A winter wildlife buffet
How to create a successful food plot
When the mercury plunges below zero and crusty snow covers the ground, many homeowners worry about the safety of the wildlife they enjoy watching throughout the year. Ecologists remind them annually that deer, birds and squirrels can generally take care of themselves in winter, and although it may seem harsh from the warm side of the window, some winter mortality is both expected and beneficial.
Landowners who really want to help should skip the backyard bird feeders, which provide ambush spots for feral cats and other predators. Same for deer corn, which whitetails cannot digest in winter and creates saliva-sharing feeding stations from which diseases spread.
To really help, make the seasonal menu more permanent with a wildlife food plot cultivated and maintained specifically to provide nourishment for birds and wild animals. It’s more common in rural areas, but some urban and suburban landowners do dedicate yard space for long-term wildlife browsing. If nothing else, the food plots divert attention from vegetable gardens and flowerbeds.
Winter wheat, Austrian winter peas, red milo, turnips and rape can provide consistent cold-weather nourishment. You can also find bags of mixed wildlife food seed in the archery aisles of sporting goods stores.
It’s too late to plant now, but if your property has fruit trees, routine winter pruning can be done to favor the needs of wildlife.
Pruning to remove energy-depleting suckers and separate branches always works better in winter, said Jake Milofsky of Tree Pittsburgh, an Allegheny County nonprofit group dedicated to improving the urban forest. Remember that animals and people don’t necessarily share fruit preferences.
“Pruning for personal consumption, one of the goals is to increase fruit size. If you’re a deer, you probably don’t mind if there are some big apples and some smaller ones,” said Mr. Milofsky, the organization’s director of tree care and reforestation.
“Certainly keeping the tree low to the ground is best for the home orchardist and wildlife. When the fruit is higher, it’s harder for humans and wildlife to reach, and the fruit may be damaged when it falls.”
However, “topping” a fruit tree is never recommended. A well-maintained central trunk can support larger quantities of food. Do snip off branches that are growing vertically, leaving the stronger horizontal branches where fruit grows.
“In the winter, deer will try to eat anything,” said Mr. Milofsky. “Protecting tree bark is always an important element. Deer can ruin trees before they start to bear fruit. They can kill trees by stripping bark and weakening [the tree’s] resistance.”
Learn more about Tree Pittsburgh events and volunteering opportunities at www.treepittsburgh.org.