Evacuating With Pets: What to Have Ready

A wildfire evacuation is stressful enough without also trying to find a cat that's hiding under the bed or a leash that's buried in the garage. Pets pick up on your stress before they understand what's happening, and that usually means they hide, bolt, or freeze right when you need them to cooperate. You need a plan that doesn't depend on them cooperating at all.

Before You Need It

The best time to prepare for your pet's evacuation is long before there's any smoke on the horizon. A carrier that's easy to reach, a leash by the door, and supplies already packed mean you're not searching for any of it while you're also trying to get your family out.

If you have a cat or a small dog, keep the carrier somewhere accessible year-round, not folded up in a closet or stacked under other gear in the garage. Cats especially tend to disappear the moment they sense something's wrong, so the sooner you can get them contained, the better. For larger dogs, a leash and a harness kept by the same door your household would evacuate from saves real time.

What to Pack for Them

Food and water. At least a few days' worth, along with a bowl you can use anywhere. Dry food travels easier than wet, and it's one less thing that needs to stay cold.

Medications. If your pet takes anything regularly, pack a few days' supply the same way you would for a person in your household.

Identification. A collar with an ID tag is the baseline, but a microchip matters more if a leash slips or a carrier door doesn't latch. Keep your pet's vaccination records with your other important documents, since some shelters and boarding facilities require proof of vaccination before they'll take an animal in.

Comfort items. A blanket or a toy that smells like home can help an anxious pet settle once you've reached somewhere safe. It's not essential, but it costs nothing to include.

Pets That Need a Different Kind of Plan

Not every household is evacuating with a dog or a cat, and the plan looks different depending on what you're bringing.

Small mammals, like guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and rabbits, travel best in their own secure carrier rather than being handled directly during a stressful evacuation. Bring their regular bedding along with a few days of food, since a familiar smell can help them settle once you're somewhere safe. These pets are especially sensitive to temperature, so keep their carrier out of direct sun or cold drafts during the drive.

Birds are sensitive to stress and temperature swings, so a secure, familiar-feeling travel cage matters more than almost anything else you'll pack for them. Cover the cage during the drive to help keep them calm, and bring a few days of their regular food, since a sudden diet change on top of everything else isn't good for them.

Reptiles need their environment to travel with them, not just their body. A secure, ventilated container is the baseline, but heat is the real challenge: many reptiles can't regulate their own body temperature, so a portable heat source or insulated container matters if you're evacuating somewhere cold or overnight.

Fish are the hardest pets to evacuate quickly, and often the most reasonable choice is to leave them if you're truly short on time. If you do have a few minutes, a portable air pump and a secure, watertight container for transport can keep smaller fish alive for a short trip. For larger tanks, focus your effort on the animals that can leave with you, not the ones that can't.

Larger and More Vulnerable Animals

If you have livestock, horses, or other large animals, their evacuation plan looks different and needs to be worked out well ahead of time. Trailers take time to load, and animals that don't load easily under calm conditions will be much harder to move under stress. If you don't own a trailer yourself, know who nearby does, and have that conversation before wildfire season.

What It's For

The goal is the same as it is for the rest of your go-bag: remove decisions from the moment itself. When an evacuation order comes, you shouldn't be searching for a leash, calculating how much food to bring, or trying to remember which vet has your pet's records. Everything's already where it needs to be, and getting your pet out becomes one less thing standing between your household and the door.