How to Turn Your Yard Into a Wildlife Habitat

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The National Wildlife Federation administers the Backyard Wildlife Habitat program, which is designed to encourage home owners to create landscapes friendly to both wildlife and the environment. The four elements necessary for a Backyard Wildlife Habitat are food sources, water, cover and places to raise young.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Shovels
Shrubs
Trees
Food

Step1

Buy a Backyard Wildlife Habitat information kit at a Wild Birds Unlimited store, or order from the National Wildlife Federation's Web site.

Step2

Survey your property to see which of the four habitat elements listed above are already present.

Step3

Follow the National Wildlife Federation's suggestions for enhancing your habitat, if needed.

Step4

Apply for certification when you feel your yard qualifies as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by filling out a two-page questionnaire and including a rough landscape diagram of your yard and a $15 program enrollment fee.

Step5

Expect that a certificate designating your property as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat will be sent to you within eight weeks if your application is accepted.

Tips & Warnings

The National Wildlife Federation also helps schools, businesses and community groups create wildlife-friendly habitats.
Backyard Wildlife Habitats attract insects, mammals, reptiles, fish, snakes and amphibians as well as birds.
Discuss your wildlife habitat plans with neighbors, who may not be in favor of a yard that attracts so many creatures to the neighborhood.
Adding trees, shrubs and other improvements to your landscaping can be expensive.

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Comments

kcwriter said

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on 8/15/2007 My backyard is certified by the NWF. I found that I already had some elements with a tree line. Then I simply added some bird baths, native plants to my yard gradually (they can be expensive), and a brush pile. Viola! Nice article.

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