Wondering where all the wildlife is and why it's not at your house? Maybe it's time to walk around your yard and assess whether you offer an inviting wildlife habitat.

First ask yourself a couple questions: Which wildlife do I want to attract? Which wildlife do I want to deter? How much money and time do I want to invest in this project? Once you have these questions answered you can use the information below to direct you in the design of your backyard habitat!

Once you have completed the design, consider having the National WIldlife Federation certify your site as a "Backyard Wildlife Habitat." You can contact them at:

Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program
National Wildlife Federation
8925 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA 22184-0001
www.nwf.org

HOW DO I GET STARTED? 
Keep in mind that all wildlife need four basic elements, but there are various ways to meet these needs and it can be done for surprising little financial investment. In some cases it's perfect for the lazy gardener, because manicured and pesticide covered is NOT the way to go. Natural and wild will reap the most benefits.

Water
This can be met by installing a simple bird bath, a bubbler or a full sized pond and waterfall. What does help is the sound of moving water. This will attract animals and let them know there is water available.  

Keeping the water source clean is crucial. If you are going the pond route, speak to an experienced pond manufacturer or distributer and determine what filters and pumps you will need. For the smaller features like bird baths, a bleaching once or twice a week is usually sufficient. Mix bleach:water at a 1:9 ratio and use a scrub brush to scrub out any algae that may be forming. Then rinse well and refill with clean water. 

bird bath - various backyard birds
mister - hummingbirds and other backyard birds
puddling spot - butterflies
pond/waterfall - birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals

Food
This will be specific to which animals you want to attract.  If you don't have a lot of experience choosing bird seed it's a good idea to visit a store that specializes in wildlife products and discuss which seed is best for the birds in your area.

Be aware that some seed may have fillers that are not attractive to birds and will result in a lot of mess under the feeder and excess of weeds sprouting. Sunflower seeds, thistle and a few others that sprout may be an added benefit to your yard. It will result in more seed for FREE! A sunflower popping up in a new spot can add to the enjoyment of your new backyard habitat.

Besides seed you have other options to attract specific wildlife.

meal worms - meat eaters like Carolina wrens, blue birds, frogs, toads and green anoles
nectar - hummingbirds and orioles
suet - a good winter supplement attractive to many birds including woodpeckers and flickers (see below for a homemade suet recipe)
raw peanuts- blue jays, squirrels, woodpeckers
variety of hard nuts - squirrels and various birds
dried corn on the cob - squirrels

*CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!! If you are going to take on the responsibility of putting out feeders please be prepared to keep them clean. Many diseases can be passed through backyard feeders. When birds are all congregating at one spot it is a health risk, but cleaning your feeders with the same 9:1 water:bleach mixture once a week can help eliminate that risk. At least you will know that you enjoyed the birds and kept them healthy!

*Do not leave filled pet dishes outside or scraps of food in an attempt to attract mammals. Raccoons and fox are rabies vector species and larger predators pose additional safety risks. You may be willing to take the chance, because you know theyare around, but your neighbors next door or even down the road may not. If they have small children you put them at risk of harm as well. Be responsible when deciding who you invite to dinner.

Shelter
This is where you can get really creative & LAZY!!

PROJECT: Brush Pile
While you are raking up those leaves, branches and cuttings from the yard, don't be in such a hurry to bag and send them to the landfill. A brush pile is a great way to provide shelter to wildlife. Try to put larger pieces of natural debries and branches at the bottom to create openings and hollow spaces. Then stack the small pieces on top. Rake leaves up next to it and some on top of it. This space is attractive to small birds, reptiles and mammals looking for a respite from summer hear, winter chill and larger predators.

Go Natural
The perfect solution for the lazy gardener. Native species need very little care, because they are designed to grow with the local conditions. This means less watering, pruning and spraying all of which save you time and money!

Unfortunately one of the patterns of new construction includes clearing lots down to the soil and covering the area with sod and a few exotic shrubs and trees. The problem with this is many of the native species are lost in the process and the exotics that replace them are often or no benefit to native wildlife.  Many organizations are now offering native plant sales, so you can get plants and expertise all at one stop. Some extension offices and websites offer native plant lists for different areas, so a little research and you can select the combination that suits your needs, saves you money and provides shelter and food to wildlife.  

Don't Manicure
Instead of keeping everything carefully controlled, pruned and sprayed, consider sitting on the porch a little longer with that tall glass of iced tea and let the garden go a little wild. Every stage of plant growth from sprout to seedset offers an opportunity for wildlife spotting. Different wildlife may have needs at different times of a plant's development, cut that short and you limit your range of wildlife. In some cases the plant health depends on this natural process and cutting that short may affect the plant's ability to thrive in later seasons.

Here are some other possibilities for wildlife shelter you may already have:

rock piles
stumps
hollow logs
leaf piles
dead trees
evergreens
meadow & coastal grasses
dense shrubs

Nesting
Baby raising is a big task for our wildlife. Construction and development continually reduces their options for safe nesting sites.  Adding different bird houses and nesting boxes is a great way to help. Get some books on housing and research who you want to attract, then build the boxes to their specifications. JUST REMEMBER: Current research suggests that birds cannot read, so if you find a wren in your blue bird box or vise versa, don't be discouraged, just enjoy your current residents and see who moves in next year!

Snag
Do you have an old tree in your yard that has died? This is called a "snag" and is perfect for the nesting site of many different animals including woodpeckers, owls and some mammals. Don't be in a hurry to cut it down. If it doesn't create a safety issue consider leaving that snag in place. You'll be surprised and delighted as a virtual wildlife condominium appears before your eyes.

PROJECT: Nesting Material bag
Surprisingly you have materials around your house that would be great for nests! Place the following materials in mesh bags and hang in different spots of your yard. Cut openings in the mesh or make sure it is wide enough for birds to pull out the contents. Fill the bag with the following:

dryer lint
pet hair
human hair (no long pieces, they can wrap around the babies legs, wings)

Avoid synthetics, plastics and material that can wrap around babies turning in the nest.

So now you have information to get you started. If you are still confused, come by the shelter and take a look at our butterfly and our pollinator gardens. We also have plant lists for our area and some information on which plant attracts which pollinator.

Our Education Department will also offer hands- on assitance in our Backyard Habitat program. Contact the shelter for more information at 252-240-1200.