Reliable water sources for wildlife can suddenly become unavailable if you live in a climate with harsh, freezing temperatures. While an electrified birdbath is one way to help, it can be difficult and expensive to maintain, and also poses the risk of shorting out (which can hurt birds and small animals). The simplest idea: Just place a water source on the south side of your property, where the sun’s rays will be strongest during the day. It should help thaw just enough to be a source of much-needed water.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you have a backyard, you can do tiny things to help give wildlife a habitat and a source of food during the fall and winter months. The easiest way is to build something called a brush pile; just layer large fallen tree limbs, branches, grass clippings and leaves together. It becomes a safe spot to nest for small animals and amphibians. And even stacking firewood in a crisscross fashion can help; the design creates internal spaces that offer relief from the cold for animals.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When it comes to tissues, napkins and paper towels, what do you do with them after they’ve been used? The good news is that used paper products like napkins and towels are compostable; they just need to be layered as “brown” matter in a compost bin with “green” material like kitchen trimmings and grass clippings. But don’t forget the paperboard boxes and tubes these items are packaged with; they can be added to paperboard recycling. And even the plastic film on the outside of paper towels can be recycled in the same bin as plastic shopping bags at the store.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION