01/30/2026
The Brick Hack: A Simple Way to Help Wildlife Stay Hydrated in Winter
Winter isn’t just harsh because of cold—it’s dangerous because liquid water disappears. For many wild animals, dehydration becomes a greater threat than hunger once temperatures drop and water sources freeze solid.
The problem is ice, not food.
Birds can lose up to 10% of their body weight each day simply through breathing. Squirrels and chipmunks struggle to break through frozen surfaces. Rabbits often resort to eating snow, which can lower their body temperature and increase the risk of hypothermia. Opossums and raccoons may travel long distances searching for unfrozen water, while deer gather at the few remaining open spots, increasing the spread of disease.
A low-tech solution: passive solar heating.
Place a dark-colored brick in a shallow dish filled with one to two inches of water, positioned where it can catch morning sunlight. The brick absorbs heat from the sun and transfers it to the water, slowing the freezing process and keeping water accessible for longer periods.
Why this works:
Dark bricks can warm to over 50°F even when the surrounding air temperature is around 25°F. That stored heat helps keep the water from freezing as quickly, creating a reliable drinking source throughout cold mornings.
Who benefits:
This simple setup can be used by birds (for both drinking and bathing), squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, opossums, raccoons, and even foxes passing through.
The energy equation matters.
Drinking liquid water provides a net energy gain. Eating snow does the opposite—it costs animals valuable calories just to melt it internally.
Extra tip:
Floating a dark tennis ball in the water adds movement and absorbs heat, further reducing ice formation.
Sometimes the most effective wildlife solutions aren’t expensive or high-tech. A brick, a dish, and a bit of sunlight can make a real difference during the hardest months of the year.
