OK we do this pretty much every year in CO and this is how it goes:
WATER IS FINE, WATER IS GOOD. Animals fleeing the fire are more dehydrated than anything else. I reccomend filling up a kidde pool with a couple inches from the garden hose, and leave a couple large rocks in to stablize the pool/let things like birds and bees drink from it. Also include a 2x4 with one end in the pool and the other over the edge to be an escape route for smaller animals.
I also reccomend leaving some plates with a bit of water in them for really small animals like spiders, snakes, toads and other things that would have difficulty getting into the pool.
Beyond the necessary stuff to keep your own house safe in the event of fire, SKIP THE YARD WORK- you probably shouldn’t be exterting yourself in the smoke anyway, and fleeing animals will appreciate the additional cover.
LET THEM NAP. Most animals that come to your yard will usually keep moving within a day or so and are only there to rest until they’re well out of the smoke. If you find an animal in your yard that isn’t obviously injured or ill, just give it a wide berth and let it rest. If it’s in EXACTLY the same place after 48 hours, then you should call animal control.
KEEP FOOD, PETS AND CHILDREN INSIDE. Keep your trash in the garage, bring in birdfeeders, and if you let your cats roam… just don’t in general, but right now is a super bad time becuase there’s hungry coyotes about. Stick your head out the back door and give your yard a quick look before letting the dog or children out and supervise them while they’re outside.
EXCEPTION TO THE FOOD RULE: GARDENS. When animals learn there’s food in houses or trash cans, that’s not great. Foraging food off of plants like munching your tomatoes and that zucchini you weren’t going to eat is less of an issue, because it doesn’t really teach them to associate humans and houses with food. Let them monch your crops.
SECURE YOUR HOUSE COMPLETELY- lock doors, block off any pet doors you have, cover your window wells, and lock all your windows, even the ones on the upper floors. This will keep both displaced wildlife AND smoke out of your home. If possible, see if you can seal off your attic. If not, make sure your attic acess is secured. Racoons and bears are sneaky.
OBEY ANY AND ALL EVACUATION NOTICES, BURSH-CLEARING INSTRUCTIONS AND ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO YOU BY EMERGENCY SERVICES. Stay safe kids.
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