“It’s Snowing… Should We Feed Wild Animals?”

Lumi’s Winter Diary

Today, I went skiing through the snowy mountains, and the forest felt so quiet and beautiful. As I skied down, I kept thinking about the animals living out there in the cold, and how easy it is for people to worry that they might be starving. I used to think that giving them food sounded kind and caring too.

But I learned something important today. No matter how cold winter gets, ordinary people shouldn’t feed wild animals. Animals already know how to survive winter in their own ways, and human food can actually make their lives more dangerous by spreading disease or making them depend on us.

I also learned that when animals get used to people, they come closer to roads and villages, and that can hurt both them and humans. Protecting nature isn’t always about doing more—sometimes it’s about stepping back and letting nature stay natural.

There is one thing that made me feel relieved, though. If winter becomes truly dangerous, like during extreme blizzards or heavy ice when animals can’t find food at all, experts such as ecologists, veterinarians, and the Forest Service step in to help. Knowing that made me feel calm and thankful.

Today reminded me that real kindness means understanding, not just acting on feelings. Watching quietly, respecting distance, and trusting nature can be the warmest care of all.

— Lumi