Terrified Texas Cattle Heard Stampedes Away From Blaze That Consumed 300,000 Acres
Fires are taking over parts of the Texas Panhandle right now, and the effects are devasting. The fires are zero percent contained and continuing to totally scorch nearly a million acres at this point. People are doing all they can to protect themselves, their homes, and their animals. It seems like a hopeless situation and the country is watching closely as the state's second largest wildfire continues on with its devastation.
NBC News shared a video on Thursday, February 28th of a herd of cattle stampeding in efforts to outrun the wildfire, and it's so sad to watch. The video is short and shows the confused and scared animals trying to figure out where to go. Luckily it appears that at this point the animals are all unharmed.
This NBC News clip was hard to watch. Commenters left nearly 5 thousand comments and also agreed about how sad and hard this is to see, as well as sending many prayers Texas' way. Some commenters wondered what the plan was with these animals. @jenna pointed out, "I think it situations like these, they're tagged so they let them out of the pasture, hope for the best, and to find them again later. They that do with horses."
Related: Farmer Builds Cool Shade Structure for His Cattle That Has People Impressed
Thousands of Cattle Have Died
The cause of these wildfires is still unknown. According to a CNN report, 86% of Texas' cattle industry is located in the Panhandle where he fires have taken over, and a local news station reported that thousands of them have already died in the wildfires. An owner of the historic Turkey Track Ranch in Stinnett, Texas was quoted as saying, "The loss of livestock, crops, and wildlife, as well as ranch fencing and other infrastructure throughout our property as well as other ranches and homes across the region is, we believe, unparalleled in our history."
John Jenkinson, an Agriculture Analyst, said, "“Each head of cattle is worth well over $1,000, so if you have 100 head in a pasture, you can certainly see how quickly that can add up, and it’s just a completely devastating loss."
Keeping Livestock Safe During Fires
How can farmers who are being affected indirectly by these fires keep their animals safe? It's important that they have emergency food and water supplies on hand, as well as a potential evacuation plan in case of emergency, and each animal should be properly identified.
They should be checking their animals' coats and hooves for and injuries from heat and flying pieces of hot debris and embers. Knowing general first aid procedures is critical and may save animals' lives. Shade structures or other shelters to put the animals in during extreme heat or fire activity should also be considered.
While these precautions won't help in case of a raging, fast moving wildfire, they still can help keep the animals safe in emergency situations. I'm hoping that these fires can be contained soon so that more lives - both human and animals - are not lost.
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
