Animals have more access to food than you might think, and introducing them to human food can cause several problems for them and for you, including overpopulation, behavioural changes, and contributing to public health issues.
The leaves have changed their colour, the air is crisp, and our wildlife neighbours are frantically preparing for winter. Through fall and into winter, it may look like the forests are losing food, but the animals that live in them are uniquely adapted to meeting their needs throughout the year.
That pesky poison ivy? A great meal for wildlife.
A leafless shrub? A tasty treat for many.
Even the dead and dried berries, or the grass and fallen leaves buried under snow, make a meal in the colder months, so while it may seem helpful to leave food out for wildlife, it often isn’t.
Instead of feeding wildlife, here are some things you can do to support them through the colder months:
Leaf It Behind
Skip the yardwork! That bed of leaves lying across your lawn, the boulevard, or in a park or forest provides a valuable source of food and shelter for animals preparing for winter. Some butterfly and moth caterpillars will overwinter in dead leaves, birds will use them to insulate their nests, and over the winter, deer and rabbits may rely on that layer of leaf litter, even after it’s buried in a pile of snow.
Grow Native Plants
Get a jump on your garden planning like we do at FortWhyte Farms. Spend the winter planning a pollinator and wildlife friendly garden. The Manitoba Museum has pulled together a handy guide to get you started on Pollinator Friendly Gardening or take a peek at what’s blooming in FortWhyte’s Pollinator Garden.
Leave No Trace
Human food attracts the attention of animals in areas where it may not be safe for them, so make sure anything you bring with you on a neighbourhood stroll, or on the trails here at FortWhyte, is disposed of properly. Compost your food waste, either at home or by dropping your compost off at any of the Compost Winnipeg drop-off stations throughout Winnipeg.
Still hoping to have some wildlife in your yard this winter?
The use of a bird feeder is the safest way to support wildlife because it is indirect and does not create an association between humans and food. If you are using a bird feeder, make sure you are using one that is in good condition, clean it regularly to protect your feathered visitors from Avian Influenza and other transmissible illnesses, and choose the feed that will best support the nutritional needs of your local bird population.
Not sure what to choose? The staff at our Nature Shop are well versed in bird feed and seed and happy to help you choose what’s right for your yard.