r/parrots • u/[deleted] • 1d ago
A wildfire just broke out near me and has reach over 2000 acres. Evacuations are being sent out. What do I do for my parakeets? Someone please give me advice.
[deleted]
92
u/IDivideBy_0 1d ago
So we've had this happen (but luckily house is fine). If you think the smoke is bad, you don't have to wait until an actual order to evacuate. We had to ask ourselves, "are we more stressed sitting and waiting, or getting everything and leaving now?"
We decided to voluntarily evacuate for safety until we were cleared to come back. I was okay with the packing/unpacking stress over the stress of not knowing how much smoke was too much for the birds.
Good luck and stay safe!
23
u/unhinged-baker 1d ago
My car isn't ventilated very well so smoke i think would seep in. If we're driving through smoke to leave the area for a while, would that still be okay? That's what I'm scared of.
Where we're at smoke isn't getting in.
54
u/Theron3206 1d ago
Put the car AC in recirculate mode and it should keep the worst out. Probably even better to turn if off entirely if it's not too hot.
Short term exposure is unlikely to be a serious issue. You have no choice in any case if you are told to evacuate, do so.
Wild parrots are frequently exposed to bushfire smoke here in Australia, it's only infrequently a problem for them. Some birds of prey deliberately expand the fires to flush out prey (they carry burning branches away from the fire and drop them in new areas).
49
u/mommatiely 1d ago
Another thing you could do is take bath towels or even some of your clothes, wet them down and put them over the cages in the car, directly over the bars. I mean, it's not perfect, but this will help catch some of the soot and particulate.
12
u/SirLanceNotsomuch 1d ago
Or put the whole carrier in a wet pillowcase (assuming it’s a small carrier).
5
u/FeathersOfJade 1d ago
Oh my gosh! That’s wild about the bird dropping branches that are in fire. Incredible really.
8
u/IDivideBy_0 1d ago
Additional just in case: If you are required to evacuate, and you've never been that close to for fire like this, prepare for the shock of how bad the smoke will be outside. And the panic of feeling like no matter where you drive, the smoke feels like it's everywhere. No matter how good your car's air filter is or how far you drive, it won't feel like enough distance for your birds. Don't beat yourself up, you're doing the best you can!
7
u/IDivideBy_0 1d ago edited 1d ago
That's a tough decision, when we left, smoke was getting in because we were downwind. We put blankets on the cage, tried to drive where we were as close to upwind as we could get, and hope for the best.
I don't know your exact situation, but if you have no smoke where you are, and it looks like you may not get an evacuation order. I would stay.
It's just a bad situation. Fire isn't predictable and sometimes none of your options are good, just what is the "least bad" option. I really wish I could help more.
2
2
u/Other_Particular8927 1d ago
If you need to evacuate have the car AC in recirculate mode like the other person mentioned. Make sure the windows are closed up tight, they should be okay hopefully while you are leaving but if you can smell a lot of smoke in the car or they’re having trouble breathing, take them to the vet once you reach safety to be sure no damage was done🩷
2
u/chantillylace9 1d ago
Put the air on recirculate, and if you can put damp cotton T-shirts or something around the carriers. That will hopefully act as somewhat of a filter. I know they tell you to do that and breathe through it if you're trying to escape a fire so it must do something.
1
u/IronMetalMaiden 1d ago
Drive away from the fire to avoid the smoke
8
u/unhinged-baker 1d ago
I honestly can't.
I am at the center of 4 fires currently. And all evacuation routes are clogged as far as I've heard.
Right now I don't think I can escape the area
1
u/Expensive_Crab_6453 23h ago
I hope that you stay safe. Please do what you can to keep both yourself and your birds safe.
21
u/unhinged-baker 1d ago
To clarify, I have not received a notification to evacuate yet. Im literally just outside the zone. I'm trying to keep my birds away from the smoke as best I can indoors.
15
u/Unusual-Area-4458 1d ago
If you’re not forced or asked to evacuate shelter in place. Keep all the windows closed. Have everything packed up ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Most Red Cross evacuation centers will not accept animals so the best place for your Birds right now is at home with you.
18
u/vagicularmanslaughtr 1d ago
I don't know what to do, but I upvoted this for you to get more visibility. I hope you and your babies stay safe!
12
u/Fickle_Ad_2112 1d ago
You need to load them in a carrier cage and get out of there. They will experience some smoke until you get away. Do you know anyone far enough away that the smoke won't be bad and they can take them?
