The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has a lot going on this month – as always. But the MDWFP wants Mississippians to remember two important dates, both of which involve hunting.

For those of us that pay attention to wildlife in our world, winter can be a time of worry. How do our favorite birds deal with the cold? Where did Ole Grumpy, my Box Turtle disappear to? And what about my favorite anole? Well, rest assured, the wildlife in our world know what to do. They do not really need us to intervene, although we can help in a couple of ways that mimics nature itself. Here is how they manage and how we can help.

Attracting hummingbirds to your home can be more than just hanging nectar feeders. Providing  nectar-producing plants to your landscape is frankly healthier for these energetic birds while also adding beauty to your surroundings. But serving up natural flower-based sugars is only one way to support these birds. They eat much more. Winter is the time to think about what you can add to your yard to help feed hummingbirds throughout the year.

So, the kids will soon be out of school, Mom and Dad. Yikes! What to do other than let them lose themselves in those tablets, smartphones, or video games. Here are a few suggestions that you can undertake to engage their brain cells around conservation actions that may lead them to new interests in nature and its wellbeing.