As others have said, it's not the cold, it's the food frozen under the ice. Lots of things are starving right now. Out in Loudoun, I saw a coyote standing on the shoulder of the road in the middle of the day, digging into a roadkill deer carcass. Normally they're too shy and reclusive to be out in public like that, but this thing needed the groceries.

Looking forward to the warmer temps and increased melting this week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Animals are built for outdoor weather.

One morning last week, after very cold night, I was at Rio Shopping Center (Gaithersburg) which has a lake. Workers were picking up dead Canadian Geese and there were at least 20 of them (with pieces of ice still stuck). Some of them got stuck on the ice (body temp melts and freezes) and died overnight. It was a sad sight.

I don't meant to sound cruel, but Canada geese don't belong here. They used to live in Canada in the summer, and fly south in the winter. At some point they decided to settle in DC, to take advantage of the golf courses and manicured lawns. So they stay here all year round. Kind of like politicians who come from the rest of the country to Washington to "clean up the mess," and then, after a few years, they don't return. They discover that feeding at the public trough is not such a bad deal.

+1 Canada Geese are vermin like the Norway rats. Good riddance.

Good riddance for sure. They should not be protected under the Migratory bird treaty act. They are vermin and aren't migrating like they should be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW we have a really old cat who lives in an unheated outbuilding because inside the main house the other cats terrorize her to the point where she will find a hiding spot and poop and pee in place there and it takes me an age to search the house and find out where she has ended up. Last time it was in a crawlspace that was once supposed to “hide” the flat screen TV before we just more or less kept it out permanently. Absolute nightmare to clean back out.

I went in there this morning to feed and water her and it’s like she’s grown whole new levels of fur. She looks janky but if it’s keeping her warm then OK.

Why don't you provide her with one of those insulated outdoor pet huts in the outbuilding? I believe you can even buy them on Amazon. Or, below is a linkg with ones you can buy, as well as easy DIY options. This would probably go a long way for her. The poor thing.

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feral-cat-shelter-options-gallery/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=aca_cpa&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18715802556&gbraid=0AAAAAD41gx0FPk5I_RVDnhKWrMVUIVWbv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoY7I8eLMkgMVJmpHAR2ygwzsEAAYASAAEgKxFvD_BwE

Not all cats like using these, by the way. Some will just avoid them.

That's true, but can't hurt to try. Especially since she is willing to be an indoor cat if it weren't for getting bullied by the others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW we have a really old cat who lives in an unheated outbuilding because inside the main house the other cats terrorize her to the point where she will find a hiding spot and poop and pee in place there and it takes me an age to search the house and find out where she has ended up. Last time it was in a crawlspace that was once supposed to “hide” the flat screen TV before we just more or less kept it out permanently. Absolute nightmare to clean back out.

I went in there this morning to feed and water her and it’s like she’s grown whole new levels of fur. She looks janky but if it’s keeping her warm then OK.

Why don't you provide her with one of those insulated outdoor pet huts in the outbuilding? I believe you can even buy them on Amazon. Or, below is a linkg with ones you can buy, as well as easy DIY options. This would probably go a long way for her. The poor thing.

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feral-cat-shelter-options-gallery/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=aca_cpa&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18715802556&gbraid=0AAAAAD41gx0FPk5I_RVDnhKWrMVUIVWbv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoY7I8eLMkgMVJmpHAR2ygwzsEAAYASAAEgKxFvD_BwE

Not all cats like using these, by the way. Some will just avoid them.

Anonymous wrote:FWIW we have a really old cat who lives in an unheated outbuilding because inside the main house the other cats terrorize her to the point where she will find a hiding spot and poop and pee in place there and it takes me an age to search the house and find out where she has ended up. Last time it was in a crawlspace that was once supposed to “hide” the flat screen TV before we just more or less kept it out permanently. Absolute nightmare to clean back out.

I went in there this morning to feed and water her and it’s like she’s grown whole new levels of fur. She looks janky but if it’s keeping her warm then OK.

Why don't you provide her with one of those insulated outdoor pet huts in the outbuilding? I believe you can even buy them on Amazon. Or, below is a linkg with ones you can buy, as well as easy DIY options. This would probably go a long way for her. The poor thing.

