You can support local wildlife with your own backyard! There are four main elements wildlife need to survive:

  • Food

  • Cover

  • Water

  • Places to raise young

Many of these elements can be provided with native plants. Native plants are uniquely adapted to our climate and have co-evolved with local wildlife for millions of years. Local wildlife may utilize different “layers” of your outdoor space. If you’re able to include trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, those layers will benefit different types of birds, pollinators, and amphibians. For example, Western sword fern provides cover for frogs and salamanders.  

One of the goals of this program is to connect green spaces throughout our region to create habitat corridors for wildlife to travel safely.  Doing so in urban environments is critical for the health of our ecosystems, wildlife, and us! 

Building Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard

Illustration by SCD Lead Designer Emma Kilgore

The flash of color in a butterfly’s wing. The notes of a songbird in the morning. The call of a chorus frog in the night. Nature is all around us, but our connection to it can be easily lost in the noise of everyday life. Luckily, you can create your own backyard habitat for wildlife year-round, and you don’t need a large space to do it!

The Importance of Under Canopy

The four main elements of healthy wildlife habitat are food, water, cover, and nesting sites. There’s a fifth element that is crucial in tying it all together: vertical space. Think about it– owls, frogs, and hummingbirds can all be found in the same space, but they won’t use it the same way. Instead, there’s a very particular section of vertical space that each kind of animal will inhabit. In order to attract wildlife to your property, a good rule of thumb is to plant a mix of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers.

Keep it Simple and Natural

According to Smithsonian Magazine, at least 70% of native vegetation around your home can sustain wildlife enough to successfully rear their young. Overall, having a diversity of native plants will increase the variety of wildlife on your property. Even small acts of keeping snags and downed stumps, leaving the leaves, and installing rockeries and other types of structures can all provide critical cover and food resources for wildlife. Keep in mind that any pesticides used on your property can negatively impact the health of local wildlife—especially amphibians and pollinators.

More Resources

Woodworking Projects for Backyard Wildlife

Learn about our local wildlife, how to attract wildlife to your yard, as well as how to prevent conflicts with animals such as deer and raccoons. Check it out for winter project ideas!

Planting for the Birds

What is the easiest way to attract birds? Put a feeder out and hope they will show up? Yes, that does attract birds. Imagine, though, what would happen if you planted trees and shrubs specifically for the birds? 

Backyard Ponds

An enticing habitat for birds and amphibians will include many different insects. Creating a pond for dragonflies will attract insects you might not otherwise attract to your yard.