How to Support Your Backyard Wildlife

Watching the chipmunks and squirrels forage for food can be very entertaining. However, sometimes they get too desperate and start digging up your flower bulbs and rummaging through your potted plants too. It can be beneficial to provide your backyard critters with an easy meal every once in awhile, and it can bring your woods to life with colorful and rarely seen birds.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bird Seed
• Corn
• Wood scraps
• Nails
• Hand drill
• Internet

1. If you live near the woods, it is common for insects like spiders and ants to invade your home when the weather gets cold so build a bat house. Bats can decrease your chances of having unwanted insects in your home.

2. Try building a few birdhouses with wood scraps or purchase a more attractive one for your yard.

3. To designate a separate space for the squirrels (often they feed on the bird seed too), build or purchase wooden chair for the squirrels that you can nail to trees. The wooden chair should have a long nail in front of it, so you can stick a raw cob of corn on it.

4. Use a pair of binoculars to observe your new backyard friends. Make it your new hobby to identify the different species of birds.

5. Plant more trees, flowers and shrubs, which can provide new homes for some of the animals.

Tips & Warnings

• In order to prevent a flock of birds from taking over your yard and aggressive squirrels, limit the amount of time you spread birdseed.