We leave water dripping also, and mostly I worry about the power going off. We could go somewhere, but what about the cat? Couldn’t leave him here. Can’t wait till Friday, and next week will be 50s some days!

Heated dog dish for the wildlife -- brilliant! I have one, but the dogs prefer either inside water, or fishpond water, so it's still in the garage. I will dig it out today. Local birds and squirrels thank you, arcy_gw :-)

And an opossum or two. We also have a lot of roaming dogs and cats...It amazes me how often we fill it. I got the dish at a garage sale a few years ago. I hated that I had to take down my fountain as we have birds all year and water is important.

I have tried bowls, birdbaths, and those flat disks that you place in or under a birdbath only to have something probably the raccoons destroy each and every attempt by pulling the wiring loose from the container. I put water out in the morning where the sunlight if any will warm it during the day.

I think the neighbors provide water but not sure if it's a heated bowl. Besides, there are several nearby running water sources such as a creek and several field streams (i.e. culvert runoff streams). However, I don't know how much of the water freezes in those.

I always wonder about the birds and where they shelter. There are five birdhouses around the property, one a large martin (actually sparrow and starling) house. Hopefully all can find a vacant room. I read one time that birds will even find their way up under siding around the bottom of a house seeking protection. Also, birds will sometimes huddle together in birdhouses. One man discovered some titmouse one on top of another in a cavity in order to keep warm.

I thought this was going to be about a movie called VORTEX.

Thank you all for caring about the wildlife and the ferals.

I always worry about the wildlife during extreme weather. I know they are equipped and adapted to be outside, but this kind of bone chilling cold must be a challenge for every living creature in it's path.

I'll join Marilyn in thanking all of you for caring.

Oh Titmouses! or mice? I love those birds. We don't have them here. Once when living in the south I was temporarily living in a rental a house and there was a garage with a black roof. The titmouse babies would sunbath on the roof-lying on their little backs with their wings spread out like so many little bats and their feet up in the air! Never in all my life! I did not have a camera that would take the picture.

I too appreciate those who consider the wild life and the ferals. We don't often get enough cold weather to have to fuss about water but when we do I take out hot water.

I hope that you are all able to stay warm and I also thank you for thinking of the wildlife everyone!

Arcy, that is such a clever and kind idea! We’ve stocked up the bird feeders and laid out corn cobs for the squirrels and chipmunks, but I didn’t even think about water.