A Small Gesture For Small Animals This Winter

Winter is a tough season for animals just like us, more so when its freezing cold with snow. We feel cold, lazy and search for warmth, food, using appliances and technology to easily survive this season. But animals rely on inner strength and nature for survival through this season. Although animals are very self reliant but our small and helpful gestures are sure to ease their discomfort, challenge and even save their life sometimes. A small tennis ball placed on garden grass, bird baths, water bowls or any place where water gets collected, can really help birds, hedgehogs, squirrels and other insects survive this freezing temperature. Here how this small gesture would help:




Placing a tennis ball in water containing bird bath, bowl or collected water on garden surface would make sure that the water surface remains disrupted, preventing the area around it from freezing. This provides liquid water access to various small creatures, preventing dehydration and even for feather maintenance in birds. This little gesture would make sure no small creature face scarcity of liquid water in winters.




A tennis ball acts as a dry and safe surface for landing and resting of small creatures. It isn’t sticky, frosty and numbing like frozen ice or freezing water, preventing creatures from getting stuck on ice and drowned in freezing water. Placing a number of tennis balls on garden, water bowl, bird bath is recommended for helping these little ones.



A tennis ball is usually bright in colour, that stands out from transparent or white colour of water and snow, making it a visible spot for birds, hedgehogs and squirrels. This spot is visible from far away and gives access to water with a dry and safe landing to relax.



Keeping tennis balls in garden grass keep the place moist and gathers other small insects around it, also in shallow waters too. This provides snack to the birds, hedgehogs and squirrels. Creating a small habitat for small animals.



A number of tennis balls in collected water can act as guiding steps to little creatures, who may find the surface beneath slippery, sticky and freezing. This navigation helps them provide dry spot in a big pond or gathered water, preventing slipping and drowning due to thin ice.

Placing some tennis balls out is a small act for us but a big and helpful thing for small creatures. So, this winter be sure that you put some tennis balls on your garden, in water bowls, bird baths, water ponds and other water gathered areas.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Can hedgehogs survive winter?
   Yes, hedgehogs do survive winters by hibernating(entering a deep sleep). They eat and drink through autumn and rely on their fat reserves for hibernation. But lack of food or being too small can be a challenge.
2. How does winter affect birds and animals?
   Winter is a challenge for birds and animals as the temperature is cold, there is scarcity of food, less daylight. Birds and animals migrate, change diet and even enter hibernation due to winters.
3. What do squirrels do when it’s winter?
   For winters, squirrels do plan before. They build warm and dry nests, hoard food like nuts, seeds, etc, build fat in their body by eating extra in autumn. Their fur also thickens, insulating them in cold. Squirrels remain active in winters and do not hibernate.