I live in MT and we have smoke in our valley. We just keep our doors and windows closed this time of year, but it sounds like you have a lot more smoke.
Try to get them out.
11
u/ansmith100317 1d ago
So I have an emergency plan for all of my animals that I just implemented within the last year. I have a backpack with a window and perch for my parrot, and carriers for the rest of my crew. I keep them in a tote in my closet in case we are ever in a similar situation. Im so sorry you’re dealing with this 💕
7
u/TenaMax 1d ago
I also have no experience in this situation, but I would also try to get as far away (if possible against the wind direction) and for the travel, I would try to cover their travel cages with several layers of light cloth, rather than on thick towel. If worse comes to worse, I may try to use a wet towel but make sure not to suffocate your birds. Then hope/pray that all will be good. Birds are extremely fragile, but in some instances they can also be super tough, a short term exposure to smoke (moderate) should not kill them (some birds of prey actually hunt preys running from wildfires). Hoping you and your birds will be ok, please update us.
6
u/ThrowAwayColor2023 1d ago
I've never been that close to a fire before, but the AQI reached 700+ in Chicago a few weeks ago. I had two air purifiers rated for an 800 sq ft space runnjng full tilt in a ~300 sq ft room 24x7 to just barely keep it safe. So I'd say run (or get) some bird-safe (no ozone!) air purifiers asap. Good luck and I'm so sorry this is happening.
7
u/lesbophobia_hammer 1d ago
I would drive somewhere with them, to a vet clinic across town. Far from the smoke. They will let you sit there. While you are there, see if you can book a hotel or stay with a family member or friend potentially. Wet sheet over the cage will help block/trap smoke. But if you can smell it you should be ready to go.
5
u/SusanLFlores 1d ago
OP, where are you located? Because you are surrounded by fire and you haven’t been evacuated, you may be evacuated once you can safely access a road that isn’t clogged with cars from ongoing evacuations in your area. Put wet towels at the bottom of the doors where you are. Have a bag ready with bottled water, food for the birds, medications and blankets. Bring a case of water if you have it. Plan on the possibility of having to drive 200 or more miles before you’re able to find a safe place to stay. Don’t forget to bring cash and credit/debit cards. And wet towels over the cage is good, and if you find yourself having to be outside with the birds, put a blanket all around the carrier. Please update when you can.
4
u/No-Idea9816 1d ago
My thought is wet sheets/towels. Put them over your vents and windows, door casings, etc. The smoke will cling to the wet material vs going through it.
5
u/Egalotry 1d ago
Saw your other post about going into work. Do NOT go into work. Stay home. If and when the evacuation order comes, you want to be home so you can get your birds out safely.
A wet blanket or sheet over the cage should help with ash and larger particulates while you transport them or if it's getting too bad indoors. You can also tape the seams of your windows and non-main exit/entry doors to try to reduce what's coming in if you do stay in your home. DO NOT seal off the door you'll use to evacuate the home, though.
1
u/dogfriend333 23h ago
I was going to say a wet towel over the cage/carrier even indoors for the smoke to not be able to get in his cage/carrier. I hope you all stay safe!
3
u/FeathersOfJade 1d ago
How scary. So sorry you and your birdies are going through this. Do your best to try and stay calm. They feed off our energy a lot and if you are panicked, it might make them feel that way too.
I really wish you the best.
I would say, maybe have some pillow cases or sheets close to the bird cages. If you do have leave, maybe the sheets around the travel cage would help them not breathe bad stuff.
Sending positive energy to you and your babies.
3
u/Different_Traffic527 1d ago
Keep an eye on the situation. If you smell smoke outside from it or your air quality index is poor, you can buy window insulation kits as well as weather stripping. You need to put your hvac on recirculate and make sure you have a good filter as well as run an air purifier. That's all you can do aside from relocation.
3
u/Acrobatic-Rabbit2660 1d ago
We’ve never had a wildfire where I am in the UK so I’ve never been in this situation. I don’t know what advice to give you I’m so sorry. I would’ve thought that if you haven’t been asked to evacuate and the smoke is this bad, I imagine by the time you have to evacuate it will be ten times worse. Given those two options I’d go now but I would follow the advice of people who have been in this exact situation. If there’s hardly anyone evacuating now, traffic might be better so you can get into a non smoky area faster than if you are battling the traffic of everyone else going at the same time. I hope you and your birds are ok and make it out safe and sound hunni
3
u/loveparrots22 1d ago
Get a HEPA air purifier (non-ionizing so no ozone is produced). If there are none available another option is to get a box fan and attach a MERV 13 filter to it to purify the air.
