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How you can help owls, foxes and more animals displaced or injured by wildfires
A common poorwill injured in the Airport Fire burning in the Santa Ana Mountains.
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Courtesy Mission Viejo Animal Services
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Topline:
Mission Viejo Animal Services is asking people to report sightings of injured or disoriented animals that might have been displaced by the Airport Fire. That fire has burned more than 23,500 acres in the Santa Ana Mountains that straddle Orange and Riverside counties.
Why it matters: Wildlife displaced from the burn area — such as owls, hawks, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, and even mountain lions — may wander into surrounding neighborhoods. They might have burnt paws or singed feathers, making it hard for them to flee, and find food or water.
Wildlife is already stressed: Mountain lions living in the area are already facing severe inbreeding and a lack of territory because they're essentially trapped between human development in O.C. and development in Riverside.
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How to help injured wildlife: If you come across an injured animal, keep your distance and don't feed it. Call your local animal services and they'll assess whether the animal is indeed injured and how they can help. Who to call: Mission Viejo Animal Services (serving Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills and Rancho Santa Margarita): 949-470-3045. OC Animal Care (serving the canyons, Coto de Caza, Rancho Mission Viejo, and Ladera Ranch): 714-935-6848
Background on the fire: The Airport Fire began on Sept. 9, sparked while O.C. Public Works employees moved boulders with heavy equipment in Trabuco Canyon. It has since burned across the mountains to threaten communities near Lake Elsinore. Fourteen people, including 12 firefighters have been injured, and 160 homes and other buildings destroyed. As of late Tuesday afternoon, the fire was 31% contained.
Go deeper: For a closer look at the challenges of human coexisting with wildlife in urban Southern California, check out the LAist podcast, "Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes, & Bears," which explored the challenges of coexisting with wildlife in urban Southern California.
Listen
• 0:44
Why you might see more wildlife in the SoCal wildfire areas
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