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Do you enjoy observing nature... hearing the songof the chickadee... watching hummingbirds fill upon nectar from trumpet vines... listening to the

chattering of squirrels... seeing the beauty andgrace of a monarch butterfly perched on a

milkweed.... experiencing the antics of a

Mockingbird... the cooing of the Mourning doves...the swiftness of the Cottontail.. and the brilliance

of a Cardinal or Baltimore oriole.

If you enjoy some of theactivities mentioned above,

you’ll probably want tolandscape your property forwildlife so you can experienceeven more from Mother Natureby attracting more wildlife toyour property.

The term "wildlife" meansdifferent things to differentpeople. To a livestock producer,it may mean coyotes. Tosomeone who feeds birds, it maymean Cardinals, Nuthatches,and Hummingbirds. To a birder,it may mean rare species. To agardener, it may meanbutterflies or crows.

To a wildlife biologist theterm wildlife means all livingorganisms out of the directcontrol of man, includingundomesticated or cultivatedplants and animals.

Dr. Thomas Barnes, ExtensionWildlife Specialist, University ofKentucky, suggests that thedefinition also include thehabitat of the species. He saysthat it is impossible tounderstand the ecology of aspecies without having athorough knowledge of ananimal’s diet and how thisdiffers during a year, plus howthe species relates to itshabitat (predators, vegetation,soil, competitors, etc.).

Wildlife doesn’t just randomlyappear in a given area. It isthere because of favorablehabitat. To attract morewildlife, you need to applyspecific wildlife managementpractices. To reach your wildlifemanagement goals, you mustmanipulate the habitat, theanimal population, or managethe people (landowners).

Why LandscapeFor Wildlife

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Wildlife Habitat Triangle

SpaceArrangement

Each must be of good quality, in ample supply, andproperly situated in relation to each other.

To many, the term “wildlifeconservation" is often confusedwith “wildlife preservation."

Conservation is an effort tomaintain and use naturalresources wisely in an attemptto ensure that those resourceswill be available for futuregenerations.

Preservation is a componentor part of conservation in whichnatural systems are left alonewithout human disturbance ormanipulation. But, anundisturbed ecosystem is notalways stable. Natural changesof plants are constantlycreating different habitats fordifferent wildlife species.

Thus, as conditions in thehabitat change, some specieswill have to move on and otherswill move in. Here’s an example:

Wildlife managers usuallywant to:

s Increase a population(adding food and coverplants);

s Decrease a population,(harvesting deer that aredamaging fruit trees); or

s Stabilize a population(making sure wildlife leavingis replaced by wildlife comingin).

Essential Elementsof a Wildlife Habitat

There are four essentialelements needed for survival ina wildlife habitat – food, water,cover, and space for wildlife toraise a family. If you keep theseneeds in mind while creatingyour wildlife habitat plan, yourchances for success areexcellent

Food requirements vary forevery species. It changes asthey age and from one seasonto another. For some, theberries in your garden are ideal.For others, it’s the nectar inflowers, or nuts and acorns,grasses, grain, or seeds.

Water is as important asfood and is critical to survival.

Adding a pond or bird bath willproduce results in a hurry.Perhaps letting your pondoverflow will produce wetlands.

Cover is important forweather protection as well ashiding from predators. It’salso important for nestingand resting. It can be shrubs,native grasses, trees, rock andbrush piles, hollow trees, caves,nesting boxes, and abandonedbuildings.

Space is needed for wildlifeto raise a family. Theyestablish territories and theywill defend it. For example,Bluebird nesting boxes mustbe 300 ft. apart or theBluebirds will fight each other.

Wood ducks and Purplemartins do not defendterritories. Loons want 100acres of lake or wetlands andRuffed grouse need 10 acres.

Basic Concepts of a HabitatBefore fully evaluating a

wildlife habitat, some basicconcepts about habitat andtheir relationship to differentwildlife species needs to beunderstood.

Within a forest ecosystem,how the plants grow indifferent layers is animportant type ofarrangement called verticallayering.

This is important becausesome wildlife species may usethe ground layer(herbaceous) for food, butalso need the tallest layer(tree canopy) for shelter. Themiddle layer is composed ofshrubs.

Cover Water

Food

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While it is not necessary togive up entirely on having a lawn,limiting its size will not onlybenefit wildlife, it will also saveyou time and money.

Mowing, chemical treatments,weeding, and watering are allcostly – both in terms of whatyou pay for them and thenumber of hours that you spenddoing them.

If you choose wildlife-friendlyground covers, you won’t have topoison the environment withchemicals or spend yourweekends mowing.

Native plants require less (orno) pruning, less water, and aremore resistant to disease, thuslessening the need forpesticides.

There is even an entire style ofgardening known as “xeriscaping"which emphasizes the use ofdrought-hardy plants suitablefor areas with limited rainfall.

The place where two or moredifferent plant communities orsuccessional stages meet (suchas where a forest meets an openarea) is called edge.

