The harsh climate of these days and the wave of frost are also felt by our animal friends. Here's how to defend the domestic and wild ones.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himCold and snow: the harsh climate these days and the wave of frost is also felt by our animal friends. Not just those of affection, but also and above all i wild and strays, find themselves having to deal with both freezing temperatures and an increase in their daily caloric needs. The most affected are the birds who are unable to fully satisfy their food needs.
In short, winter in itself can represent a really difficult period especially for wild animals and the polar temperatures of this period, then, put them in serious danger of survival.
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But how can we help our "friends" to overcome the cold season? Here from the Enpa, the animal protection body, a vademecum to help them overcome the cold emergency:
How to defend pets from the cold:
1. Keep them at home or, in any case, in a warm place e repaired after daily walks and consider that especially short-haired dogs may need a coat
2. If cats and dogs are more culled than usual, if theirs body temperature is higher or lower than normal or if they sneeze frequently or if you notice any changes in behavior, see your vet as soon as possible
3. If your dog gets wet from a downpour or from walking through a puddle, dry it well, especially ears and legs
4. Beware of permanence snow and ice, which can cause frostbite
5. Pay attention also to jump in temperature
READ also: HOW TO HELP STREET CATS TO OVERCOME THE COLD OF WINTER
How to defend wild animals from the cold:
1. Leave in the garden, on the balcony or in a place sheltered from predators (cats, for example), in addition to some "delicacies", two bowls warm, clean water: one for drinking, the other (preferably terracotta) to allow the birds to bathe. This allows them to keep their plumage tidy and, therefore, to have additional protection against the cold
2. If you have the opportunity, put some little girls on the terrace or in the garden mangers for birds sheltered from predators and stock them until spring
3. A birdhouse can be useful as a shelter from wind, snow and frost. But also to spend the night in complete tranquility. It must be placed in a safe place, sheltered from predators, from atmospheric agents and traffic
4. Among there are more suitable foods: unsalted peanuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, small grains, millet, cereal flakes and diced cheese rinds. It is also possible to use food for dogs and cats, fresh fruit and dried fruit, especially for insectivores. Bread, which does not nourish, and baked goods should be avoided.
Food must be as similar as possible to what birds would find in nature; on the market there are also food for manger in the form of hanging balls.
If you find a wild animal in distressà, always contact the provincial police or the State Forestry Corps or take it to an authorized wildlife recovery center. For large animals, especially ungulates or mammals such as foxes, wait for the help of specialized personnel as they require expert hands to be handled.
Stop hunting
Meanwhile, WWF and Enpa are asking all Regions to suspend all hunting activities.
In fact, wildlife is already severely tested by such a harsh winter, marked among other things by large changes in temperature. If you also add the poaching, wild animals already exhausted by the cold, having to spend the little residual energy to feed themselves, are hardly able to find the strength to escape from hunters.
The law 157/92, which protects wildlife and regulates hunting activities, provides for a ban on "hunting on land that is wholly or partly covered by snow" (except in the Alpine area), and on frozen stretches of water.
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We hope all *, therefore, that Regions modify the hunting calendars precisely in anticipation of greater protection of wild animals which are an unavailable patrimony of the State to be protected in the interest of the national and international community (art. 1 law 157/92).
Germana Carillo
