Thousands of cattle have died in massive wildfire in Texas Panhandle, agriculture officials say

STINNETT, Texas — Thousands of cattle have been killed as the second-largest wildfire in Texas history continues to burn in the Panhandle, according to a report from CNN.

A majority of the state’s cattle are on the Panhandle ranches. According to a report from CNN’s Gloria Pazmino, about 86% of the state’s cattle industry is in this area.

“We’re talking about an industry that is going to be deeply affected,” Pazmino said. “We have heard from ranchers and from farmers who are losing livestock, and they’re also losing their land. We have these massive fields, massive farms that are burning, and that is, of course, a loss of property, a loss of industry. And that’s going to impact people’s livelihoods.”

Hemphill County AgriLife Extension agent Andy Holloway confirmed to CNN that thousands of cattle had died. This area includes Canadian, Texas which has seen scores of homes destroyed and 400,000 acres burned.

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Videos from the wildfire show cattle fleeing across the fields and highways trying to escape the flames. One video seen from the Turkey Track Ranch near Stinnett, Texas showed cattle moving away from the smoke and flames.

According to a report from KHOU 11’s sister station WFAA, 80% of the historic Turkey Track Ranch was burned by wildfires. The Turkey Track sits on 80,000 acres west of Stinnett, where the Smokehouse Creek Fire was still burning on Thursday morning.

“The loss of livestock, crops, and wildlife, as well as ranch fencing and other infrastructure throughout our property as well as other ranches and homes across the region is, we believe, unparalleled in our history,” the Turkey Track owners’ statement said.