The little animals will spend the winter

In nature, all animals know how to adapt to winter conditions. But in the garden, some of them might need a little help.

Hedgehogs, snails, frogs … all warm!

Several animal species, including hedgehogs , prepare for winter by building up fruit reserves. In order to survive, they adjust their metabolism to the climate of the region. Other mammals hibernate with a body temperature that is higher than that of their environment. On the other hand, the body temperature of cold-blooded animals (amphibians, fish or even mollusks) varies according to that of the environment. Thus, in very cold weather, they go into lethargy, after having manufactured organic substances or partitions preventing them from freezing.

Earthworms

Although slower, earthworm activity continues into the winter. They feed on organic matter which they transform into humus. To do this, they descend lower, under the layer of frozen earth.

To help them: spread manure, plant debris or compost on the ground on your flowerbeds. It will freeze less quickly and the auxiliaries appreciate this food.

Goldfish in the basin

Snuggled up in algae or aquatic plants, goldfish reduce their activity and feed little. In a pool at least 80 cm deep, they fear neither low temperatures nor surface ice.

To help them: let a bundle of wood float; oxygen will pass through if ice forms. If the basin is shallow, put them in a sheltered basin, without feeding them.

Frog

The cold causes a decline in the vitality of the frog. Almost asleep, she buried herself in the mud to spend the winter there without expending energy and without eating. If ice forms, it will survive thanks to the glucose in its organs acting as antifreeze, but it will take several hours to come out of its torpor.

To help it: remember to leave mud on the edges of the water point.

Hedgehog

It is under a pile of branches or leaves that the hedgehog arranges its shelter by padding it with moss. During hibernation, its temperature drops and its vital functions slow down. He wakes up periodically to feed on his reserves and stretch his muscles a little.

To help him: set up a nest filled with dead leaves . Don’t wake him up for any reason.

Snail

The snail overwinters in a hole which it closes with slime which, as it hardens, will protect it from the cold. In addition, it obstructs its shell with an operculum. It no longer feeds and decreases its vital functions. His oxygen consumption drops by half, and his heartbeat slows considerably. In case of momentary softening, it can then regain its activity.