--- title: How Wildfire Smoke Affects Wildlife, Plants, and Your Pets description: Wildfire smoke is compromising air quality in much of the U.S. Here's how it affects plants, animals, and pets. canonical: https://time.com/6285655/wildfire-smoke-affects-plants-animals-wildlife/ author: Jamie Ducharme article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2023-06-07T20:11:03.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:51:09.797Z article:section: Climate og:title: How Wildfire Smoke Affects Wildlife—and Your Pets og:description: Here's how to keep your pets safe. og:url: https://time.com/6285655/wildfire-smoke-affects-plants-animals-wildlife/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4193dca7c42100b3/698a3da6096a94106a6add21/wildfire-smoke-pets.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Wildfire smoke in New York City og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How Wildfire Smoke Affects Wildlife—and Your Pets twitter:description: Here's how to keep your pets safe. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4193dca7c42100b3/698a3da6096a94106a6add21/wildfire-smoke-pets.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How Wildfire Smoke Affects Wildlife—and Your Pets > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=20f1f05b-c022-4bc4-8baa-bb5e6fe632fd&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Canada and U.S. Officials Give Updates on Wildfires Response [Watch (HLS stream): Canada and U.S. Officials Give Updates on Wildfires Response](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6XIrB6Kd.m3u8) (3:48)  _Published 2023-06-07. The effects of hundreds of wildfires across Canada were felt throughout the northeastern U.S., leaving millions in hazy conditions and compromised air quality on Wednesday._  by [Jamie Ducharme](https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Jun 7, 2023 8:11 PM UTC  A person walks dogs as smoke from wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions in New York City on June 7, 2023. A person walks dogs as smoke from wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions in New York City on June 7, 2023. Angela Weiss/AFP—Getty Images  by [Jamie Ducharme](https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Jun 7, 2023 8:11 PM UTC Authorities have urged people across swaths of the Midwest and Northeast to stay indoors as smoke from Canadian wildfires compromises air quality [in more than a dozen](https://abcnews.go.com/US/wildfire-smoke-map-us-cities-states-impacted-canadian/story?id=99865946) U.S. states. [Inhaling wildfire smoke can lead to health issues](https://time.com/6285326/wildfire-smoke-air-quality-health-impacts/) ranging from coughing and wheezing to more serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, particularly for those with underlying conditions—hence why officials have told people in affected areas to avoid going outside if possible, and to [wear a good-quality mask](https://time.com/6285629/wildfire-smoke-safety-health/) if it can’t be avoided. Officials in New York City, where air quality is particularly bad, have even [enacted a “work suspension”](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/07/us/canada-wildfires-air-quality-smoke) for carriage horses, citing unsafe conditions. That raises an important point: wildfires pose risks to wildlife as well as humans—and animals often don’t have the luxury of staying indoors, says Olivia Sanderfoot, a postdoctoral fellow who [studies the effects of wildfire smoke on wildlife](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac30f6#artAbst) at the La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science at University of California, Los Angeles. “Animals, just like us, need to breathe,” Sanderfoot says. “If the air that they’re breathing is full of toxic particles, that is going to have an impact on their health.” Just as with humans, animals may experience respiratory distress, inflammation, and poor immune function in smoky conditions, she says. Many plant and animal species have, however, adapted to survive and even thrive in wildfire conditions. Fires [can spark new plant growth](https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ecological-benefits-fire/) by burning up debris, improving soil fertility, and allowing certain types of seeds to germinate, for example. “Fires are not inherently a bad thing. Wildfires are a natural disturbance,” Sanderfoot says. The difference is that now, largely due to human behavior and climate change, wildfires are growing more intense and causing more extreme and far-flung ripple effects. It’s not yet clear how these changing fire patterns will affect plants and animals over time. But relatively short-term smoke exposure isn’t likely to lead to mass crop or livestock death, says Gail Carlson, an assistant professor of environmental studies at Colby College. That doesn’t mean it’s harmless, though. “[Air pollution is a major, major health threat](https://time.com/6269014/air-pollution-dementia-risk/), and that is true for anybody with lungs,” Carlson says. That goes for pets too, says Lori Teller, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. There’s no exact threshold at which smoke exposure becomes dangerous, as it depends on your pet’s age and overall health, as well as the air quality in your area. But if local conditions are bad, Teller recommends keeping pets indoors with the windows closed (except for short bathroom breaks, if necessary) and looking for ways they can play and exercise inside. If your pet has been exposed to smoke, look for warning signs like coughing, gagging, panting, difficulty breathing, red or watery eyes, runny nose, fatigue, disorientation, and significantly decreased appetite, Teller says. If your pet is exhibiting these red flags, you may want to consult a veterinarian, who can treat your animal with medication, oxygen therapy, or other remedies if necessary. --- ### More from TIME --- As for wild animals? There’s not much humans can do to offer immediate help, Sanderfoot says, beyond investing in initiatives that support habitat restoration and conservation and supporting more robust climate policies. “We