Backyard Wildlife Habitat #75051
Why Do it?
- It is fun
- Plant some native plants
- Attract the animals to your yard, like butterflies, frogs, lizards, birds, hummingbirds
- Become nature friendly by gardening with the wildlife in mind, i.e. reducing the use of chemicals
- Get others interested in creating a wildlife habitat
All wildlife needs the basics of food, water, cover and places to raise their young. A wildlife habitat does not mean you have to change your backyard into a conservation area fit for alligators. But by following some simple steps, you can make your yard inviting to butterflies, bees, even hummingbirds.
Provide Food
- Firebush, firespike, pink porterweed are just three favorites of hummingbirds
- Plumbago, milkweed, pentas are visited by butterflies
- Dillweed, parsley, citrus trees are food for the caterpillar stage of the butterflies
- A simple bird feeder will attract birds, black sunflower seeds – red cardinals, cracked corn for mourning doves, quartered apples are loved by mocking birds
- Bees love African Blue Basil and Hyssop
Provide Water
This is really simple, small water features work well and are readily accepted by wildlife
- Bird bath
- Pre-formed Gold fish pond
- Rain garden
Provide Shelter and a place to raise their young
Hiding places are important (think humans, predators, weather)
- Vegetation, – leafy and thorny shrubs are great
- A pile of brush in a corner, some logs or a rock pile
- Trees, we all have our oak trees, for nesting and perching
- Birdhouses or even a roosting box for bats, toad houses
- If you have a pond, you are already providing for many animals like dragonflies and frogs
Be environmentally friendly
- Use mulch – melaleuca or pine bark chips, don’t use cypress mulch! Bald cypresses are being harvested just for mulch!
- Reduce lawn areas – lawn has no value to animals, but needs chemicals, too much water and maintenance
- Minimize outdoor water use by planting native and drought tolerant plants.
- Use rain barrels to collect rainwater
- Use natural fertilizers
- Be aware of the chemicals you are using, don’t use ‘weed and feed’ but rather do spot treatment. Opt for neem oil to fight pests on your plants.
- Educate yourself before killing bugs, they may be the useful kind!
Go to http://www.nwf.org/backyard/ Follow the steps on that website and have your yard certified. Order and post your yard sign to show your commitment to wildlife conservation and the environment.
Urban Wildlife Sanctuary
Our Sanctuary number with the HSUS Urban Wildlife Sanctuary Program is #919.