Sometimes there is an abruptchange between plantcommunities. Other times thereis no sharp or distinctdifference, but only a gradualchange from one plantcommunity to another. Thelatter attracts the mostwildlife.

The function served by plantsand structures is moreimportant than theirappearance. Don’t base yourplanting decisions solely onwhat a plant looks like.

Jonathan Kays, MarylandRegional Extension Specialistfor Natural Resources, says ifthere is one single rule to followin attracting wildlife, it is makeyour landscape as diverse aspossible with many plantspecies.

Then, your habitat is lessvulnerable to insect damage ordiseases that can wipe outsingle species. In ecosystems,diversity means stability andability to withstand change.

If you follow nature’s lead, youwill find that wildlife thriveswhen you landscape using awide variety of plants. Some willbe evergreen or form thicketsfor cover, while others will bevaluable because of the flowersand fruits that they bear.

Planting in “layers" isanother important concept,recognizing the importance ofhaving a descending order oftall trees, medium shrubs, andshorter flowers and bushes.

This will allow for the differentfeeding and nesting habits ofmany species. Become aware ofthe needs of the wildlife speciesin your area.

Fancy double-petaled ruffledblossoms are lovely in thegarden, but butterflies can’taccess the nectar in them, soyou should also provide theflatter, more open blooms thatthey prefer.

Kousa dogwoods are currentfavorites of landscapers andthey are beautiful trees, buttheir berries are too large formost birds to swallow, soinclude some native dogwoodsas well.

Always be careful not to plantinvasive exotic species, such asMultiflora rose and Japanesehoneysuckle, which canoverwhelm native plants and benearly impossible to irradicate.

A term that you will often hearin reference to wildlife habitat is“niche." This refers to theconcept that each individualspecies in a community has itsown role within that community.

For instance, it is the“occupation" of woodpeckers toeat insects under tree bark andto excavate holes in tree trunks,while beavers can be expected tocut down trees and createdams. Those are examples ofspecies which are fairlyspecialized.

Other creatures could becalled “generalists" and they willtend to be more in competitionwith one another. For example,raccoons, foxes, and othermedium-size omnivores all seekthe same fruits and smallmammals for food, but thevariety of their food sources letsthem compete successfully.

In terms of conservation, thisconcept is important becausemajor habitat changes can bevery destructive to specializedspecies, while having less impacton those which depend on awider choice of elements.

If there is a single patch ofwildflowers upon whichhummingbirds are dependent fornectar and it is eliminated, thehummingbirds will have torelocate.

Other birds may also be eatinginsects attracted by thosesame flowers, but they can find

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other insects if the flowersdisappear.

Wildlife population can bedefined as the number ofindividuals of a given speciesliving within a defined areaduring a specified time.Population density refers tothe number of theseindividuals living within a unitof land area.

Some creatures, such asblack bear, require a very lowdensity in order to meet theirfood needs, while others, likesquirrels, can exist with manyindividuals per acre.

The “carrying capacity" of anarea refers to the maximumnumber of a given species thatthe area can sustain over anextended period of time. Thiscarrying capacity can vary dueto changes in climate, foodproduction, and so on.

Without human interference,wildlife populations regulatethemselves as the carryingcapacity fluctuates.

Wildlife needs extendthrough all four seasons ofthe year so be sure and plant avariety of trees, shrubs, andflowers that address theirneeds. For example, Crabappletrees provide fruits in thewinter and spring. Cherry treesproduce fruit in summer. And,Hickory trees produce nuts inthe fall.

Food, water, and cover needto be arranged close togetherto produce optimum results.This cuts down on mortalityfrom predators when wildlifemove from one habitat elementto another. Connecting

elements with a corridor ofgood cover is important.

Following are even morecompelling reasons tolandscape for wildlife:

s EconomicYou can increase yourproperty value. Studiesshow that if you have apleasing landscape, you canreceive up to 20 percentmore for your propertywhen you sell. This is alsotrue if the property backsup to a park or other “greenspace." And, if you have lessyard, you’ll save money onmowing, fertilizing, andwatering.

s Energy ConservationIf your deciduous treesshade in summer orconifors block the winterwinds from your house, itwill take less energy andless cost to cool and heatit. Plus, you will be providingwildlife with food, cover, andspace to raise young.

In the fall, after the treesdrop their leaves, the sunwill shine through, providingpassive solar heat.

s Soil ConservationYou don’t have to be afarmer to realize theimportance of conservingthe soil. Everything yougrow in your habitatdepends on the soil. Themore fertile it is, the betteryour landscape plants willgrow.

If you landscape with nativeprairie or meadow plants,you will improve the soilbecause their root systems

can penetrate even tough,compacted, clay soil.

By loosening the soilparticles, water soaks intothe soil rather than runningoff. Native legumes will addnitrogen to the soil, reducingthe need for artificialfertilizers.

s Natural BeautyPlants highly regarded fortheir beauty can also beexcellent for wildlife. Forexample, conifers maintaintheir color year-round andprovide good winter cover andnesting places in thesummer.

