#33 Backyard Tip: Create a Wildlife Habitat

Your backyard will become a haven for wildlife if it contains the 4 essentials that all animals need: water, food, cover, and nesting places.

Install a birdbath or small pond to provide water for drinking and bathing.

Plant as much native vegetation as possible, including trees, shrubs and perennials that produce berries, nuts and seeds. Bird feeders can supplement native plants. Native plants can also provide cover for protection against predators and the elements. Add brush piles and rocks for additional options. 

Birdhouses provide safe places for cavity nesting birds to raise their young.

Your local Audubon chapter or National Wildlife Federation  are among the many organizations that can provide additional details about creating wildlife habitats. Doing so will provide a lifetime of enjoyment for yourself, and a critical benefit for wildlife.

photo © adrian binns