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I just checked the overnight temperatures. It reached a cool -22°C. That’s not yet really cold for me over a winter season, but when I hit it for the first time each season, it feels as if I am nearing absolute zero.

It got me thinking as I looked out over my backyard. There was a centimetre or two of light, fluffy snow. Right by the patio doors, unshelled peanuts were poking through. Off to the left is our bird bath. I had it hooked up to the heater, so there was actually water in it. I added that feature after watching a magpie bash its beak into the ice that I forgot to empty after the summer passed. Poor thing.

This site is now one of the few places where the birds can get water instead of having to swallow snow and use up precious calories.

The bird feeders had recently been topped up. I bought the largest ones I could find to cut down on trips into the cold to refill them. This last time, my wife had topped them all up.

She had also mixed our homemade butter bark for the birds, which they seem to enjoy.

So I think the bird-checkbox can be checked for this winter, aside from refilling the various devices.

I connected my care for local wildlife to the desperate plight of the homeless. A local doctor said we were approaching the season for amputations, even as he was still treating patients who had amputations last winter. 

Amputations could involve fingers, thumbs, toes, and limbs. I don’t remember the exact number of amputations each winter, so I won’t try to recall a figure from my unreliable memory, but I was stunned when I heard the figure.

After finishing this Blog, but prior to posting, I realized I needed to check the specific number of frostbite-related amputations. In the 2023-2024 winter season, there were 110.

It shouldn’t have been a surprise, but unfortunately, it was. The arrival of winter doesn’t catch us off guard every year. Annual harsh conditions are expected. The amputations mainly happen because citizens lack the will to prevent them.

We need a safe and warm place for a 24-hour shelter. It seems simple. It is, but it involves challenges. Occasionally, the temperature warms up to -25°C during the day. The homeless, by definition, lack a home. Therefore, they require access to warm socks, coats, toilet facilities, and baths or showers. Many of these unfortunate individuals also have pets they love and who love them, which adds to the complexity.

Please give this a bit of a think. What is the situation of homeless folks near your home? Is there an effort to raise the issue to see if we can save the amputation?

Please comment by sending me an email with your bit of a think. I am curious about your thoughts.

Photo by Daniele La Rosa Messina on Unsplash

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glenn.walmsley@icloud.com

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