How To Help Winter Wildlife

How to help Winter Wildlife, shorter days and longer nights can mean only one thing…winter is coming. This is the time of year when we see a lot of change, especially with our wildlife. It can be an uncertain time for these small creatures. 

Food is in shortage, and water can be difficult to find. Especially when the frost and ice creep in, freezing bird baths and ponds. It can be challenging to find shelter especially when hungry or cold. This is why now more than ever. It is important to play our part and help our winter wildlife get through these exhausting few months.

Before trying to figure out how to help your winter wildlife, question what winter wildlife might be in your area. Once you have discovered this it should make it easier to help these small winter wanderers. 

How To Help Winter Wildlife – Hedgehogs

Some might be lucky enough to share a space with these small spiky animals. There is a lot that can be achieved in preparation for the winter months to help them along. Hedgehogs love an unkempt garden, with lots of overgrowths creating spaces for small spiky visitors to hide. Overgrown plants and shrubs will also encourage a lot of insect life. Which in turn will feed hedgehogs within the area, helping them to gain weight ahead of their hibernation period. 

Hedgehogs love hiding under piles of leaves. Remember when sweeping away autumnal foliage there may be a little life nesting and keeping warm. If possible avoid disturbing any small bundles that can be tackled at a later date. If disturbed a hedgehog may have awakened. Leaving them to rethink their resting spot which can be difficult in low temperatures. 

What may appear to be an old pile of logs to our human eyes, a bundle of logs or pieces of wood can be the perfect area to hide away and keep warm throughout the winter. This can also be a great place for hedgehogs to feed with insects in and out of small crevices.

If you are looking to create the perfect haven for your winter wildlife, why not invest in a small hedgehog house? The national trust has designed the perfect pine home to keep any hedgehog visitors safe throughout their hibernation. Why not make the whole experience fun and personalise your hedgehog home with a lick of paint if you have small human visitors allow them to leave their mark decorating it whilst giving them an education about these small spiky creatures. 

Hedgehogs may venture into gardens with astroturf or patio but more than likely they won’t be there for too long because quite often gardens like this don’t have wildlife or areas in which small creatures can hide and take safety. A hedgehog house could help them out or why not create a small wildlife feature. If there is room in your garden then why not create a feeding station that will allow hedgehogs to get in and feed and keep cats out? 

Hedgehogs are known to give birth between July and June but can sometimes give birth a little later. Unfortunately, a hoglet born at a later date may run into difficulties. 

Before hedgehogs go into hibernation they need to build up their fat reserve to keep them going. Late arrivals may not have enough time to catch up. Which can be a concern as they will be too small to go into hibernation. If a young hedgehog is spotted when out on walks, in your local area or garden they may need your help. Call your nearest rescue center for advice. If they have space they will take care of these small animals. Unfortunately, rescue centres can be overrun with vulnerable creatures and may not have the space. If this happens, create a small area for this little life, you might help it to get through the winter. 

Hedgehogs are becoming a lot more recognised as native animals that can often need a little help. Brambles have a great selection of hedgehog food to satisfy our small friends’ needs. Made locally in the UK their products are free from artificial flavours and colours. Food isn’t all these small creatures need. Don’t forget to leave out water. As the frost hits down this can result in their water resources being cut off. Add a small floating device to prevent whatever water you leave out from freezing over. 

How To Help Winter Wildlife – Wild Birds 

When out on walks or in your gardens, you may have noticed that they appear to be a little quieter. The sound of summer is gone, as we head into another winter. Although it may seem a little quieter outdoors, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all activity has stopped. If you look a little closer our feathered friends can be seen across local fields, on woodland walks, estuaries, lakes, along the coast, and in your gardens. As the weather dips these small creatures will be looking for a helping hand. 

There are many things we can do to help the wild birds survive through winter. But knowing where to start can sometimes be overwhelming. 

Nest boxes are great for creating a place for birds to take shelter during the winter. We recommend cleaning out old nest boxes and getting them ready for their winter residents. CJ Wildlife has designed a great selection of nest boxes for your outdoor spaces.

Like the beautifully crafted hedgehog house, the National Trust has also created a Build Your Own Nest Box Kit. Building a nest box is especially great if you are teaching others about the importance of wildlife. Again, why not personalise the nest box to sit nicely in your outdoor space? The RSPB has some wonderful tips on where to hang nest boxes. Depending on the different types of birds that enter your garden. 

When it comes to feeding winter birds there is a huge range of different feeds. Which are suitable for the many different breeds of birds visiting your gardens and parks in winter. Throughout winter, birds use up a lot of energy trying to keep themselves warm and supporting their metabolism. Especially when out foraging for food in the cold. Suet balls contain the perfect mixture of feed and are the perfect source of energy to help our feathered friends. Remember to remove any plastic netting to prevent birds or any other winter wildlife from getting tangled up. 

Sunflower Hearts are another great example of feed for your wild birds. A great energy booster filled with protein will result in happy and healthy birds. Sunflower hearts will also speed up feeding time which means birds won’t be as vulnerable to predators. Birds also enjoy any bits of fruit such as overly ripe apples or handfuls of raisins to keep them going. Another simple solution is to leave a pile of logs in your garden area. Like with hedgehogs, birds will eat insects and a pile of wood will encourage any creepy crawlies to move in.

Keep feeding stations clean to reduce the risk of disease, if a build-up begins use soapy water to clean them. Remove any soggy feed. Wood shavings are great for covering the bottom of birdhouses. This will create an extra layer of warmth for our feathered friends. 

If the frost or snow creeps in and freezes water in ponds, bird baths, or other water sources. Then include a ping-pong ball or a cork in the water before it freezes. This will prevent the water from turning into ice. 

How To Help Winter Wildlife – Reptiles & Amphibians 

When it comes to winter wildlife we often forget about frogs, toads, and newts. But these small creatures still live amongst us and try to survive the winter months. Their bodies can’t handle the cold so they go into hibernation. They can be found under plant pots, in piles of leaves, tucked away in compost heaps, or nestled in piles of wood to name a few.

If you suspect there might be a frog hibernating close to your pond. Then put a cork or ping-pong ball into the water. This will prevent it from freezing when the temperatures get colder. If the pond has frozen over then create a hole in the ice. Again place a floating device inside to stop the water from freezing back over, this will allow the p

assage of oxygen and prevent any frogs from being poisoned by the toxic chemicals trapped in a frozen pond. 

If frogs or toads are common in your garden. Especially if you have a small pond then why not try out the Wildlife World Frogilo Frog & Toad Home? This will help protect them not only during the winter but all year round. 

How To Help Winter Wildlife – Insects 

Our winter wildlife extends as far as insects. Whilst they may be considered creepy crawlies. They still live amongst us and we all have our part but where do they go in the winter? As most of us know, spiders seem to move indoors and live amongst us in our homes. But there are many little creatures trying to survive the cold outdoors. 

Ladybirds are a wonderful sight in the summer. But in the winter they huddle together and go into hibernation underneath plants or bark on trees. 

An increasingly popular insect is the bee. There are many different types of bees such as the honey bee. Which can survive in the hive along with the bumble bee. But most other bees unfortunately will likely not survive unless they are the queen bee who burrows into the ground. Bee Hotels are great for any solitary bees, they often take residence in these popular garden editions. 

If you have any further questions or concerns about how to help winter wildlife. Then please get in touch with us. Either via our social channels or pop into one of our stores and have a chat with a team member.