Wildlife Gardening
Our focus in education for this year's National Wildlife Week (April 4th-10th, 2010) and for this spring is "Wildlife Gardening": the eco-friendly practice of gardening and planting native trees, shrubs, flowers, water plants, and more for the benefit of wildlife. This focus fits within our theme of "In Your Own Backyard" as we teach people about the great ways they can invite wildlife into their backyards and the benefits of having birds, bees, butterflies, insects, bats, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians in their gardens. Most of the information you will find in this section is from the Canadian Wildlife Federation's "Wild About Gardening" website. By planting food sources, building homes, providing fresh water, and keeping pets and children at a safe distance, you can help create a great space for wildlife!
An important part of wildlife gardening is thinking about the role that pollinators play in our ecosystems. Pollinators help spread seeds and pollen from one plant to the next as they feed on nectar, seeds, and insects. Pollinator insects (butterflies, bees, beetles), birds (hummingbirds), and mammals (bats) help over 90% of the seed-producing plant species in the world to reproduce. Without pollination, entire ecosystems would collapse and we would run out of food, medicine, wood products, and many of the items we need to survive. These busy creatures are in trouble due to habitat loss and non-native parasites and diseases. Wildlife gardening helps you to create food and habitat for pollinators in your backyard, resulting in positive change for wildlife.
Another part of wildlife gardening is building "habitats" for wildlife. The Canadian Wildlife Federation has some excellent resources on creating habitats for birds, bees, squirrels, snakes, toads, and much more. Below are some links to their website on how to create different habitats for different species of animals in your backyard:
Keep in mind that chemical pesticides and fertilizers are harmful to wildlife and if you use these in your garden, you can seriously damage your backyard ecosystem. There are hundreds of ways to avoid using chemical pesticides and fertilizers and achieve the same results using natural methods. You will have to maintain your garden regularly to ensure that it remains a healthy environment. Visit the "Garden Care" site by the Canadian Wildlife Federation for healthy ways to maintain your garden.
Below are some other great resources for you to learn more about wildlife gardening:
