Explosive and expensive wild fires appear to be the new normal and the Black Forest fire in Colorado is no exception. With wild fires burning more than 5 million acres in the U. S. each year, the Colorado fire has taken its toll on many animals as well as on humans.
Explosive Colorado wildfire
Along with horses rescued from the Colorado fire are cows, chickens, cats, dogs, sheep, goats, even a pot-bellied pig from the Black Forest Animal Sanctuary.
© 2013 by US Forest Service
According to news reports, not only are wild life animals severely affected, but many domestic animals are now running loose, some burned by flying embers or the fire, but all needing care and help to find their way back to their human care takers.
Dozens of animals have been rescued from the Black Forest fire’s path and taken to the Twisted Trail Farm in Castle Rock where Nancy Devaney and her husband are managers.
Along with horses, there are cows, chickens, cats, dogs, sheep, goats, even a pot-bellied pig and an alpaca. Nearly all the animals came from the Black Forest Animal Sanctuary that was in the evacuation zone but had no place to go.
Devaney saw the smoke Tuesday and called the sanctuary, worried about the animals. She knows that they often get left behind in evacuations. She took as many horses as she could load and put the word out that her place was available. Trucks and trailers lined up and soon a Noah’s Ark of sorts was born.
By Thursday morning the small farm was teeming with volunteers willing to muck stalls and strangers laden with animal feed. Grocery and pet stores along with area restaurants wanted to donate or help. Notes were posted on a board about calls coming in from ranches and farms willing to shelter animals.
Volunteers were reminded that the animals had been traumatized and were still frightened. Dr. Lynn Roberts, a veterinarian from Sedalia, said many of them had suffered smoke inhalation and stress.
According to Devaney, "When people evacuated, many were unable to get their horses and other large animals out. Some resorted to spray painting their phone numbers on the horses’ coats and turning them loose. Firefighters have also reported cutting fences to let trapped animals escape.
Ann Clark, a horse owner in Elbert County who is not covered by the evacuation order, showed up at the farm with an offer of hay and a willingness to do whatever job was needed. She couldn’t help but think of her own horses. She understands the desperation of the spray paint and would do the same if she couldn’t get hers out.
So far,it is not known how many animals have been injured or have perished in the fire.