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feral-cat-shelter-options-gallery/?utm_source=google_cpc&utm_medium=ad_grant&utm_campaign=aca_cpa&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18715802556&gbraid=0AAAAAD41gx0FPk5I_RVDnhKWrMVUIVWbv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoY7I8eLMkgMVJmpHAR2ygwzsEAAYASAAEgKxFvD_BwE

Yes.
But nonetheless I am attached to the "regulars" we see in the yard and around. I wish them well and have been giving food and water. Replace water as it freezes. Squirrels come and drink.

Birds finally started eating our holly berries.

Wildlife biologist here. I agree it is sad, especially in cases where human activity resulted in the deaths (the Canada geese PP mentioned, or how people remove the brush that many animals rely on to keep warm).

On the other hand, it can be beneficial for the ecosystem as a whole. Cold fronts kill off ticks and other disease vectors/destructive insects, kills off parasites, kills off invasive species, and also helps regulate herbivore populations.

Interestingly, herbivore deaths during cold fronts are mostly due to predation. Predators often thrive during cold fronts; their prey are much weaker and die more easily, so are easily hunted and scavenged. This also helps keep herbivore populations strong as the weakest, malnourished, and diseased ones typically die off first. Fewer herbivores allows forests and vegetation to regenerate the following seasons.

Nature is absolutely brutal. All animals die brutal, painful deaths. If it's not the cold, it's starvation, or predation, or disease (morbid fact - all whales and dolphins die of drowning, they eventually get too old and sick to come back to the surface and drown. Or beach themselves and are crushed under their own weight). One of the many reasons I'm happy for civilization.

The scientist in me sees it as just another way ecosystems are kept healthy and in-balance. But the human side of me does feel very sad for them. Nature ain't a Disney movie, that's for sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Animals are built for outdoor weather.

One morning last week, after very cold night, I was at Rio Shopping Center (Gaithersburg) which has a lake. Workers were picking up dead Canadian Geese and there were at least 20 of them (with pieces of ice still stuck). Some of them got stuck on the ice (body temp melts and freezes) and died overnight. It was a sad sight.

I don't meant to sound cruel, but Canada geese don't belong here. They used to live in Canada in the summer, and fly south in the winter. At some point they decided to settle in DC, to take advantage of the golf courses and manicured lawns. So they stay here all year round. Kind of like politicians who come from the rest of the country to Washington to "clean up the mess," and then, after a few years, they don't return. They discover that feeding at the public trough is not such a bad deal.

+1 Canada Geese are vermin like the Norway rats. Good riddance.

All their food is under hard packed snow. I’ve put out bird seed. Idk what else to do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Animals are built for outdoor weather.

One morning last week, after very cold night, I was at Rio Shopping Center (Gaithersburg) which has a lake. Workers were picking up dead Canadian Geese and there were at least 20 of them (with pieces of ice still stuck). Some of them got stuck on the ice (body temp melts and freezes) and died overnight. It was a sad sight.

This goes back to what a previous poster was asking in regards to wildlife in this area not knowing how to survive in this cold. Surely Canadian Geese have evolved to survive brutal Canadian winters? The geese up in Canada are probably mocking their DMV brothers for being weak.

FTLOG! These animals have survived varying weather conditions longer than humans have been in existence!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The snowcrete is a problem. Squirrels can't dig thru it to get their stashed food. The cold keeps it in place.
This is not usual. I say this after 40 winters here and 16 in Massachusetts.
I feed the squirrels and birds during this event. I keep the birdbath filled with unfrozen water.

So, you are saying there won't be any squirrels this summer?

Do you often draw inferences like this? I have some investment ideas for you...

No I did not say that. I said that squirrels are having a harder time than usual. A logical inference is that fewer will make it to summer.

So, as long as some squirrels survive, they will face less competition for resources and their population will rebound. That's how nature works.

Anonymous wrote:If you really want to do something, The best thing you can do is feed the birds. Apparently the suet cakes are better for birds this time of year. You can also set out fresh water.

+1
You need heated birdbaths to set out fresh water that does not freeze. I have two and it is a lifesaver for birds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The snowcrete is a problem. Squirrels can't dig thru it to get their stashed food. The cold keeps it in place.
This is not usual. I say this after 40 winters here and 16 in Massachusetts.
I feed the squirrels and birds during this event. I keep the birdbath filled with unfrozen water.

So, you are saying there won't be any squirrels this summer?

Do you often draw inferences like this? I have some investment ideas for you...

No I did not say that. I said that squirrels are having a harder time than usual. A logical inference is that fewer will make it to summer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Feral cats often have their hiding places that they are used to.

Feral cats go live in the pipes and culverts that remove water runoff from streets. They are certainly not suffering.