The winter forecast warns that parts of the UK will suffer temperatures dropping to -27 made even the most enthusiastis Winter lovers shudder. You will certainly take steps immediately to prepare your home, car and garden for that endurance contest brought on by Mother Nature. The Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reminds all who have gardens or even vacant land to also help the garden animals get through the coming months.
1. Always place pans of fresh water in your garden daily, as it becomes frozen quickly and the animals need to drink.
2. If you have a garden pond, don’t break a hole in the ice with force or boiling water, as you could kill fish or worms living under the ice. Instead, simply place a hot pan of water upon the pond ice and permit slower thawing.
3. This is your excellent excuse to let brambles and garden shambles go uncleared, as the thickets nature makes provide necessary and comfortable lodging for many of our garden wildlife.
4. If possible, purchase wax worms and mealy worms from your local garden center for the birds who depend on them for nourishment. You can also provide seeds, table scraps, scrambled eggs, small bits of cooked meat and even baked fowl carcasses for your friends in the garden.
5. Fruits such as pears and apples can be chopped up easily to give the garden wildlife nutrients, plus the available nuts and unsalted peanuts. Remember that squirrels don’t hibernate and must find food all winter long.
Most people with gardens enjoy bird feeders to give the feathered beauties a buffet in the cooler months. Don’t forget that they need your seeded bird feeders even more crucially in winter. The forecast for this year’s cold will doubtless cause the death of colorful and entertaining birds and animals in the gardens of the UK if you don’t provide them with sustenance.
Badgers, foxes and many other wild animals not often seen will be foraging for necessary food. Their survival keeps the balance of nature, and they must be provided food and shelters as well as the more visible species.
Watching from your warm windows, you can enjoy viewing many garden animals and birds eating your food gifts to them. Children enjoy the show as well and learn the basics of animal life and need for humane treatment of all wildlife.
Living with Birds are a supplier of garden bird food supplies and hanging bird feeders for wild birds and wildlife. They have a selection of interesting wildlife articles, as well as user submitted photos from around the world.
