With the great
abundance of wildlife in our state, it's worthwhile to design our
landscapes to attract desirable species, while making it less hospitable
for the undesirable ones.
Each species has
unique habitat requirements; if we meet the needs of the desirable
species, we increase the chance that they'll show up.
One key in developing
a backyard habitat for wildlife is diversity in plant structure, food,
water and cover. Use different species like evergreens, shrubs,
perennials and annuals to help provide this diversity.
Each season needs to
provide food, shelter and water. Choose plants that fruit at different
times so wildlife have a long-term source of food.
The Natural Resources
and Conservation Service has information on how to attract butterflies,
birds, bats, bees and other species. Click
here to learn more.
The National Wildlife
Federation (NWF) sponsors a backyard wildlife habitat program,
certifying backyards as good habitat for birds, butterflies, and other
creatures. To learn how you can participate in this program and certify
your yard, click here.
To learn more about gardening for wildlife, visit the NWF website by clicking
here.
