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Livestock Evacuation During Wildfire

Moving animals in a wildfire is slow, stressful and sometimes impossible. Good decisions are made weeks earlier, and this guide covers what to settle before an order comes.

What makes livestock evacuation so hard?

Animals do not understand sirens, smoke or strange trailers. Frightened animals can balk, scatter or refuse to load, and each trip takes time that may not be available. Roads fill with traffic and fire crews, and some routes close without notice.

Because of this, the single most useful step is to decide ahead of time which animals you can realistically move and which you cannot. Saying it out loud before an emergency is hard, but it prevents dangerous improvising later.

Where could the animals go?

Identify at least two destinations away from your area: a fairground, a friend's farm, a sale barn or a county holding site. Call and ask permission now, not during an evacuation, and ask what they would need from you, such as health papers or feed.

Your local extension office and county emergency office often know which sites are used in a disaster. Rules about where animals may be held, and what paperwork is required to cross county or state lines, are set by local and state agencies, so confirm them with the state veterinarian or department of agriculture.

• List a primary and a backup destination with phone numbers
• Ask about water, feed and handling facilities there
• Confirm who pays for or arranges holding space

How do we identify animals if they get separated?

Animals can be lost, turned out or moved by others. Use ear tags, brands, tattoos or other identification you already rely on, and keep current photos and a herd list somewhere off the farm.

Keep records of vaccinations, ownership and any treatment. Extension fact sheets describe what to include, and your veterinarian can help you build a simple record that fits your operation.

What should be ready to go?

Keep a livestock trailer maintained, hitched easily and not blocked in. Store halters, leads, a flashlight, basic tools and a bucket where you can find them in the dark. Have feed and water plans for the first few days at the destination.

If you have no trailer or too few, arrange a hauling partner in advance. Neighbors, local haulers and livestock groups are often willing to help when the agreement is made before the emergency.

When do we turn animals out instead of hauling them?

In some emergencies, officials or experienced livestock people will talk about turning animals out into a safer pasture or leaving gates open. This is a serious decision with risks, such as roads, loss of animals and liability, and it should not be made from advice on a web page.

Discuss the question with your veterinarian, local extension educator and fire officials before fire season so you know what they recommend where you live, and write down your decision.

When do people come first?

The rule that matters most is simple: do not risk your life or anyone else's for animals. If an evacuation order is given and you cannot move an animal safely, leave, tell officials where the animal is and what it is, and follow their direction.

If anyone is hurt, trapped or in danger, call 911. After the emergency, return only when authorities say the area is safe.

What should a written livestock evacuation plan include?

Keep it short enough that a helper who has never been to your farm could follow it. List each group of animals, how many there are, where they are kept, which trailer or truck moves them and in what order they would be loaded. Note the gates, chutes and loading points that work best, and which animals are hardest to handle.

Include phone numbers for your veterinarian, your destination sites, your hauling partners and your county emergency office. Add a note on what each animal group needs on arrival, such as water, shelter and separation of species or sexes. A plan that covers these points saves time that cannot be recovered during an emergency.

Review it with everyone who might carry it out. Ask a neighbor or a hired worker to read it cold and tell you what is confusing. Update it every year, and after any change in herd size or buildings. Remember that the written plan is a guide for calm preparation, and that on the day, officials' instructions override it.

• Group animals by how they travel together
• Write down a loading order and who does each job
• Keep copies in the truck, the house and with a neighbor

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.