Anonymous wrote:Animals are built for outdoor weather.

Yes.

Exactly this.

My parents live in northern Ohio in the "Lake Effect" snow band off Lake Erie.

Deer come and go from their yard all winter depending on the whims of the deer. I doubt the DMV conditions are too much for them.

What kills animals are long stretches of freezing, DRY, weather, because they cannot drink and they die of dehydration. Especially birds. Right now, even though today's extra cold temperatures will certainly kill some fragile animals, we've had the great luck of having a rare winter cold that is WET. I've seen all the birds dipping their beaks into the icy snow to drink. I'm sure they're all hungry and need more fuel than usual to survive the cold, but they do live in a semi-urban area with lots of human food waste and vegetation, so this is not the massive problem you think it is...

I saw some deer where I parked my car and usually they don't come out like this a family of deer usually does not come out but I guess that they needed food so I'm wondering if I should be putting out something like bird seed I don't know

Anonymous wrote:Animals are built for outdoor weather.

+1
I can’t even believe this needs to be explained.

OP, I feel the same. DH and I were driving home tonight and a deer ran across the road and I commented that I was so worried for it in this weather - DH thought I was nuts and replied that he’s a lot more worried about the people sleeping in this weather. I said I am worried about them, too!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worry about them too. I feed a neighborhood feral cat and haven't seen her for 2 weeks, until yesterday. I was hoping she was eating- I put food out twice a day. She looked okay yesterday but I still worry.

Why not bring her in your house?

Even the basement with a light on would be better than outside, if you don't want her upstairs. Pop to Petsmart and get a litterbox.

I moved from the neighborhood a year ago but I tried often to bring her inside when I lived there. This past fall, I tried to trap her to bring her to the vet and have her live with me, but it didn't work. I also put out a heated shelter for her in a neighbor's yard when it started to get cold, but I see no evidence that she's been using it. I'll keep trying... thanks everyone.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t consider myself a huge animal person but I really enjoy the deer and foxes I see in our neighborhood and I also can’t stop worrying about them and if they’re surviving. Totally understand OP.

They survive in Canada all winter long. They will adapt.

Animals are built for outdoor weather.

I wouldn’t consider myself a huge animal person but I really enjoy the deer and foxes I see in our neighborhood and I also can’t stop worrying about them and if they’re surviving. Totally understand OP.

Anonymous wrote:I worry about them too. I feed a neighborhood feral cat and haven't seen her for 2 weeks, until yesterday. I was hoping she was eating- I put food out twice a day. She looked okay yesterday but I still worry.

Why not bring her in your house?

Even the basement with a light on would be better than outside, if you don't want her upstairs. Pop to Petsmart and get a litterbox.

Could you volunteer to help them? Like make some calls tomorrow?

Anonymous wrote:I worry about them too. I feed a neighborhood feral cat and haven't seen her for 2 weeks, until yesterday. I was hoping she was eating- I put food out twice a day. She looked okay yesterday but I still worry.

Look into building a weather resistant shelter for feral cats.

https://alleycatadvocates.org/creating-winter-shelters/

I worry about them too. I feed a neighborhood feral cat and haven't seen her for 2 weeks, until yesterday. I was hoping she was eating- I put food out twice a day. She looked okay yesterday but I still worry.

It’s a problem. I’m worried sick about the wildlife, livestock and the cats and dogs that don’t get to live inside in this very long-lasting frigid weather. Is anyone else? I can’t stop worrying.