03/10/2026
BUSH FIRE PREPARATION: PLAN FOR PETS, ANIMALS & NATIVE WILDLIFE
Bush Fire Survival Plan For Pets: 🐾📝
• Plan where you’ll go and how you’ll safely transport your animals.
• Have a backup person who can help if you can’t, and make sure they have a copy of your plan.
• Practise before an emergency using carriers, crates, trailers or floats. Be ready to go with up-to-date identification, food, water, leads, carriers and other essentials. Keep a copy of your pet’s microchip number, veterinary records and details of any medications they require.
• For livestock and larger animals, prepare a safe area with secure fencing, multiple easy-to-access routes and minimal flammable material. Make sure you have enough accessible feed and water for at least 3–7 days, or longer if required.
• If you evacuate, take your pets with you. Keep cats and dogs under control where possible so native wildlife can move safely through your property.
Helping Native Wildlife During Bush Fires: 🦘
During and after bush fires, wildlife may be injured, displaced, dehydrated or suffering from smoke inhalation or burns. If you find sick, injured or orphaned wildlife:
• Contact a local vet or licensed wildlife rescue group and record exactly where you found the animal. This can help reunite young wildlife with their parents and return rescued animals to their own territory.
• Injured wildlife may require specialist care. Contact a vet or licensed wildlife rescue group for advice before attempting to handle or rescue an animal.
• If you’re concerned an injured animal is hungry or dehydrated, avoid giving it food or water unless advised by a vet or wildlife carer. Native animals have specialised diets, and feeding them the wrong food, especially when they’re injured or in shock, can cause serious harm.
Plan ahead, put safety first and follow the advice of emergency services. Being prepared can help keep you, your pets and animals safe if a bush fire threatens.
🔗 MORE INFORMATION & RESOURCES
🔥 NSW RFS – Livestock & Large Animals
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/187461/Livestock-and-Large-Animal-Fact-Sheet.pdf
🐨 WIRES – Report a Wildlife Rescue
https://www.wires.org.au/report-a-rescue
🦘 NSW National Parks – Injured Wildlife
https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/conservation-and-heritage/care-for-parks/injured-wildlife