The arctic blasts and snows have a way of letting us know how little we control our environment.

We run to the grocery store and stock up on milk, bread and other essentials we might need. Energy resources are at a premium as we seek to keep our homes warm and safe until the spring thaw arrives.

I also began to relate to how much stress is placed on people and wildlife during our recent heavy snows.

Any outdoorsperson worth his or her salt knows wildlife behavior is a good predictor of drastic weather changes. Feeding in the middle of the day and more than casual movement is easily observed.

In a rural area, it is not uncommon to hear such comments as, "A weather change is coming. Deer are on the move."

Wildlife don't have the opportunity to stock up at the grocery store to hold them over until better weather comes.

That's not saying that certain wildlife species haven't evolved into gatherers, savers and hibernators in an effort to make it through the harshest of winters. I am saying that other species require ongoing active searches for food in their travels.

Some of our most popular wildlife species fall into that group.

Game birds and songbirds are extremely vulnerable to weather conditions. Freezing temperatures and deep snows can be catastrophic for the turkey, as they require much food energy. Scratching the forest floor and agricultural areas is their most common strategy to uncover mast and seeds.

Our most recent snows have had the added challenge of freezing rain and a heavy top crust that is difficult for wildlife to manage. Breaking the hard crust is not only difficult, but it expends much-needed energy reserves.

If nothing else, we can help wildlife by pushing snow trails in areas that will uncover food plots.

The other day, I took my snow blower and made a few trails to aid my own travels on the property. While sitting at my kitchen window doing some paperwork, I was amazed and rewarded with a wildlife parade of sorts.

A young deer walked past my window in broad daylight, nibbling at plants uncovered in my new trail. A flock of winter snowbirds gathered grit and some seeds scattered naturally in the fall. Then came a gray squirrel and a scarce cottontail rabbit using the new trail as a runway to get from one wood lot to another.

I'm not foolish enough to think that a winter feed station is the answer to help all the wildlife during these harsh months. I do think that providing some habitat cover, planting food sources that are favored by animals and birds, and giving them a little help in the critical times will be a benefit.

I also understand that animals have a home range, and, if all things are favorable, they will live their entire life cycle in proximity of your property. A flock of turkeys or a group of five deer likely will be regular visitors, unless danger or depleted food sources cause them to move on.

We have seen the wildlife near our home often enough to be able to identify them by their looks and behaviors.

We have one squirrel with half a tail that's a regular visitor. I assume he escaped danger but had to sacrifice part of his tail. He looks for the peanuts that my wife provides for him as a culinary treat.

A visit to the feed store can supplement a few of our wildlife friends until the weather breaks.

I have found that shelled corn and black oil sunflower seeds are accepted by most wildlife species.

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