Wildfire Season: Horse Evacuation During COVID-19

Getting your horse to safety during a wildfire and a pandemic takes extra preparation. Two disaster planning experts offer tips to keep yourself healthy while evacuating your horses.
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wildfire losses; wildfire, wildfire tips for horse owners
You might have to leave earlier and travel farther to find safe cover during the pandemic, so McConnico recommends gathering adequate supplies, including food and fuel, and carrying them with you. | Photo: iStock

As of Aug. 6, wildfires have ravaged more than 2.2 million acres of land in the United States and more than 4.8 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 as the pandemic—and the flames—continue to spread.

Fires such as the Apple Fire in California and the recently contained Bighorn Fire in Arizona led to evacuations of people and livestock, which raises the question: How do you evacuate your horse safely during a pandemic?

Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue President Rebecca Husted, PhD, and Rebecca McConnico, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor at Louisiana Tech University, recommend owners develop an evacuation plan before they need it. That is especially true during a pandemic

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Written by:

Stacy Pigott is a freelance writer based in Tucson, Arizona. For 25 years, Stacy served as editor for various equine publications in the Quarter Horse racing and Western performance horse industries. She currently works at the University of Arizona, where she is a public information officer covering health sciences news and research. She hopes to compete in eventing and jumping with her OTTB Nicky.

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