Wildlife in a wild winter - where do they go and what can we do?

Winter is fast approaching and like us wildlife is also hunkering down for the cold and wet months ahead. Have you noticed that there seem to be fewer insects around? Bees and butterflies, ladybirds and grasshoppers, beetles and other bugs all have a variety of strategies to overwinter as do birds and mammals.

The main strategies for surviving overwinter are:

Migration - many birds and some of our butterflies do this heading to warmer parts of the world.

Survival in the cold and wet of a British winter using a variety of methods. 

These include hibernation and diapause, which is a type of insect hibernation. Staying active - some spiders and beetles; huddled together in a shelter for example ladybirds under the bark of a tree; in a burrow in the soil, under leaf mould, log pile or compost heap; in houses, sheds, greenhouses and garages.

Whether they overwinter as adult, pupa, larva or egg they need to be protected from predators and the worst of the weather

How does our local wildlife overwinter?

To understand this and the adaptability of wildlife lets look at some of the ways they overwinter.

Insects

Adaptations to cold and wet winters of the UK are very varied depending on species.

Butterflies and Moths

A few butterflies are migratory, others will overwinter as adults or as larvae, pupae or eggs.

Bees, wasps, hornets

Different species of bees vary - from holes in the ground, to cracks in walls and woodwork.

Fertile queens find a sheltered hole in the ground or in walls or woodwork to overwinter while the rest of the colony tends to die off in the autumn

Mammals

Hibernation is a common theme among mammals for overwintering. Not all mammals hibernate and there are various levels of hibernation. Hibernation requires a good fat store. Sometimes animals wake from hibernation and will forage, or to protect themselves from freezing. At these times they need food and water. It is possible for these animals to hibernate again or go into a form of hibernation called torpor e.g. Hedgehogs, dormice, bats.

Some mammals do not hibernate - among them are red squirrels, red foxes, water voles and rats and some mice. Those that do not hibernate need to find food and water during the cold months and some, such as rats will find this in compost heaps and unprotected food stores in garages and houses if the opportunity arises.

Birds

Migration - from the UK to warmer climates and better feeding areas e.g. swallows. Or some birds arrive in the UK for the winter from their breeding grounds further north e.g. geese and swans.

Feeding garden birds

As the RSPB have advertised this year, keeping feeding stations clean as far as possible will help prevent the transmission of disease. 

Additions to grain mixes tend to be species focussed - fruit for blackbirds, peanuts for … insects for different types of tits.

Owls and other birds of prey may be seen making the most of what daylight there is and may be more visible at dawn and dusk. Most will prey on birds and what small mammals that they can find but as many are hibernating these may be harder to find.

For more information on feeding birds in the winter visit RSPB website. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/feeding-birds-near-you

Reptiles and amphibians

Newts and frogs may overwinter in ponds. Toads find moist corners to hole up in under logs or piles of leaves.

How can we help?

Food

Birds

Feeding the birds high fat options, Provision of fruit and berry bearing trees and bushes, seed heads and nuts

Mammals - feeding in poorer weather especially if you have a known population e.g. hedgehogs.

Water

Ensuring an accessible fresh water supply aids many birds and mammals through the winter. Try to change the water on a daily basis and clean the container regularly.

Shelter

As described above, shelter is needed to survive the worst of the winter cold.  Wildlife is opportunistic, finding cracks in walls, under rocks and leaf litter, buildings such as houses, greenhouses and sheds all provide helpful places to overwinter.

Hedging and dense shrubs can provide significant shelter for both birds and overwintering insects. 

Creating Habitats for the future

Autumn into early winter is a good time to plant many trees and shrubs which can be used to feed and shelter wildlife in the years to come. There are many smaller varieties of garden trees that do not grow too large and will sustain wildlife such as crab apples, apples on dwarfing rootstocks, rowan and elder which will suit smaller gardens.

Put up bird boxes or create a  bug hotel or log pile. 

Leave the leaves alone if you can. Brush them off paths but on borders they can be left to rot down and at the same time provide food and protection for many insects and some mammals. 

Don’t be too hasty to cut down spent stems or seed heads before winter. These also provide shelter and food for overwintering wildlife. If you can leave the tidying until the spring.

Remember! Remember! 

Lighting fires whether in November or at any time overwinter, indoor or out  please check for any small hibernating animals such as hedgehogs and also keep an eye out for overwintering insects. There is little point in encouraging them in the summer months if we fail them in the winter.