If you’ve been paying attention, you might have noticed it. It’s subtle, but it’s there. The sun is setting just a little bit later each day, and the light has a touch more strength to it. Here in Canada, we know better than to declare an early spring—we’ve still got plenty of winter ahead—but these small signs are a promise of what’s to come.
Beneath the frozen ground and the deep snow, the natural world is beginning to stir in anticipation. This quiet, late-winter period is a crucial time of preparation. And just as nature is getting ready, we can too. The choices we make now, before the great thaw begins, can set the stage for a safer and more welcoming spring for our wild neighbours.
The Great Awakening is Coming
While it may look dormant outside, a lot is happening. On milder days, squirrels are busily uncovering the nuts they buried months ago. In the forests, pregnant black bears are giving birth to tiny, helpless cubs inside their dens. And believe it or not, some birds are already thinking about family. Great Horned Owls, our earliest nesters, are likely already sitting on eggs, their soft hoots echoing in the cold night air.
For these animals, the transition from winter to spring is the most critical time of the year. Energy reserves are at their lowest, and the search for food and safe nesting sites is about to begin in earnest.
How to Be a Good Host for Spring’s Arrival
Getting a head start now means you’ll be helping wildlife when they need it most. Here are a few things you can do in the coming weeks to prepare.
- Get the Real Estate Ready. Many birds, like chickadees and nuthatches, will begin scouting for the perfect nesting spot long before the snow melts. Now is the ideal time to clean out any existing birdhouses from last year, removing old nesting material. If you’re thinking of putting up a new nesting box, do it now! This gives the birds a chance to discover it and get comfortable with it before the breeding season frenzy begins.
- Plan for a “Messy” Garden. As the snow melts, our first instinct is often to rush out and tidy the yard. This year, plan to resist that urge. Those hollow stems from last year’s perennials and the layer of leaves on your garden beds are providing critical shelter for beneficial insects, including native bees and butterfly larvae. Leaving them be for a little longer provides a vital first food source for birds when the insects emerge. A “messy” garden is a living garden.
- Prepare for Baby Season: A Gentle Reminder. Spring’s arrival inevitably means the arrival of baby animals. Soon, you might see a fawn curled up alone in the grass or a baby rabbit in a shallow nest. Our hearts tell us to help, but it’s essential to remember this rule: If you care, leave them there. Wild mothers frequently leave their young alone while they forage for food. “Rescuing” a healthy baby is often unintentionally kidnapping it. Prepare yourself now: if you find a baby animal you believe is truly injured or orphaned, your first step should always be to call your local wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice.
By thinking ahead, we can turn our yards and neighbourhoods into safer havens for the incredible life that is about to re-emerge. Let’s make this spring the most welcoming one yet.
Stay warm and dream of the thaw!