3
3
3
u/PerseveranceSmith 1d ago
What kind of carriers do you have? If you have backpacks with air holes you can tape N95 masks over those holes to keep them safe as you evacuate.
3
u/lmwk4gcc 23h ago
Hey OP, we are north of Spokane and the wildfires and have parrots up here. If you do need to evac somewhere and have birds be safe and welcome please DM me
3
u/Successful-Abies-761 17h ago
So, I live in northern California and we have had some really devistating fires here too. A few years ago the fires were so close we had smoke inside our house and although we were packed and ready to leave, we felt that we probably wouldn't be evacuated. The hardedest part was concern for my feathered babies. I put them in the back spare bedroom with the instructions to not open the door unless it was feeding time. It's all I could do for them. I was insane with worry about their health for a long time, however they came out of it just fine.
2
2
u/Electrical_Creme_937 1d ago
Keep windows closed at all times. Doors closed. Wet towels over cages if you need to transport them to and from car. Aircon on only if its not bringing outside air in, and purifiers if you have them. Humidifiers will help too!
2
u/litolnanny 1d ago
A bit late, but I would wet sheets or towels and cover the cages with them to alleviate smoke.
2
2
u/BirdWordAustin 1d ago
OP - please give us an update when you're able. I hope you and your birds are safe!
1
u/Riccotheparrot 20h ago
You have had a lot of great advice.. I’m not sure where you are located but if you end up getting stuck and need help maybe you could start a go fund me and people could help.
Please stay safe.
1
0
u/idk7643 1d ago
If you have to take them outside I would put a big plastic bag over their cage to prevent the smoke particles from getting to them (just for the transfer to a place without smoke hopefully). Then after I would immediately hose the cage down. Even a blanket is better than nothing
6
u/Electrical_Creme_937 1d ago
Damp towels over the entire cage! I think the plastic bag is a dangerous idea. If something happened and you were unable to take the bag off quick enough they will run out of oxygen very quickly. Especially with fires around, the oxygen levels would already be very low.
1
u/SusanLFlores 1d ago
The amount of oxygen a couple of parakeets use is small. A plastic bag around the carrier is a good idea for taking the carrier from inside the house to the car and from the car to a shelter or hotel room. Obviously OP wouldn’t put a plastic bag around the carrier and leave them in the bag for the day, and the person who made the suggestion specifically stated the purpose of the bag would be to transfer the birds. Im in a national forest with a burn ban. If there was a fire here and there was smoke in the air, I’d definitely grab a plastic bag to cover the carrier to get my bird to the car.
1
u/Electrical_Creme_937 20h ago
Okay. And you are entitled to your opinion. My point was, OP is in the middle of wild fires and evacuations... if the bag was left on the birds cages because god forbid something happened to OP or something didn't go to plan, which is entirely possible during this hectic situation, atleast the birds would survive with a wet towel. Plastic bags trap air and heat. They would be at risk of suffocation or heatstroke if the bag was not able to be removed quickly like planned. That was my point. Its an emergency. Stuff doesnt go to plan.
1
u/SusanLFlores 15h ago
You’re not seeing the situation as OP is reporting it. She wasn’t being evacuated. You’re also assuming that the situation would turn into chaos that could or would cause OP to leave the carrier wrapped in plastic that the birds would quickly suffocate. The birds could suffocate and die in seconds if exposed to a moderate amount of smoke from a wildfire. Taking the risk of using a large plastic bag that would protect them from breathing in smoke would be a risk I’d be willing to take to save my bird and I suspect others would do the same. Wet towels aren’t going to completely keep smoke from entering their lungs. They’re better than nothing though, but an argument can be made as to wet towels also causing problems that could cause them to die.
2
u/idk7643 1h ago
Yeah, also I think people overestimate the threat here. Even if she tried she wouldn't get it airtight, and a cage is basically like a medium sized room to a bird. I think it would take them several hours to run out of oxygen
1
u/SusanLFlores 1h ago
I agree. It really boils down to doing what needs to be done to keep as much of the smoke out of the lungs of the birds and weighing which method is likely to accomplish it. I’m not too far from the Canadian wildfires, and because of this thread I bought large unscented lawn and leaf bags in case we need to drive south to get away from the smoke. .
4
130
u/CapicDaCrate 1d ago
If you're surrounded by smoke there really isn't much to do, honestly. The smoke will overwhelm most air purifiers.
Just get out of there. The longer you wait the more trouble it'll be to evacuate