Warning to Texans Against Feeding Wildlife in Wake of Panhandle Fires

A warning has been issued to Texans against feeding wildlife in the wake of the Panhandle wildfires.

The fires started on February 26, and were the largest in Texas history. The blaze, dubbed the Smokehouse Creek fire, burnt more than 1 million acres of grassland in the state's Panhandle region. Around three weeks later, the blaze is now contained.

An update from Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension has now noted that residents were not the only ones facing displacement and danger as the blaze roared across the landscape—the wildlife living in the Panhandle was also severely affected. White-tailed deer, raccoons and other smaller mammals were thought to be the worst affected of all the wildlife living in the area.

The researchers at the university are optimistic about their recovery, the update said, however they are also warning Texans not to feed the wildlife affected. While this may have been helpful for domestic animals such as livestock affected by the fires, it is not the same situation for wild populations.

"I understand this is a difficult situation, but I don't recommend feeding wildlife," said Jacob Dykes, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Corpus Christi. "There tends to be more negative impacts than positive, such as the spread of disease among stressed populations."

Dykes used corn as an example. This is a food that attracts wildlife, however, it has little nutritional benefits.

"I think as long as the region can make it through this short and very difficult period with adequate precipitation, we will see the landscape and its wildlife rebound in a beautiful way," Dykes said.

For this reason, the researchers are urging the public to be patient with wildlife in their rebound following the fires.

Despite the large area this fire covered, the wildlife has proved its resilience. Chip Ruthven, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department project leader, Panhandle, WMAs, noted in the update that he and colleagues have found a "promising number of surviving wildlife" including deer, turkey, songbirds and quail.

Dykes, who is also an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, notes that this native wildlife, and the vegetation, have existed alongside wildfires for "millennia," as they are often caused by natural events such as lightning strikes.

"In most cases, wildlife can sense fire danger and escape," Dykes said. "For example, deer and pronghorn antelope can smell and see a fire coming, so they know to run. Birds will fly to safe areas, and burrowing animals will retreat to underground dens."

"Like the mythological phoenix, we anticipate the rangelands and wildlife of the Panhandle will rise from the ashes and flourish like it did following the fire in 2006," Ruthven added.

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