Think Wild offers tips for aiding wildlife as Central Oregon battles Flat Fire
Kelsey Merison
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As crews work to contain the Flat Fire, now at just under 22,000 acres, Think Wild Central Oregon is offering tips on how to aid wildlife.
The nonprofit says Oregon’s native species are remarkably well adapted to living with fire, but many animals do not survive in large fast-moving fires like this.
Flames and smoke can cause immediate injury or death, habitat loss, and long-term changes to food and shelter.
Species that rely on sagebrush or mature trees for cover or nesting may decline–while young wildlife, still learning to forage and hunt, can be especially vulnerable in the weeks and months after.
Wildlife experience many of the same impacts people do during smoke and extreme heat, including dehydration, exhaustion, disorientation, and respiratory issues.
If you see wildlife moving through your property, do not approach.
Here’s how you can help:
-Leave fresh water outside, away from your home, and change it often.
-Make sure ponds or water features have safe exits for animals, such as rocks, ramps, or logs.
-Keep pets indoors to protect them and displaced wildlife.
-Do not feed wildlife.
If you find a burned animal, and it’s safe to do so, loosely wrap them in 100% cotton, place in a ventilated box in a dark, quiet space, and do not offer food. Contact a wildlife hospital or oregon state police non-emergency as soon as possible.
If you find a suspected injured or orphaned animal, contact Think Wild before taking action to confirm next steps. Think Wild’s ‘Wildlife Hotline’ is available at (541) 241-8680 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.