Rose hips, I have read, are the last things they will eat when there is nothing left, I am afraid. That's what I read, anyway. And in the winter, there are plenty of rose hips on the rugosa!

There are native roses that have hips, Rosa carolina or Rosa setigera both have small rose hips.

The rose hips on native roses are the last things wildlife eats in the winter : (.

Yes, but its winter and food is scarce... the critters are looking... and guess what... you happen to have some rose hips in your yard. One of the few things that lasts through the winter.

I grow them not as much for food purposes, but I like to use the hips in dried flower arrangements.

Winter has not arrived here in SW Ontario yet. Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees though. The small hip on wild woodland roses are being eaten by Northern Cardinals. There were also Purple Finch in the area, but not sure if they were also eating the hips.