD, director of the Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance and associate professor at the UC School of Veterinary Medicine, said the FIRE survey will examine production and feed losses, how and when owners evacuate their animals, and how perceived wildfire risk affects the costs and availability of fire insurance.

Horse, cattle, sheep, and other livestock farm operators who have experienced at least one wildfire on their property within the last 10 years are qualified to participate in the survey