BIG BEAR, Calif. (AP) — In the midst of a significant wildfire threatening his mountain home east of Los Angeles, Cowboy the barn owl was blissfully unaware of the peril, instead embarking on an unexpected adventure.
On September 12, Cowboy, alongside nearly 50 other animals, was evacuated from the Big Bear Alpine Zoo due to the approaching Line Fire, which had already scorched over 60 square miles (155 square kilometers) of the San Bernardino National Forest. “He had the best time,” said Mike Barnes, Director of Animal Care and Health at the Living Desert Zoo and Garden in Palm Springs, where Cowboy was relocated. “Despite expectations that he might be a handful on the trip, he turned out to be the biggest sweetheart.”
The animals were not just a collection of typical zoo residents. The sanctuary is home to rehabilitated wildlife that cannot return to their natural habitats, including many elderly animals and others with injuries. For example, one eagle, blinded in one eye due to DDT poisoning, necessitated modifications in its enclosure for safety and comfort, Barnes noted. The sanctuary also cares for birds unable to fly and a three-legged kit fox that requires special accommodations.
While the evacuation of two-thirds of the zoo’s animals was accomplished within 48 hours, the bears, bobcats, mountain lions, snow leopards, and wolves were sheltered in climate-controlled areas to ensure their safety from smoke inhalation and heat. The team took precautions during the transport; animals couldn’t have full stomachs for the ride, but staff ensured all of them were well-fed upon their arrival at the Living Desert.
Upon reaching their temporary sanctuary, one arthritic sandhill crane appeared “a little down and dumpy,” but after a veterinary check-up, it became clear that the bird was merely adjusting to the change in temperature, Barnes explained.
Jessica Whiton, the zoo curator, had the interesting experience of transporting two foxes who left a notable scent in her car during the journey. Overall, it was a relatively calm experience for the animals. “We positioned them so they could see out the window, and they curled up to enjoy the view as we drove down the mountain,” Whiton recounted.
The Living Desert has well-established procedures for emergencies that involve transporting large numbers of animals. They routinely prepare for such scenarios through drills and collaborations with government agencies to rehabilitate and house seized wildlife, ensuring ample space is available for incoming animals.
On Thursday, Barnes began his day early, loading various birds including cranes, hawks, barn owls, and even a pelican for the two-hour journey back to their home in Big Bear. Meanwhile, Piper, a one-year-old orphaned kit fox, was eagerly sniffing her crate in preparation for her trip back. Staff train the animals to associate their crates with treats, a process that proves beneficial during sudden evacuations, explained Big Bear animal keeper Alex Palmer.
“Today we hope to crate her up voluntarily and load her onto one of our transport shuttles for the return to the zoo,” Palmer said. “She should be much happier and more comfortable once she is back with her fellow foxes.”
About a week after the evacuation, Cowboy and the rest of the animals were able to return home. Heather Downs, animal curator at the Living Desert, remarked, “They basically enjoyed a little holiday in the desert during that time.” This was not the first incident of evacuation due to wildfire; it marked the second time in which the animals from the Big Bear Alpine Zoo had to be relocated to the Living Desert, with every experience providing vital lessons for the future.
