From making small gaps in garden boundaries to help animals like hedgehogs traverse through more easily to creating wild corners in gardens, there are ways to help.
Some also look to provide assistance by putting water and food outside overnight.
However, various animal and garden experts have urged households to avoid making one mistake when doing this.
Households urged to not put out bread and milk in winter for hedgehogs
In terms of putting out food for animals like hedgehogs, Steve Mallon, from Fletchers Waste, says: “Provide fresh water (a shallow dish) and, if you regularly feed wildlife, consider meat-based cat or dog food (not bread and milk) for hedgehogs in colder evenings.”
This is much better than what might have been the usual suggestion in the past of leaving out bread and milk.
Richard Green, a Wildlife Feeding Specialist and Animal Nutrition Expert at Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies said this was something “we need to put to rest”.
He added: “While it feels like a kind gesture rooted in tradition, it is actually one of the most hazardous things you can offer.
“We need to educate our families and communities because this simple error can have life-threatening consequences for vulnerable wildlife trying to survive the cold.”
Bread can pose a big problem for hedgehogs as it can be very tricky for them to digest.
Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk, explained: “People assume bread is suitable for hedgehogs because it’s soft, but the truth is it can be hard for hedgehogs to digest.
“Not only can it cause blockages but it also offers them no nutritional value.”
Milk is also an issue as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, so consuming it can result in severe diarrhoea and stomach upsets.
Richard added: “During the intense cold of winter, this rapid loss of fluid causes critical dehydration, which can be fatal for a small creature that is already struggling to build up the necessary fat reserves needed for hibernation. Fresh water is the only liquid they ever need from us.”
In terms of what to offer, Lucy Taylor at Vine House Farm said that meat flavours of cat/dog food were best.
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She explained: “The best food to leave out for hedgehogs, other than hedgehog food, is cat or kitten biscuits, or tinned puppy/kitten food—using only meat flavours, never fish. Water is the best drink to offer.
“If you have any cooked, unprocessed meat left over, you can also leave this out for them.
“Be sure to cut it into tiny pieces, as hedgehogs have small teeth and can’t effectively chew larger pieces, and always remove any bones.”