While most animals migrate, adapt, or hibernate to survive the winter months, plants don’t have the option of migration. Evergreen plants maintain their leaves with a waxy cuticle that prevents their leaves from drying out, while deciduous plants drop their leaves and go dormant. Perennial plants go dormant during the winter, while annual plants die and rely on their seeds to overwinter.
Animals require three things for survival: shelter, food, and water. Below are some suggestions to help make things a little easier for local wildlife during the cold winter months.
PROVIDE SHELTER
PROVIDE FOOD
Bird feeders are a popular way to add food resources to the ecosystem—just make sure you keep them clean, so they do not spread disease. One easy way to add both food and shelter to your yard is by planting native trees and shrubs that persistently bear fruit.
American holly is a familiar evergreen shrub with red berries. Other shrub species that provide winter food and habitats are Winterberry holly, Red osier dogwood, hawthorns, crabapples, and native Viburnum species. Also, consider leaving some or all of your roses untrimmed, as rose hips are a good source of winter food.
PROVIDE WATER
It doesn’t take much to help animals during the winter months. In fact, as described in some of the examples above, sometimes not doing something (like pruning or raking) is doing something! Even the smallest of efforts to help support local wildlife can make a significant difference.
If you have a question about local wildlife, feel free to reach out to our expert biologists and environmental scientists at 800.940.4025.
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