Turn your yard into a Certified Wildlife habitat by providing a space where birds, butterflies, insects and amphibians can flourish. One of the biggest challenges to wildlife is the loss of places for them to live and it is essential to the overall health of our environment that we maintain the health of local pollinators. It is estimated that in the last decade 90% of the population of Monarch Butterfly, a chief pollinator, has decreased.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has created a program to encourage people to build a wildlife habitat where they live. NWF provides homeowners with a detailed checklist of the requirements to have your backyard certified as a Wildlife Habitat.
It’s an easy process to create a wildlife habitat and you don’t need a lot of space. Even balcony gardens can meet the requirements. Here are the five essentials:
FOOD: Your habitat needs three types of plants or supplemental feeders
WATER: Your habitat needs to provide clean water for wildlife to drink and bathe
COVER: Wildlife needs at least two places to find shelter from the weather and predators
PLACES TO RAISE YOUNG: You need at least two places for wildlife to engage in courtship behavior, mate, and bear and raise their young
In addition you will need to use at least two sustainable practices in the care and maintenance of your space.
There is a $20 application fee and once your application is approved you will receive a sign to display in your yard. You can find a detailed listing of requirements and apply online at https://www.nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat