Wildlife

Wildlife Winter Survival: Supporting Animals in Cold Months

Winter presents serious welfare challenges for wildlife, with starvation and cold being leading causes of mortality in vulnerable species.

Key Facts

First-year birds of many species experience 70-80% mortality in their first winter
Hedgehogs must reach 500g before hibernation to survive the winter
Red squirrels cache food in autumn but frequently cannot relocate their stores in hard winters
Urban fox starvation increases in severe cold when prey animals are less accessible

Welfare Considerations

Winter welfare challenges for wildlife are predictable and partly preventable through management and habitat provision. Garden feeding supports many species through critical periods. Appropriate hibernation habitat allows hedgehogs to overwinter successfully. Avoiding disturbance of hibernating animals is as important as providing food. The cumulative effect of supportive management by millions of garden owners is significant.

What You Can Do

Maintain bird feeding stations consistently through winter once birds have located them
Create hibernation habitat including log piles, leaf heaps, and purpose-built hedgehog boxes
Do not disturb hibernating animals including hedgehogs in compost heaps and log piles
Provide fresh water daily in frozen conditions — heated birdbaths help when ponds freeze