In the wake of devastating wildfires, the destruction of homes and habitats grabs the headlines, but the biggest challenge for wildlife often comes after the flames are extinguished. While fires themselves can harm animals, it’s the aftermath—when food, shelter, and safe spaces become scarce—that truly tests their survival skills. With wildfires growing in frequency and intensity due to climate change, understanding how wildlife adapts and how humans can help is more important than ever.

Fire: A Natural Force, Not Always a Disaster for Wildlife

For humans, wildfires are catastrophic, causing billions in damage. The recent wildfires in California are expected to cost over $135 billion. Yet, for many species, fire is a natural occurrence in their ecosystem. In fact, research suggests that most animals don’t directly die from the flames. A study reviewing 31 papers between 1984 and 2020 found that 65% reported no animal fatalities during fires.

Many animals have evolved strategies to survive the blaze itself. Some flee to safer areas, others take refuge in burrows or treetops, and a few species, like the echidna in Australia, even go into a hibernation-like state until the fire subsides. Fire can actually benefit some species by helping with food production and creating diverse habitats. For example, certain trees like the giant sequoia need intense heat to release their seeds. Without fire, biodiversity would decline, and ecosystems would struggle to thrive.

Life After Fire: New Opportunities and Challenges

While fire itself might not always be deadly, the aftermath poses a serious threat to wildlife. In burned forests, species like the black-backed woodpecker find a feast of insects in scorched trees. The woodpecker also helps repopulate forests by creating nesting cavities, which other animals use for shelter. This creates a web of life in post-fire landscapes, where animals like small mammals, seed-dispersing birds, and even predators depend on the damaged trees.

However, the challenge for many species is the loss of resources after a fire. For instance, the gopher tortoise’s burrows in Florida provide shelter not just for the tortoise, but for over 350 other species. After a fire, these shelters are destroyed, leaving animals vulnerable. Additionally, many animals have to move into urban areas, increasing the risk of human-animal conflicts.

Climate Change and Increasing Fire Severity

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense, largely due to climate change. Warmer temperatures, dry conditions, and invasive grasses that fuel fires all contribute to larger, more destructive wildfires. This creates new challenges for wildlife that have evolved to live with fire. Species like the black-backed woodpecker, which relies on a mix of burned and unburned land, are struggling as fires become too large and frequent for them to breed successfully.

The long-term impacts of these changing fire patterns on wildlife are still unknown, but scientists are concerned about the effects on biodiversity. Animals that rely on specific habitats or food sources may not be able to adapt quickly enough, leading to population declines. Species like the Southern Sierra Nevada fisher and the Sierra Nevada red fox have already been listed as endangered due to habitat loss from severe fires.

How Can Humans Help?

One approach to mitigating the effects of fire on wildlife is to restore healthier ecosystems that can better cope with fire. This might involve reintroducing species that naturally control fire, such as large herbivores or ecosystem engineers like beavers and woodpeckers. Some studies suggest that rewilding could help manage fire risks, especially when combined with controlled burns—a practice Indigenous peoples have used for thousands of years.

In places like Australia, researchers are testing artificial refuges, such as “bunkers,” to shelter wildlife from predators in the aftermath of fires. While these refuges have shown some success, their long-term effectiveness is still uncertain. Experts warn that these interventions may only address specific problems and could even create new risks.

The Bottom Line

Wildfires are a complex and natural part of many ecosystems. While many species have adapted to survive the flames, the aftermath remains a major challenge. As climate change drives more intense fires, it’s crucial to focus on both protecting wildlife and restoring ecosystems to help them thrive. By better understanding the relationship between fire and wildlife, we can find ways to reduce the impact of wildfires and help animals endure in an ever-changing environment.