How To Look After Local Wildlife This Winter
Last Christmas, NCS grad, Rebecca was motivated to take action after seeing a viral video that demonstrated just how badly animals can be treated. This year, she’s sharing her tips with us on how to look after local wildlife during the coldest of months.
The nights are drawing in and the year is coming to a close. Christmas time is a chance to give thanks to those who’ve helped us through the year, to those who put food on our plates and gave us an education. It’s the season for sharing and being kind to those that need it the most...
Last Christmas, a video of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier being dropped off by the side of the road went viral on social media. After seeing this, I thought it was really crucial we know what’s right and what’s wrong during these cold nights. Not only did this video cause sadness for many, but to find out it was so close to Christmas, and for a kind, respectful dog to not been given a home during that freezing winter, was a bombshell for me. Luckily, with the help of RSPCA, ‘Snoop’ was rescued, and in 2019, they found a loving home for him!
As Martin Luther King Jr said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”, so this Christmas, I decided to gather my own tips and ideas on how we can better look after animals.
Wildlife is about what you can see around you – in your garden and in the local parks. You should be able to find all sorts of creatures, such as birds, hedgehogs, frogs, squirrels, rabbits and many more.
When feeding animals, I’ve learnt that certain foods aren’t good for certain animals. Did you know that giving bread to ducks isn’t actually good for them? It makes them feel full while offering no nutritional balance. Instead when you are out at the park, give them seeds, grapes, rice, oats and corn.
If you have friends and family who love crafts…
Create bird feeders
Have you ever noticed that during the winter you don’t see as many birds? You can change this with a little help from your friends and family! Making bird feeders is cheaper than buying them from the shops and they’re lots of fun to make!
- You’ll need 2-4 oranges, some string and something to cut and carve the oranges (be careful!).
- Cut a piece of string to 1 metre in length.
- You’ll then need to cut an orange in half and scoop out all of its insides, so that it’s empty.
- Next, poke a hole in both sides of your orange and thread your string in (so that you can hang your orange onto a tree when you go outside).
- Fill up your orange with some bird seeds (and fruit if you like, as a treat for them).
- Now do this with as many oranges you like! Enjoy!
If you’re still outside, trying to tidy up…
Make a bed for your garden’s lodgers!
For me, I enjoy the simple things. Sometimes the smallest things we do can have the biggest impact on others. Any bedraggled leaves, sticks and mud can all help to make a warm and cosy bed for creatures such as frogs, hedgehogs and other small animals that you’ll find in your back garden.
If you’re passionate about keeping the environment clean
Clean up and help them drink up
Finally, leaving bowls of water and picking up any unwanted materials (such as plastic) from your back garden or the park will help keep animals safe and hydrated. And don’t forget to clean out your bird boxes too!
