If you are lucky enough to have a vast garden at the back of your house, it is also likely that you have been lucky enough to encounter some amazing wildlife. With the weather becoming colder and colder, it is becoming increasingly difficult for animals to find food sources. One thing you can do is help them by giving them food, but you have to be careful. Every species is different and so you need to research what they can eat. Here is what to feed the wildlife in your garden,
Birds
If you are somewhere lucky enough to be surrounded by trees and nature, it is likely that you have a lot of birds coming into your garden. For example, there are a lot of common woodpeckers in new hampshire and they tend to sit around trees in gardens. To ensure these feathered friends have a balanced diet, it is important to provide them with a variety of nutrient-rich foods. Suitable bird food options include high-quality bird seed mixes, dried mealworms, peanuts, and fresh fruits such as apples and oranges. It is also important to provide birds with a source of clean drinking water, such as a birdbath or a shallow dish of water.
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are omnivores, so their diet should include a variety of insects, fruits, and vegetables. A good starting point for creating an appropriate diet for a hedgehog is to provide them with high-quality, commercial hedgehog food. This should be supplemented with a range of live insects, such as mealworms, crickets, and waxworms. Fruits and vegetables like apples, blueberries, raspberries, zucchini, and squash can also be given as occasional treats. You do have to be careful with what you give hedgehogs as they are highly allergic to a lot of foods.
Deers
Deers are browsers and eat a variety of perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs and grass. To feed these animals, plant a variety of shrubs such as forsythia, viburnums, rhododendrons, and holly. Trees such as apple and pear can also be planted for them to forage for. If you have a larger garden, you can plant perennial herbaceous plants like clover, dandelion, yarrow, and chicory. You can also provide grasses such as alfalfa, rye, orchardgrass, and timothy. Avoid planting food crops like corn, wheat, and alfalfa as they are not naturally found in the wildlife’s diet.
Badgers
Badgers are omnivorous animals that eat a variety of foods, including fruits, nuts, insects, small animals, earthworms, and other invertebrates. They also occasionally eat bird eggs, frogs, and carrion. To attract badgers to your garden, you can feed them a variety of fruits and nuts, such as apples, pears, plums, hazelnuts, and chestnuts. You can also provide them with a shallow dish of water for drinking. Additionally, you can offer them cooked meat, such as chicken, turkey, or beef. When feeding badgers, be sure to use a platform feeder or tray to keep the food off the ground and to help keep the area clean.
Moles
Moles are unique animals that are often seen in gardens and yards, though they are rarely seen due to their burrowing habits. They feed on a variety of foods, including earthworms, grubs, beetles, and other small insects. To attract moles to your garden, you can provide them with a variety of food sources such as vegetable scraps, small pieces of fruit, and even dog or cat food. Additionally, you can construct mounds of moist soil or use burrow tunnels to encourage moles to visit your garden and find food.
Rabbits
One type of animal commonly found in gardens are rabbits. They are particularly fond of fresh vegetables like lettuce, carrots, and celery. Rabbits also love fruits and grains, such as apples, bananas, corn, and oats. To encourage them to visit your garden, provide a daily source of fresh water and scatter some hay or dried grass around.
Insects
Insects are a crucial part of the ecosystem in your garden, as they are necessary for pollinating plants, controlling pests, and serving as a food source for other wildlife. To create a habitat suitable for insects, you should create a range of different habitats in your garden, such as planting native flowers, creating rock piles, and leaving leaf litter to provide shelter and food. Additionally, you can feed the insects in your garden by providing a range of different sources of food, such as fruit, pollen, and nectar.
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