Wild Mammal Welfare in Winter | Animal Welfare Hub

Winter imposes significant welfare challenges on wild mammals through cold stress, reduced food availability, and increased energy demands, making garden management decisions welfare-significant.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs hibernate from October to March-April and require significant pre-hibernation weight gain
Red squirrels and grey squirrels rely on cached food stores that must remain accessible through snow cover
Deer experience winter food scarcity and increased road mortality on dark early evenings
Foxes maintain activity through winter but face reduced prey availability in hard frosts
Garden feeding of robins, blackbirds, and thrushes can prevent winter mortality

Welfare Considerations

Winter welfare for wild mammals involves the intersection of individual physiological challenge and habitat quality. Hedgehogs that fail to reach hibernation weight face a dangerous winter. Deer that cannot access food under deep snow may starve. Animals injured before winter face compound challenges. Human actions including supplementary food provision, checking bonfires and compost heaps, and reducing road speed on dark evenings directly reduce winter welfare suffering for individual wild animals.

What You Can Do

Leave garden hedgehog houses with dry leaves for hibernation habitat
Maintain bird feeding through winter using appropriate foods for species in your area
Drive more carefully on dark winter evenings in areas where deer and other wildlife cross roads
Check bonfires and compost heaps for hibernating mammals before disturbing them
Report wildlife in apparent distress during winter to wildlife rehabilitation organisations