The essentials for living your best life.
The essentials for living your best life.
Discover how backyard wildlife changes with the seasons—and learn simple ways to create a welcoming habitat while preventing unwanted encounters. From spring nesting to winter shelter-seeking, thoughtful landscaping and secure food sources can help you protect your home and enjoy nature year-round.
Essential Concepts
Rabbit nests in lawn areas often look like shallow, grass-covered depressions, so check before mowing and keep pets and equipment away from occupied nests.
Early spring blooms can do more than brighten a garden—they can help launch an entire food web. Native willows are one of the best ways to support hungry birds, queen bees, and other early pollinators when the season is just beginning.
Turn a bare winter yard into a thriving wildlife refuge with the right evergreen shelter plants. Discover the best native shrubs and trees for providing birds and small animals with year-round cover, wind protection, and essential winter food.
Dead trees aren’t just yard debris—they’re vital habitat for birds, bats, insects, fungi, and small mammals. Discover when to preserve a snag or fallen log for wildlife, when to remove it for safety, and how to find the right balance in your landscape.
Enjoy chipmunks in your garden without sacrificing your flower beds or seedlings. With smart planting, protected borders, and a few simple habitat adjustments, you can create a wildlife-friendly yard where chipmunks thrive without turning your garden into a maze of holes.
Fallen leaves are more than yard debris—they’re vital habitat that shelters insects, feeds soil life, and supports birds, amphibians, and pollinators. Discover simple ways to leave room for leaf litter while keeping your backyard tidy, healthy, and wildlife-friendly.
Skunks may visit your yard for simple reasons—easy food, water, and cozy shelter—but a few smart changes can discourage repeat visits. Learn how to remove common attractants, protect pets, and prevent conflicts while keeping wildlife coexistence practical.
Owl boxes can support local wildlife and help nesting owls—but only when the species, habitat, placement, and safety conditions are right. Learn when a box truly benefits your yard, when it may attract unwanted occupants, and why it is not a guaranteed fix for rodent problems.
Sunflower seeds can be a safe occasional treat for backyard squirrels in U.S. and Canadian gardens when they’re plain, unsalted, and fresh. The key is moderation—too much can crowd out a natural, varied diet and create messy feeding spots that attract more squirrels than your yard can handle.
Discover the best foods for backyard squirrels, from unsalted nuts and seeds to seasonal fruits and vegetables, while learning what to avoid. These simple feeding tips help support healthy, active squirrels without attracting pests or encouraging unhealthy habits.
When drought dries up streams and ponds, wildlife is left scrambling for survival—and a reliable water station can make all the difference. From simple birdbaths to guzzlers and water gardens, these thoughtful setups help animals stay hydrated, safe, and close to their natural habitat during the toughest dry spells.
A well-placed bat house can bring more than just a quirky backyard feature—it can help support local bats while naturally cutting down on mosquitoes and other pesky insects. With the right design, location, and upkeep, you can create a safe roost that benefits both your yard and the ecosystem.
Autumn butterflies are on the move, and your backyard can be the safe stop they need to survive the season. Discover simple ways to provide nectar, shelter, and protection while helping these beautiful pollinators thrive.
A birdbath can be a vital lifeline for backyard wildlife—but if it’s dirty, too deep, or poorly placed, it can spread disease and put animals at risk. Learn how to keep your water source clean, safe, and welcoming for birds, bees, butterflies, and more.
Transform your yard into a thriving wildlife haven and discover nature’s everyday wellness benefits. From birdsong to butterflies, backyard wildlife can ease stress, lift your mood, and support better mental and physical health—all from home.
Your backyard can do more than grow plants—it can become a thriving ecosystem that naturally boosts pollination, controls pests, and enriches your soil. With a few simple changes, you’ll welcome helpful wildlife that makes gardening easier, healthier, and more rewarding.
Squirrel feeders can be a fun way to enjoy close-up wildlife watching and even help protect bird feeders, but responsible feeding is key. With the right placement, food, and cleanup, you can welcome these lively visitors without creating problems for your home or local wildlife.
Eastern Gray Squirrels may look cute, but these backyard masterminds are always one step ahead, using stealth, strategy, and surprising smarts to outwit predators and homeowners alike. From fake cache tricks to daring escapes, they’re the secret agents of the garden world.
Corn feeders can turn your backyard into a lively wildlife hub, attracting everything from birds and deer to squirrels and raccoons. With the right setup and responsible feeding habits, you can support local animals, protect your pets, and enjoy closer-up nature moments all year long.
Native plants are a beautiful, low-maintenance way to create a healthier yard that supports birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. With less watering, fewer chemicals, and real benefits for biodiversity, they help your garden thrive while giving back to the environment.
Invite nature’s best pest controllers into your garden! Discover how native plants, moist hiding spots, shallow water, and pesticide-free gardening can create a welcoming habitat for toads while helping keep insects under control.