Dead Birds Left as Food for Other Animals - Freezing Crisis in Germany Kills Thousands of Birds as Politicians Demand Action

Thousands of birds have died in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as freezing temperatures grip the region. Swans, cormorants, and wild geese are among the worst affected in Vorpommern-Rügen. Now, politicians are calling for urgent action to protect struggling wildlife during the harsh winter conditions.

The district of Vorpommern-Rügen has asked residents to leave dead birds untouched, stating that their removal is only necessary in public areas like roads or playgrounds. Property owners remain responsible for clearing carcasses in these spaces, but elsewhere, officials insist the bodies should remain part of the natural cycle.

Green Party politician Harald Terpe has criticised the passive approach, arguing that human activity has already altered landscapes, making it unfair to dismiss wildlife deaths as simply the 'course of nature.' He is pushing for stronger emergency measures, including organised supplementary feeding for animals outside forests during extreme weather.

Currently, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has no state-funded wildlife rescue center. Instead, care for injured or orphaned animals relies almost entirely on volunteers and private donations. Three officially recognised bird rescue centers operate in the region: NABU MV in Rostock (since 2015), LBV Greifswald (since 2018), and Vogelstation Hiddensee (since 2020). Some local authorities, such as Rostock, Schwerin, and Vorpommern-Greifswald, have launched their own feeding programmes for wildlife this winter.

The cold snap has exposed gaps in wildlife support across the state. While some municipalities have taken steps to help, Terpe's demands highlight the need for broader, coordinated action. Without state-backed rescue facilities, volunteers and local initiatives remain the primary lifeline for struggling animals.