But I figure they need to eat, too. They've survived for thousands of years. But it doesn't hurt to give them a little help. And for most birds, it's their favorite food. So far, people seem to be responding.
Homeowners also can get creative with leftovers for feeding the wild animals.
It's not just birds facing a rough winter. Deer can't get to grass as effectively. It's common to see long ruts in the snow where deer have pawed away the snow to get at the foliage beneath. Smaller critters, including chipmunks and squirrels, instinctively lower their body temperatures. The possums had a feast.