Marilyn Mause is a wildlife biologist at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, who writes the Wild Acres newsletter where she gives advice on how to create a wildlife-friendly habitat with native plants and outdoor activities.
As Marylanders curse the wet snow falling on the region this week, Mause spoke with The Examiner about the many benefits of snow.
What are the benefits of snow?
One of the things people don’t realize is that it helps conserve water. … When you get snow, it’s a slow melt, which is a steady supply, which tends to seep into the underground water aquifers, instead of a thunderstorm when you have a quick runoff.
Are there also benefits to the outside habitat?
Snow acts as a fertilizer for the soil. It takes nitrogen from the air and as it melts, it releases slowly. It’s a slow release, so it does cover the entire soil. Farmers knew that if they had a lot of snow, that was less manure they had to apply in the spring.
It also serves as an insulator. Really cold temperatures can freeze the soil deeper, which leads to trees and shrubs having a lot of damage.
The final thing is in terms of wildlife. Snow provides a shelter for small animals such as moles and rabbits and other animals that are a food source for many predators. To have a lot of them survive the winter ensures they are there in the spring to serve as a food source for hawks and owls as they are starting to raise their young.
Snow enhances the beauty of the landscape plantings in the wintertime. They look more brilliant, and stuff looks more vibrant.
What’s your advice for people in caring for the outside during a snow?
Let it take its course. You have to shovel where you need to shovel. You need to clear your sidewalks, but realize that your backyard and overall, when we are getting the snow, it’s definitely a benefit for the reservoirs and our farm friends.