need to keep our attention focused on how smoke is impacting our communities and wildlife even when we have blue skies,” Sanderfoot says. “The work that needs to be done to mitigate these events, and reduce risks when they happen, cannot be done just during the crisis.” ## Transcript There are hundreds of armed forces members now deployed. Additionally, the calf is helping with everything from delivering food and supplies to people in. Minionese Quebec to providing logistical support for water bombers at CFB Greenwood. I want to recognize the air quality statements have been issued by Environment Canada because of wildfire, smoke people across the country are being affected or seeing vulnerable. People at risk Outdoor Fence, canceled. Kids having to be kept inside at recess. The reality is unfortunately over the past years, we've seen extreme weather events, increase in their intensity and their impact on Canadians as well as on their cost to Families Two provinces. And to the federal budget, we have over the past year has seen atmospheric rivers and BC causing devastating floods. We've seen hurricane Fiona hit harder than Hurricane. Sandy Memory last year. And this year, the worst Wildfire season we've ever had right across the country. Fires that have occurred in Canada, approximately 3.8 million. Hectares have been burned and across the country. As of today, there are 414 wildfires burning 239 of which are determined to be out of control. I was so as of today, an estimated 20183 people remain evacuated from their homes and communities. And while there is at, this is an overall reduction in parts of Alberta to Nova Scotia and Quebec where people have been able to return home. Many are still displaced and its fires, continue to disrupt their own communities where we can very closely with our provincial Territorial and Municipal partners. And First Nations part to ensure that we provide support to those who have been evacuated. We've also seen continued impacts the critical infrastructure in Quebec such as roads and rail closures. Telecommunication, interruptions and high voltage power lines, being threatened by the growing fires. I also want to assure the Canadiens that despite the challenging start to the Wildfire season, there are strong plans in place. We work very closely with our provincial territory and frustration partners, and we have the capacity to respond. The president was briefed on the wildfires in Canada, last week and has been regularly updated since he directed his team to provide impacted communities, whatever support they need. Our team here at the White House is in touch with the government of Canada. We have already deployed over 600 u.s. firefighters and personnel, as well as equipment like water. Bombers to help Canada battle for fires. We also have been in close touch with state and local leaders, including including in Michigan, Illinois and New York, and multiple agencies, including the Environmental Protection, Agency CDC and FEMA are coordinating with State, local and tribal governments to get timely and accurate information out to communities about Local air quality conditions and what steps they can take to protect themselves. I know for many communities out west, this is nothing new. They experienced this every year, but it is certainly getting worse. It is yet another alarm example of the ways in which the climate crisis is disturbing our lives and our communities. That's why I from day one President. Biden, rightfully, recognized the climate crisis climate change as one of one of the four crisis facing our nation, as he was coming into the Oval Office after being inaugurated and why he why he made tackling climate change one of his top priorities and has done historic investments in doing just that taken. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6285655/wildfire-smoke-affects-plants-animals-wildlife/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6285655/wildfire-smoke-affects-plants-animals-wildlife/"},"headline":"How Wildfire Smoke Affects Wildlife—and Your Pets","datePublished":"2023-06-07T20:11:03.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:51:09.797Z","description":"Wildfire smoke is compromising air quality in much of the U.S. Here's how it affects plants, animals, and pets.","url":"https://time.com/6285655/wildfire-smoke-affects-plants-animals-wildlife/","keywords":["extreme weather","climate change","Explainer","healthscienceclimate"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4193dca7c42100b3/698a3da6096a94106a6add21/wildfire-smoke-pets.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jamie Ducharme","jobTitle":"Ducharme is a contributor to TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/"}],"articleSection":"Climate","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4193dca7c42100b3/698a3da6096a94106a6add21/wildfire-smoke-pets.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Wildfire smoke in New York City","caption":"Wildfire smoke in New York City","creditText":"Angela Weiss/AFP—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/climate/","name":"Climate"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/extreme-weather/","name":"extreme weather"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6285655/wildfire-smoke-affects-plants-animals-wildlife/","name":"How Wildfire Smoke Affects Wildlife—and Your Pets"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Canada and U.S. Officials Give Updates on Wildfires Response","description":"The effects of hundreds of wildfires across Canada were felt throughout the northeastern U.S., leaving millions in hazy conditions and compromised air quality on Wednesday.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/6XIrB6Kd/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2023-06-07T21:14:52.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6XIrB6Kd.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6285655/wildfire-smoke-affects-plants-animals-wildlife/","duration":"PT3M48S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6285655/wildfire-smoke-affects-plants-animals-wildlife/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```