Pets and Wildlife

Spring cleanup can wait a little when nesting birds are nearby. Learn how to handle yard chores carefully so you can protect seasonal habitat, avoid disturbing active nests, and keep birds safe while your yard gets back in shape.

A backyard fox is often just another example of urban wildlife adapting to shared spaces, especially when it appears at dawn or dusk and keeps its distance. Learn how to tell normal behavior from signs that call for caution, while protecting pet safety and supporting peaceful coexistence.

A puddling station is a simple way to give butterflies and bees safe access to shallow water, minerals, and a cool place to land. With just a few basic materials, you can add a helpful feature to your pollinator garden that’s easy to build and maintain.

Night-blooming plants can turn a moon garden into a lively habitat after dark, drawing in moths and other nocturnal pollinators with pale blooms and sweet fragrance. Choosing native flowers helps support these nighttime visitors while strengthening the local ecosystem.

Seed eating birds don’t need feeders to thrive when your yard is planted with native seed heads, grasses, and shrubs that keep food available through the seasons. This simple feeders alternative creates a bird garden that feeds wildlife naturally while adding structure, cover, and year-round interest.

Ground nesting bees are quiet, essential pollinators that can thrive in even a small home landscape with the right care. By leaving a little bare soil, planting native flowers, and reducing disturbance, you can create yard habitat that supports these hardworking native bees.

A well-built brush pile can turn yard trimmings into valuable wildlife shelter, giving songbirds and small mammals a safe place to hide, rest, and move through your backyard habitat. With the right placement and layering, it becomes a simple, low-cost way to support local wildlife year-round.

Skunks in the backyard are usually drawn by simple yard attractants like food, shelter, and water—not by a desire to cause trouble. With a few smart steps, you can support wildlife coexistence while reducing the chance of unwanted visits and conflict.

Opossums are often overlooked, but these backyard mammals can be valuable garden helpers by keeping pests in check and cleaning up fallen fruit and other debris. In many yards, their quiet nighttime visits bring real wildlife benefits without causing much trouble at all.

Fireflies need more than a pretty lawn—they thrive in a real yard habitat with damp soil, leaf litter, native plants, and low light. The good news is you can support these glowing signs of summer wildlife without turning your yard into a wilderness.

Backyard owl boxes can be a great way to support wildlife habitat, but they only work when the species, location, and surroundings are a good match. Learn when nest boxes help backyard owls thrive—and when they may create more problems than benefits for yard safety.

Learn how to give songbirds the wildlife cover they need without sacrificing a tidy yard. With the right shelter plants and backyard design choices, you can create a space that feels polished, intentional, and bird-friendly.

Native shrubs give birds more than a quick meal—they provide natural food, insect habitat, and shelter that support them through every season. In wildlife gardening, the right shrubs can turn your backyard habitat into a reliable buffet for birds far better than most feeders.

Pet grief can show up in subtle but meaningful ways after a household loss, from changes in appetite and sleep to clinginess, hiding, or vocalizing. Understanding dog mourning and cat mourning makes it easier to offer calm behavior support and help your pet feel safe again.

For most healthy indoor adult cats, a consistent feeding schedule of two measured meals a day is a simple starting point that supports portion control and steady appetite. Depending on your cat’s habits and health, cat meal timing can also be adjusted to smaller, more frequent meals for better feline nutrition and comfort.