Creating Your Own Habitat
So many of us are imbued with a deep love of nature and wildlife. From hummingbird feeders to birdhouses, we look for ways to attract and help support our animal friends. Now you can take your efforts to the next level and create a complete wildlife habitat in your own yard!
Sound daunting? Don’t freak out, it’s easier than you think! There are only five elements required to create an effective wildlife habitat (per National Wildlife Federation guidelines).
Miss Penelope likes to help herself to the deer treats AND the bird feeders!
1. Food – Provide three sources of food (this can be hummingbird feeders, squirrel feeders, pollinator plants, bird feeders, fruits and nuts, sap, etc.)
When creating a watering station for pollinators make sure and keep it shallow and place stones for bees and butterflies to safely stand on.
2. Water – If you are lucky enough to have a lake or a stream on your property, you have this covered. Most of us don’t have our own personal lake or stream, but not to worry! Birdbaths, pollinator watering stations, or garden fountains will do the trick!
There are many inexpensive ways to create effective cover for the wildlife in your yard. Get creative!
3. Cover – Make sure there is somewhere for your wildlife to shelter and find protection from predators or weather. Examples of this may be a roosting box, dense shrubbery, ground cover, wooded areas, or a small pile of logs/wood.
Our resident deer family – Two bucks, three does, and three fawns. We love them!
4. Places to Raise Young – This can include nesting boxes, bird houses, bat houses, host plants for caterpillars, or shrubs and thickets.
We love our organic compost!
5. Use Sustainable Practices – These include practices such as organic composting, eliminating chemical pesticides and fertilizers, removing nonnative and invasive plants, reducing lawn areas.
Do you feel inspired and want to make your habitat official? If you meet the five criteria above, you can have your yard/garden/balcony declared a certified wildlife habitat through National Wildlife Federation! The application and information are available on their website at https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify