Oregon State University researchers study wildfire smoke impacts on wildlife and landscapes

Research from Oregon State University indicates that wildlife, specifically American robins, do not necessarily flee areas affected by wildfire smoke. Instead, birds appear to adopt a strategy of reducing activity to limit smoke inhalation and adjusting their orientation based on wind conditions.

In a study published in Integrative and Comparative Biology, researchers monitored robins in fire-prone Oregon habitats during the 2023 and 2024 wildfire seasons. The findings suggest that rather than a “go” strategy to escape smoke, the birds made shorter-distance movements and shifted behaviors to cope with the environmental disturbance.

Concurrently, Oregon State University is conducting interdisciplinary research to address the broader impacts of intense wildfire seasons. This includes studying historical fire regimes through tree ring analysis and examining Tribal co-stewardship models to improve forest management and community resilience.