News / winter
How to help wildlife during the colder months
The climate emergency has made winters colder and more extreme. With different cold fronts during the winter months, wildlife may suffer and there are ways we can help them.
Birds and other forms of wildlife may experience hardship in finding food during the winter.
Anna Caple, from Stoke Lodge, shared some easy tips for Bristolians to help preserve animals and plants safely during colder times.
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“If they become weak through lack of calories, or proper nutrition they may not survive, especially through harsher weather,” says Anna.
Leaving out food as a supplement is something we can do, Anna suggests only putting out small amounts to avoid animals becoming dependent on the supply.
Animals like foxes will eat most things, but according to Anna “Meat-based leftovers or meaty pet food” is best for them.
She added: “Squirrels will have a stash of food buried, if they can find it, but it may not be enough if the summer has been dry. They need a good layer of fat to help them survive the coldest weather.
“You can help them by offering nuts, chopped apples, beans, carrots, or spinach.”
As already seen earlier in December, freezing temperatures can affect bodies of water.
If you have a pond in your garden or at an allotment you use, Anna recommends checking it every day for ice.
“If a pond freezes over, toxic gasses from the decaying plant matter can become trapped by a layer of ice, killing fish or frogs that may be hiding at the bottom,” she explained.
Anna suggests placing a saucepan of hot water on the surface to melt a hole, instead of pouring it in.
Sophie Bancroft, from the Avon Wildlife Trust, agrees on the importance of cleaning and maintaining ponds and shared a recent blog on the charity’s website.
Hibernating animals such as hedgehogs, mice, rats, and frogs might find places to cosy up in the woods or leaf piles, Anna’s main advice is to “let them be.”
With these small yet meaningful actions, we can help preserve wildlife safely.
If you want to learn more about winter activities and tips visit Avon Wildlife Trust’s winter guide.
This piece of independent journalism is supported by NatWest and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership
Main photo: Tom Marshall – Avon Wildlife Trust
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