Bert Swope
Making a Wildlife-Friendly Backyard You will create a more natural habitat for wildlife if you plant trees, bushes, and shrubs. Natural bushes and trees will provide shelter from the weather elements as well as providing food and water sources year-round. When making a wildlife-friendly backyard, do not forget that many insects can be harmful to animals. Make sure to include insects such as ladybugs, dragonflies, spiders, aphids, lacewings, praying mantis, ticks, mosquitoes, and others that will provide a source of food and water.
Making A Wildlife-Friendly Backyard Trees and shrubs are important to wildlife because they provide shelter and food. Birds and other smaller animals need food and water to survive. Trees and shrubs will provide shelter for these smaller animals year-round. By providing a variety of trees and shrubs in your landscape design, you will create a habitat that is not only attractive but safe for wildlife.
Food and Water Sources Your food will consist of fruits, vegetables, cereals, leafy greens, and other food sources. You should make sure that your food sources are protected year-round from wildlife damage or predators. Plants like milkweed and native flowers can provide a good food source for wildlife. However, it is important to consider that many animals depend on insects and other natural sources of food and water.
Water is another critical element when creating a wildlife-friendly backyard. Without water, animals would not be able to survive and thrive. You will want to make sure to include fountains and birdbaths to enhance your wildlife habitat. Other elements of a wildlife-friendly backyard include nesting areas for birds and small animals and hanging bird feeders to provide the food and water animals need.
Nesting Boxes In order to provide your wildlife with a comfortable and safe place to live, they need to have a safe place to build their nests. Hanging bird nest boxes or building a birdhouse can provide your birds with a safe and comfortable home to live in. But in order to make your wildlife habitat fully functional, you will need to plant a variety of different plants and bushes in your landscape design. One of the best habitats for wildlife is a wetland. In order to ensure that your wetland habitat is fully functional, you will want to plant grasses, shrubs, and a variety of plants in your landscape.
Bird Houses Another key component of successful wildlife habitat is food and water. By providing food and water sources year-round you will give your animals the basic needs they need to survive. For example, by placing bird feeders near birdhouses you are providing the food and water an animal needs to survive and breed. Also placing water fountains near bird feeders is another great way to attract these animals to your yard.
Habitat Removal Another important part of protecting your wildlife from being impacted by human habitat is removing shelter options. For example, if you do not have a very large patch of land where you can develop a shelter, removing shelters, which provide shelter for animals, is one way you can help protect them year-round. By developing a shelter, you will also be adding another element to your landscape design. By developing a shelter, you can also add other features such as water fountains, bird feeders, or any other additional feature that provides comfort, safety, and shelter. While it may be tempting to let your cat go outside and scratch on the cat door, which is an option, you should take steps to create a cat enclosure that provides a safe refuge and a secure place for your feline.
To further assist in creating a wildlife-friendly backyard, adding landscape features, like bird feeders or water features, is also another step you can take. Bird feeders can attract a variety of birds and other wildlife, which helps to sustain a healthy population year-round. In addition, water features can be used to attract a variety of wildlife species, which can help you get a more complete view of the wildlife in your backyard.
