Help our animals to survive the winter
WE have seen the first snows of the winter and it’s time to wrap up when you are leaving the house at the moment.
The great thing is that we can all head home to a warm fire when we have been out and about – our wildlife isn’t that lucky.
So we need to do everything we can to help the creatures that we take for granted all year round.
Roe deer will be more visible, you can almost follow their tracks before getting a sight of these magnificent animals.
They will be hanging around in packs at the moment, tails bobbing away as you get a little too close.
And this is my message, don’t get too close and, certainly, keep your dogs under control when wildlife is around.
It’s hard enough finding food to boost their systems, without running around wasting vital energy.
If you let your ‘lovely’ pooch chase wildlife, it will affect that poor animal’s survival chances out there in the weather.
They will need more food to build up their resources as the months move slowly towards spring.
And that means birds too.
Try not to frighten birds in winter, flying around takes a lot of energy, especially if it is wasted with no food as an end product.
There is the obvious way you can help the birds; providing food on your bird tables and in your feeders.
And make sure they have some water.
It means your bird table will continue to be busy in winter.
The star of your garden will be the robin with its striking red breast and cheeky approaches as it demands food.
Blackbirds are also pretty obvious as they rush to be first at the bird table.
It’s also a good time of year to see murmurations of starlings, clatterings of jackdaws and murders of crows.
Winter displays that will make you gasp, hot breath puffing from your mouth.
Watch out for birds of prey seeking movement below and then swooping in for a feed.
Rabbits will still be out and about, leaving wild trails in the snow.
Foxes will follow them in the search for their dinner.
Spotting a fox against a white backdrop is something special.
If a fox spots something moving in the snow, it will pounce, leaping high into the air and then down and grabbing its prey.
This is nature at its wildest and wiliest as it fights to survive.
So this winter, stock your bird tables and take care when out and about.
You may just get to see some wonderful wildlife in our December landscape.