Gardening:

Last Sunday morning, our pack of usually rowdy gray squirrels was hanging out in the backyard chasing each other up and down trees and around the yard defending their turf. They are a scrappy bunch and rarely willingly share space on the feeder with each other. Not so this morning. They know what my husband looks like and as soon as he dumped their regular can of sunflower seeds on the feeder, two of them declared a truce on the feeder and chowed down.

Wildlife are opportunists especially in the winter when their food is scarce, their water sources are often frozen and shelter is anywhere they can get out of the wind and weather. Wildlife experts recommend that when we encounter animals and birds around our homes and in the wild that we give them space to safely retreat. During the winter when food is in short supply, the animals can’t afford to expend too much energy unnecessarily escaping our well-intended but often scary presence. If you encounter wildlife, stop and step back to give them some space and allow them retreat at their own pace.

This is especially important when you encounter deer, elk or moose either in your yard or in the woods. All these animals can do serious damage or even kill you or your pets if they feel too threatened. Keep dogs on a leash when walking in their habitat. If snowplows create tall berms along roads, slow down or stop when you encounter wildlife and give them a chance to safely find a way off it.

For those of you who like to feed animals during the winter, do it knowing that wildlife experts don’t really encourage it for a couple of reasons. First, it can congregate a large number of animals in a small space which increases the spread of disease and puts pressure on other resources the animals need. Secondly, while the animals will eat the food, it may not be providing them with any nutrients. Deer may eat hay or corn but because their stomach chemistry changes in the winter to accept browse, they can’t properly digest the hay or corn. They need to be nibbling on trees, brush and yes, your roses and arborvitaes.

A lot of people do feed the wild birds during the winter, and it is a lot of fun to watch them around the feeders. Most birds here love black oil sunflower seeds above any other seed. It comes in either hulless or whole seed from a variety of sources. The hulled seed reduces the mess left from the birds shucking the whole seed. Use feeders that keep the seed dry and promptly remove any moldy or wet seed to prevent the birds from becoming sick. Place feeders near trees or thick brush so they can quickly escape if a predator shows up. Provide fresh water at all times by placing a small bird bath heater in a shallow dish-shaped pan and refill the pan as needed.

Pat Munts is co-author, with Susan Mulvihill, of the “Northwest Gardener’s Handbook.” Munts can be reached at pat@inlandnw gardening.com.