4 Tips for Safe Parrot Evacuation

Don't make the mistake of ignoring parrot evacuation. I've had parrots for over 20 years and have been involved in parrot evacuation several times. When I lived in the Mid- West tornado's were an annual event. Now  that I live the Mountain States, I've had to evacuate with my birds and dogs twice e due to fires.

Maybe you think that it will never happen to you but natural disasters. happen every year.  Early in my parrot loving history, 9/11 affected the thousands of pet owners in of New York City.  Hurricane Katrina in  affected thousands of pet owners in 2005. Since shelters didn't take pets, many people refused to leave their home.  Shortly after, lawmakers passed the Pet Evacuation Bill requiring authorities to take pets into consideration during emergencies.

Hurricanes, wild fires, and other natural disasters seem to be happening with more frequency.  That is why you, as a pet parent should develop an evacuation plan.

You don't have to wait until tornado season, hurricane season or fire season to plan how to keep your pet birds safe.  Follow these four easy steps to ensure your pet bird will be able to rely on you to keep it safe should you be forced to evacuate your home.

1. Microchip Your Pet Bird: Maybe you've put micro chipping your parrot off, thinking a disaster would never separate you from your beloved parrot, but thousands of parrots fly off each year.  Others are stolen and even more are separated from their owners in a disaster.  A microchip always bonds your pet bird to you. Register and record the number.  Create a Parrot ID Kit - Record the leg band number and keep photos of your parrot in a sealed zip lock bag.
   
   
2.  Prepare a Bird Carrier: Each of your pet birds will need a bird carrier equipped with a bird perch and food bowls.  Make sure that your bird is socialized and desensitized to the bird carrier.  Have it assembled and prepared during storm season. Take your pet bird on fun car trips so that when you need to use the bird carrier in an emergency, it is not a stressful experience.
   
   
3. Assemble a Parrot Evacuation Kit: Purchase a plastic tub with a waterproof lid.  Stock it with fresh bird food, a set of bowls, paper towels, cleaning supplies, bottled water, towels, and a first aid kit.  Put your Parrot ID Kit in it too!  
   
   
4. Survey Shelters, Hotels and Friends that will allow you to stay: Each type of disaster poses different challenges.  In the summer 2012 Colorado Fires, our town, Colorado Springs was greatly affected.  We drove north, but fires were breaking out along the front range of the Rockies due to drought conditions.  We averted smoke inhalation, but actually drove from Colorado Springs to Estes Park, 110 miles away, where 24 homes were on fire! Had we watched the news and were aware of pet friendly hotels, we'd have travelled East rather than North.