Prayers for the animals.

The east coast is getting hit over and over and over with deep snow, I've never seen it here before. The night time temps are down into the teens.
The local animals need to move from place to place to get food. There is currently about 2 feet of snow on the ground from the last storm a few days ago and at least another foot coming today. I haven't seen deer tracks since this whole mess began. I'm used to the patterns of the local animals and I am just not seeing them anywhere. They must be holed up in the cedar and pine thickets but there is only a limited supply in each of those tree patches. I don't know how long they can stay in place and not freeze to death.
I passed on a lot of them last hunting season, I'm not feeling very good about that anymore.
I'm going to buy deer food from the COOP today and try to struggle through the snow to put it out, but currently I can't even find the wild deer to feed them. Pray for them.

I'll keep the bird feeders full.

As long as the snow is falling the animals tend to stay hunkered down. When the sun returns they will venture out again and food would be very welcome then. wait for the snowfall to let up before you set out your feed or it will become covered and they may not be able to find it.
Are they accustomed to you feeding them? If not it may take awhile for them to find you. An ice free water source would be enjoyed as well.


If I had five dollars to spare, I would send you a heart for your beautiful one.

with abundant :hug: for all.

:grouphug:

:hug:

:hug:

I don't usually like becoming so familiar I may hunt later. I do try to maintain a balance.

I left my garage door slightly open this winter, for the little strays to have a place to snuggle in. My son's 2nd car is parked in there, and yesterday I saw about 30 little wrens come wisking out from under the garage door. I have a huge feeder on my back deck..

I dont think my son will be too happy , but the wrens are delighted.

We keep bird feeders full as well, and I took in a kitten last summer who showed up in my back yard. I already had two, had just found out that one of them was diabetic, but when she looked at me with those sweet little eyes, I knew she'd found a new home, and we had a new member of the family.

I hear there's more on its way, hope it goes away quickly.

Thanks for caring, the animals appreciate it.

Don't forget to put out some suet for the birds that don't eat seeds. Here's a great recipe if you want to make your own. It's something to do if you're snowed in with lots of time on your hands:

http://buildyourownbirdhouseplans.com/blog/2008/03/01/no-melt-suet-my-secret-to-having-birds-beg-me-for-more/

You can add seeds, dried fruits, nuts or meal worms (dead ones, please) to the mix.

Other recipes here:
http://baltimorebirdclub.org/by/suetrecs.html

I have been buying birdseed for years..but I think
I will try some homemade stuff this year.

Don't forget to put out some suet for the birds that don't eat seeds. Here's a great recipe if you want to make your own. It's something to do if you're snowed in with lots of time on your hands:

http://buildyourownbirdhouseplans.com/blog/2008/03/01/no-melt-suet-my-secret-to-having-birds-beg-me-for-more/

You can add seeds, dried fruits, nuts or meal worms (dead ones, please) to the mix.

Other recipes here:
http://baltimorebirdclub.org/by/suetrecs.html

The COOP is out of everything. I found a place where the deer have been working on the down pine trees. I'm going to put some goat food and peanuts under them. I wish they had sweet-tex, but they are out. Goats are close to deer. I got the last 2 bags of goat food.

snap out of it people.

First, don't worry. The native animals have been outside a lot longer than we have.

The animals have fur. They're well equipped to handle the snow.

I mean, holy hell.

I thought the problem was that it was too hot anyway.


While you are "struggling through the snow" to feed the deer, I hope they're looking on and laughing at the irony of the whole situation.

My neighbor just called. Her 2 goats(basically deer) she left outside froze to death in the night.

Deer don't have hollow bones.

I also said "native animals." Native goats do just fine in freezing weather. Of course, some babies may die but that's nature for you.

And it is irrelevant if you talk to outdoorsmen from up north who have been through this kind of snow. They talk of the deer areas stinking in the spring from the dead deer who got stranded.

It doesn't matter if deer and goats are related enough or not. Deer freeze to death when the snow gets too deep.

It gets much colder and the snow is much deeper, and the same species of deer are present there, not to mention goats domestic and wild.

Deer have been in this country in greater numbers than they are today for who cares how long. If deer dying due to cold snaps were a real problem, they would have died off by now.

This is the heaviest snow in recorded history for this state. And these are little warm climate deer, not the big, heavy bodied brutes they have up north.

Southern deer, most snow ever recorded. 100lb deer in 3feet of snow.

Deer dieing off? I didn't introduce the topic of a deer being eradicated from the eastern united states.


And yet you admit that the big northern deer who are used to surviving big storms, will die from really big storms. And then at the same time deny that little eastern whitetail will die from the most snow in recorded history.

I'm just going to agree to disagree and leave you to whatever.

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Wild animals have bad years. I have to say feeding the deer seems like a bad idea to me, but that's because there are too many of them here.

As their habitat gets chewed up by man, as their natural ranges are diminished, as they are hunted by man.

That's why I have no problem feeding wild animals, it helps in a small way to make up for the destruction that mankind spreads far and wide.

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I keep my bird feeders full. I see the deer wandering the woods and I hope they are OK.

try and help these wonderful creatures. Thank you for warming my heart and making me smile. k&r :hug: :-)

I worry about all the domesticated strays, not just the ones that are feral, but the ones that were dumped, left behind by people moving, etc. Many of them have a hard enough time outside as it is, and when you have weather extremes, it just gets worse.

Maybe lucky enough to have a doghouse. Fat lot of good that will do with 2 feet of snow. Frozen waterbowl...

There's nothing like working with animals to encourage you to absolutely hate people.

Hubby and I have been feeding up to 15 strays every day for the last five years or so. They disappeared during the storm two weeks ago, they are just now starting to return to their area. Just in time for more rain, snow, ice and wind.

Poor babies. I would do anything to be able take more home - we've already adopted four, but there are so many more out there with no one to help them. :-(

I figured it was only a matter of time with all the birds at the bird feeders. The songbirds really should be quiet. I don't know why they are singing now, they have been quiet for days. And we have snow coming in right now.

Warm thoughts for all critters who are having to endure this weather. :hug:

Sending my best.