The wildfires that have ravaged several regions of Spain this summer have left a desolate scene: thousands of hectares burned, forests that were once a haven for wildlife, and fauna struggling to survive in a devastated environment. From Aragon to Andalusia, and including the Community of Madrid, the fires have jeopardized species already facing threats such as habitat loss and climate change. Protecting wild animals has become a priority for both government agencies and citizens, although not all approaches to helping them are equally effective.
In this context, solidarity initiatives have emerged to bring food to the affected animals, but expert voices have also called for caution. The line between helping and harming is finer than it seems , and specialists insist that any intervention must be based on a technical assessment and coordination with the relevant authorities. The controversy is brewing, and meanwhile, nature tries to recover at its own pace.
Large-scale fires on three fronts
Summer has been particularly harsh for the Spanish environment. In the province of Huesca, the Las Peñas de Riglos fire ravaged a considerable area, although exact official figures have not been released. Further south, in Huelva, the Niebla fire burned around 33.000 hectares across eleven municipalities, with a perimeter of 210 kilometers and a particularly devastating impact on Berrocal, where between 90 and 95% of the municipal area was lost. The magnitude of these fires has left many animals without homes or food , and has forced the authorities to activate emergency protocols.
In the Community of Madrid, the massive wildfire in the Sierra Oeste region has burned nearly 80.000 hectares, also affecting the provinces of Ávila and Toledo. Of this total, some 27.100 hectares are located within the Madrid region, including areas within the Natura 2000 network and eleven publicly owned forests. The loss of forest cover is just the tip of the iceberg , because the real tragedy lies with the wildlife that inhabited these areas: deer, wild boar, birds of prey, and small mammals that now wander among the ashes in search of refuge.
Emergency measures to protect animals
In response to this situation, the authorities have reacted swiftly. The Governing Council of the Community of Madrid approved two emergency contracts totaling €167.000 for the recovery of the forests and the protection of wildlife. The larger of the two, costing €142.828, includes the installation of water points and the distribution of supplementary food, including alfalfa, corn, drinking troughs for big and small game, salt licks, and maintenance work. The aim is to ensure the survival of the animals whose food supply has been compromised by the fire.
Furthermore, a technical study of the affected area has been commissioned, with a budget of over €24.000, to assess the severity of the damage and establish priorities for action. In Huelva, Recreativo de Huelva has announced it will donate four tons of food for the wildlife affected by the Niebla fire, in collaboration with the Fuente Clara Cabrera Mateos Association. This citizen mobilization demonstrates the solidarity of the people , but it has also raised concerns among experts.
Experts warn: Do not feed without control.
A group of conservation professionals has issued a statement warning of the risks of unplanned artificial feeding. While acknowledging the good intentions behind spontaneous initiatives, they emphasize that providing food without prior assessment can have negative consequences for wildlife . Among the dangers they cite are the attraction of opportunistic species such as wild boar and rodents, which compete with the most vulnerable species, and the risk of metabolic disorders from unsuitable foods, such as non-native hay or processed products.
They also warn that concentrating animals at artificial feeding stations facilitates the spread of diseases and parasites, and can cause stress and aggression among already weakened individuals. Furthermore, habituation to easy food causes animals to lose their foraging instincts , which in the long run hinders seed dispersal and the natural regeneration of the ecosystem. Therefore, the signatories insist that any intervention must be coordinated with the Administration and Nature Protection Agents, and subject to current authorization procedures.
The statement, signed by Chema Martínez, Ana Trujillano, José Luis Benito, María Jarne, Daniel Goñi, Pilar Jimeno, and other professionals from the Environmental Administration of Aragon, concludes with a clear message: conservation does not necessarily consist of intervention . Ecosystems have natural mechanisms for recovery, and sometimes the best approach is to let nature take its course, while guiding the process with responsibility and rigor.
In short, the wildfires have tested the resilience of our wildlife and society's capacity to respond. While government agencies invest in emergency measures and citizens pour in donations, experts remind us that aid must be responsible and based on science. Nature, if given the chance, knows how to recover , but it needs time and, above all, for us not to harm it with well-intentioned but counterproductive interventions. The lesson of this summer is clear: protecting wildlife is not just about feeding it; it's about understanding its needs and respecting its natural processes.
