You might see injured wild animals in fire areas. Here's what to do

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The L.A. area fires that have destroyed homes have also burned through thousands of acres of wildland that’s home to bears, mountain lions, squirrels and other animals. Wildlife rehab centers across Southern California are already taking in injured animals — and people are likely to come across more of them as they're allowed back into evacuated areas.

Here's what you need to know:

Why it matters

Wildlife displaced from the burn area — potentially including bears, mountain lions, American badgers and ring-tailed cats — 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.

Also, some of the facilities that normally help injured wildlife recover are located in areas that were threatened by the fires and had to evacuate. This was the case for the California Wildlife Center in Calabasas, although they've since been able to reopen and are again accepting patients.

Wildlife is already stressed

Mountain lions living in the area are already facing severe inbreeding and a lack of territory, and bears and coyotes have fraught relationships with Angelenos.

Plus, black bear mommas might be either majorly pregnant or caring for newborn cubs — cubs are typically born in January and February.

How to help injured wildlife

If you come across an injured animal, keep your distance and don't feed it — doing so might prompt them to come back for more instead of going back to their own habitat.

"We want them to keep  moving on if they're healthy," according to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, which has been taking in injured wildlife from the Palisades and Eaton fires.

This video from the California Wildlife Center further explains why not to feed wildlife, and how best to help them:

If you come across injured wildlife, contact the following organizations for advice and assistance.

• For the area hardest hit by the Eaton Fire: Pasadena Humane: 626-344-1129 (text)
  
• For the area hardest it by the Palisades Fire: California Wildlife Center: 310-458-9453 (WILD)
  
• The Wildlife Disaster Network: 800-942-6459
  
• You can find contact information for licensed wild animal rehabilitators on the website of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or email the department: R5WildlifeReport@wildlife.ca.gov

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 to our Big Burn podcast