Wild animals
Squirrels in city parks should be fed sparingly during winter, but it's difficult for these furry creatures to survive entirely without human assistance during the cold season. After all, the daylight hours are very short; the abundant food found among the trees in summer is absent, and the animals' energy expenditure increases in the cold. Forest animals prepare for winter well in advance, building up large stores of berries, fruits, nuts, and pine cones. They also find some food in the winter forest itself.
In city parks, opportunities for this are much less abundant, as fruit trees and pine cones are scarce. Human-organized feeding will help urban squirrels survive the winter, but not just any food can be given to them. Some foods considered delicacies by humans are highly undesirable and even harmful to these furry creatures. Before giving squirrels a treat, make sure it will only benefit them.
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