Tips for Feeding Winter Wildlife

I love feeding wild animals and they in return, love having a place to go when their natural resources are picked clean. I'm always keeping my feeders filled to the brim. During the winter months it is very important to do this. If you begin to feed wild animals, any wild animal, they begin to depend on your feeders as a habitual feeding ground. If you let your feeders go empty, and don't keep them filled, the animals you tempted to your yard will have a hard time surviving the harsh winter months.

You can spread peanut butter on pinecones and roll them in wild bird seed, use an old shoelace or piece of yarn and tie it from a tree branch. The birds and squirrels will enjoy this very much. The oils and protein in the peanut butter will help to keep a nice layer of fat on your fine feathered friends.

Dryer lint is an excellent source of nesting materials. Everyone washes their clothes, if you use a dryer to dry them; you have to clean the filter after every load. When you do, don't throw away the fuzzy lint, instead, put it on a bush or tree, and even throw it out on the grass. Birds, squirrels and other small animals will gather the soft puff balls of dryer lint and use them for bedding in their nests and dens.

Squirrels love unshelled peanuts, the next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a bag, most of the time you can find them beneath the produce stands, in the pet food isle or in the candy isle.

You can also create a habitat for many other animals in your backyard. Dig a long trench about two feet wide and one foot deep, make it as long as you like. Fill the trench with large misshapen rocks and wood, then cover with leaves and discarded tree clippings, this will provide a safe and comfortable home for all kinds of wildlife, such as snakes, frogs, turtles, mice and many more species.

Adding a pond to your landscape is the perfect way to provide a water source for all the animals you are attracting and they will be happier, healthier and live with you indefinitely on your little piece of this big blue planet.

Remember, feeding wildlife is nice to do, if you are going to continue to provide them with food all year around. Don't start feeding wildlife unless you are going to commit to it for life. The animals don't have thumbs, they can't open the feeders and refill them, and they depend on us to do it for them. So, enjoy watching the animals frolic and feed, I'm sure you'll find a good sense of satisfaction, knowing you provided an invaluable service to nature.