Winter is also a great time to create a brush pile. By collecting yard debris like branches, twigs, and fallen leaves, you can create cover for birds and small mammals like rabbits, and at the same time offer a hibernation place for some species of turtles, salamanders and insects. The mourning cloak butterfly, for example, overwinters as an adult in woody debris and may use your brush pile. Many butterfly species and other insects, like ladybird beetles, will lay their eggs or overwinter, sometimes as pupae, in brush piles. Fallen leaves can also be used as mulch to protect plant roots from freezing temperatures, or composted and used as organic fertilizer next summer.
Water can be scarce for wildlife all year in our drought-prone region.
While most creatures are seeking drinking water, birds are also looking for bathing water. A bird bath may attract more kinds of birds than a bird feeder. Bathing helps birds to stay warm by keeping their insulating feathers in tip-top condition. Keeping your bird bath clean and free from ice will help birds and other creatures to survive the winter. Heated bird baths, which keep the water just warm enough to keep from freezing and use little electricity, can be also purchased.