WILDLIFE HOLIDAY: Our area is populated by wildlife lovers.
Heck, there’s a lot of wildlife around to love!
In this spirit we pass along some holiday suggestions from the
Humane Society of the United States which notes, “Backyard critters
appreciate the generosity of the season.”
According to Laura Simon, field director of urban wildlife for
The HSUS, “Although wild animals are able to adapt to survive cold
winter temperatures and food limitations, there are some small but
very significant things that people can do to help them survive
this time of year.”
The HSUS suggests several acts of goodwill that can give our
backyard neighbors a warm boost during the holidays:
• Keep bird feeders full in the winter since food availability
is very limited for non-migratory birds.
• Fill large pine cones with peanut butter and roll them in
sunflower seeds. Attach a string to the top and hang from trees for
birds.
• Invest in a heated birdbath and keep it filled all winter
long. Birds need the water at this time of year when most natural
sources may be frozen.
• Put decorative snowflakes 4″ apart on any windows where birds
might hit, or have hit in the past.
• Put a cover over any window wells around your house to prevent
animals from becoming stuck. Animals, such as skunks, who have poor
climbing abilities commonly fall into window wells.
• Use only environmentally-friendly sidewalk salt for melting
ice such as Safe Paws Ice Melter. Regular sidewalk salts pollute
the environment and can irritate cats’ and dogs’ paws.
• Get to know your backyard wild neighbors by going on an
adventure around your own yard in the snow. Try to identify
different species by looking at tracks and other signs they leave
behind, such as partial remains of food like cracked nuts or twigs.
Buy a good wildlife tracking guide – or give one as a gift – to
learn more and to better appreciate these animals.
Finally, know that raccoons, squirrels, skunks, birds et al are
grateful recipients of any goodwill that humans are able to show
them this at this special holiday season.
