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A light coating of snow made it a white Christmas throughout most of our region this year. A blast of frigid Arctic air also brought single-digit temperatures and high winds for some brutally cold weather over the holiday weekend.
During such harsh winter conditions, spending an evening on the couch, wrapped in a blanket with a good book or just watching TV, can be a simple and satisfying pleasure. But while enjoying those basic creature comforts, my thoughts often include the plight of the wildlife enduring the hazards of our Pennsylvania winters
I think about deer bedded on the side of a sheltered hollow or wild turkeys roosted on the branches of a sturdy oak tree. I think about squirrels and raccoons tucked away in the cavity of a hollow tree. I even think about all the wild trout and smallmouth bass I'll fish for this spring as they now wait patiently in the icy currents of their winter pools. Most important, however, I think about the bigger picture and how Mother Nature has adapted all her creatures for whatever Old Man Winter might send their way.
Despite the undeniable fact that nature does indeed take care of its own, human nature also sometimes prompts us to try to help things along by attempting to feed wildlife during the winter. While this might seem like a worthwhile and compassionate gesture, the conventional wisdom on this practice is simply "don't do it."
In most cases, putting out food for wild animals usually does more harm than good for any number of reasons. The artificial feeding larger wild animals such as deer, elk and wild turkeys is especially discouraged. The metabolisms of wild deer and elk adjust to the foods available to them as the seasons change throughout the year. Corn, wheat, barley and other grains high in carbohydrates typically aren't part of the winter diet of deer or elk, so the animals won't be able to digest such foods properly and eating quantities of such things can be fatal.
Many well-intended handouts for winter wildlife can also be illegal. Feeding wild elk is prohibited anywhere these animals are found in Pennsylvania. With the discovery of white-tailed deer infected with chronic wasting disease in Pennsylvania back in 2012, the Game Commission has designated specific Disease Management Areas to help control the spread of the disease. Any feeding of wild deer within a DMA is prohibited, and anyone caught doing so will be subject to fines and other legal action.
Unfortunately, most of our region is included within DMA 2 or DMA 3. DMA 2 comprises all of Bedford County, most of Blair and Huntingdon counties, and parts of, Somerset, Fulton and Cambria counties. DMA 3 comprises parts of Armstrong, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Indiana and Jefferson counties. The specific boundaries for both DMAs can be found on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website at pgc.pa.gov.
There are ways to benefit wildlife in the long term. The best and most significant is habitat improvement. Planting the proper trees, shrubs and other plants to provide food and cover will attract and maintain the wildlife you wish to have on your property.
One important exception to the prohibition of feeding winter wildlife, of course, is a backyard birdfeeder, which can provide hours of enjoyment watching the intrepid little snowbirds that are adapted to making a living during our Pennsylvania winters. When it comes to the winter feeding of songbirds, however, moderation is the best strategy. Putting out large quantities of food cannot only become expensive in the long run but also can create the potential for problems for the birds themselves, especially if they have become dependent on your food source.
It is much better to put out modest amounts of food each day to attract birds regularly to your site and maintain that supplement throughout the winter. While most birds are selective about what they eat and seem to instinctively know what is not good for them, there are a few things that you should not tempt them with. Avoid salty foods like potato chips or corn chips, uncooked rice and dried peas or beans.
Proper feeder placement is important, both for viewing enjoyment and the welfare of the birds themselves. While you'll probably want to locate your winter feeders in places where you can observe them from the comfort of your house, be careful not to place them closer than about 20 feet to large windows to prevent birds from accidentally flying into the glass.
Birds will tend to find feeders more attractive if there is some type of cover nearby. Trees and shrubs give the birds shelter from cats, hawks and other potential predators as well as providing them with a resting place between trips to the feeding station. Species such as cardinals, juncos and song sparrows often prefer feeding on the ground and will readily clean up spilled seeds underneath a feeder. These birds can be accommodated by putting out a feeder tray or two on the ground for them.