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 of the damage from Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana starts to become clear, many of us have been glued to coverage of 

A storm of this magnitude, with its unprecedented levels of rain and flooding, affects many animals in addition to our companion dogs and cats. There's great 

 and other livestock whose lives are threatened by the rising waters.

Animals who might not come first into our minds as hurricane victims are impacted also. 

, based on reporting by KXAS/NBC Dallas's Brian Curtis, shows an exhausted and trembling possum resting on a bridge in downtown Houston.

Apparently this possum was not taken to shelter. I have been uplifted, though, to see how many other animals have been rescued by people who reach out with help.

Harvey's wrath extends all the way to Minnesota

Here are just a few of my favorite examples.

Perhaps the most famous non-pet rescue, so far, is of a hawk that has been named Harry. Harry climbed into a taxi cab to shelter from the storm -- and a video of this 

 wearing a tail guard protector, is now being cared for by staff of the 

, who are assessing his injuries and who believe he wouldn't have survived the storm without rescue.

'Harvey' the Hurricane Hawk seeks refuge in man's car during Texas hurricane

 of her husband Jeff and his nephew who transported a grass carp from shallow flooding waters back into a pond at a golf course affected by Harvey.

Men rescue carp stranded after hurricane harvey

 by Jason Allen of Dallas's CBS station as she saved bats in danger of drowning.

Woman Rescues Bats From Drowning Under Houston Bridge

The fire department of College Station, a city in Texas, posted 

 of their rescue of a horse stranded by Harvey floodwaters.

College Station Fire Department rescues horse stranded in Harvey flood waters 08/27/2017

Videos like these help remind us to widen our 

 human victims displaced by Hurricane Harvey, the idea of sending funds along also to animal rescue organizations is a good one.

The work of first responders and "regular" people who are stepping up to help in Harvey's wake — with human and non-human rescues both — is evidence of courage and compassion.

Barbara J. King is an anthropology professor emerita at the College of William and Mary. She often writes about the cognition, emotion and welfare of animals, and about biological anthropology, human evolution and gender issues. Barbara's new book is Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat. You can keep up with what she is thinking on Twitter: @bjkingape

Disasters

Barbara J. King

Author

A storm of this magnitude affects many animals. Uplifting videos show people rescuing all kinds of animals from Hurricane Harvey's floodwaters, says anthropologist Barbara J. King.

From hawk to horse: Animal rescues during Hurricane Harvey

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