A wildflower meadow withnative grasses is not onlybeautiful to the eye, it is asource of nectar, seeds,insects, and cover for amultitude of wildlife.

The same is true of fruitproducing trees and shrubssuch as Hickory, Crabapple,Cherry, and Walnut trees;and shrubs such as Highbushblueberry, Cranberry, andAmerican elderberry.

s Natural Insect ControlBats feed upon small flyinginsects, such as mosquitoes,moths, and beetles. A batcan consume one-half itsweight in insects every night.

Also, birds such as Purplemartins and Tree swallows,consume large numbers ofinsects that can be harmfulto trees, plants, and people.

Even earthworms androdents help by turning overthe soil and recyclingnutrients.

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s EcosystemEach species performs aspecific role in theecosystem that directlybenefits other living things,including people.

A good example is thatsquirrels help forestscontinue to grow. Thesquirrels bury acorns forfood but fail to dig all ofthem up, so the acornsprouts and produces a newoak tree.

Other birds and animalsscatter seeds throughoutthe landscape. Blue jays areespecially important in longdistance dispersal ofacorns and beechnuts. Theycarry them to distantlocations and bury the nutsin soft earth or underleaves.

A Virginia study showsthat 50 blue jaystransported 150,000acorns in one month. Someof the acorns were retrievedby the jays and eaten laterin the year. But, many wereleft to regenerate theforest!

s Lawn MaintenanceOne unfortunate carry-overfrom our Europeanancestors is our love-affairwith lawns.

England, in particular, hasmarvelous expanses ofgreen grass which we in thiscountry have tried, withvarying degrees of success,to copy.

Unfortunately, we neglectedto take into account thefact that those English

lawns were frequentlymaintained by crews of hiredgardeners, and that theirlush green color was due inlarge part to the damp,temperate climate.

Lawns in this country arenot only non-beneficial forwildlife, they can even beharmful. We use hugequantities of water to keepgrass green – even in areaswhere the water supply islimited – and we spray itwith all sorts of chemicalswhich are toxic to wildlife.

These poisons graduallyenter the water table andwash into the watershed, sothat all wildlife, includinghumans, is eventuallyaffected.

In addition, lawns displaceplants which could otherwiseprovide food and cover for avariety of wildlife.

Songbirds don’t even like tofly over large expanses ofshort grass because theyare so vulnerable topredators, and instead willmake shorter flights fromtrees to shrubs or otherplants around the perimeterof a large lawn.

s Food ProductionHumans and wildlife wouldboth agree that fresh,local food is preferred.

When planting a garden,plant enough to sharewith others, rather thandepending on pesticidesand other deterrentswhich make the gardeningexperience less pleasantand less healthful for you,too.

For instance, bronze fennellooks lovely in the herbgarden, and also providesa host plant forswallowtail caterpillars.

If you plant fruiting shrubsand provide a watersource, you will attractbirds and toads which willthank you by eating manyof the non-beneficial bugsin your garden.

s Pollution Control andClimate ModerationWhen planning yourlandscape, think about allthe ways (including shadeand windbreak mentionedearlier) in which yourchoices can help youmoderate your ownmicroclimate.

The young and growing minds of children will thrive in yourwildlife habitat. They will experience the natural world and

learn from it.

Do your landscaping for wildlife as a family project. Letthe children help plant and take care of trees, shrubs,

and flowers. Show them the eggs and nests of birds andbaby rabbits and let them fill bird feeders.

Think of your landscaping as nature’s classroom andyour kids and their friends as students .

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Hedgerows can change windpatterns and make it possibleto plant in otherwiseunsuitable areas, or you mightuse a row of evergreens toblock the noise from a nearbyroad.

Plants of all kinds will purifythe air by removing carbondioxide and other pollutantsand releasing oxygen. Certainplants (legumes) can alsoenrich and aerate the soil,helping other things to growwithout the need for fertilizeror soil enhancers.

s BiodiversityThoughtful landscaping canhelp to maintain thebiodiversity of a given area.This applies to genetics, tospecies, to communities, andto ecosystems.

By offering many kinds ofplants, you are ensuring thata wide range of wildlife canthrive.

If the plants you choose arenative species, you are alsoprotecting genetic diversity bymaking sure that theseplants continue to reproducedespite the encroachment ofmany alien species.

s Photography andWildlife WatchingAnyone who enjoysphotography will be delightedwith the variety of wildlifethat will be attracted whenyou landscape naturally.

With careful planning, you canbring many species withineasy reach of your lens. Birdnesting boxes, fruiting plants,nectar flowers, and watersources can all be placedwhere they are easily seenfrom a favorite window.

A wildflower meadow willattract many kinds of birdsand butterflies, while even asmall pond or wetland areawill bring in many creatures,from frogs to raccoons.Variety in your landscaping willmean variety in your photos,sketches, or what you seethrough your binoculars.

Involving children in your planswill make them more aware ofnature and will educate themabout the needs andpreferences of differentspecies. If there is someone inyour family with a disability,landscape plans can ensurethat nature is close enoughto see without being able towalk, or to hear, smell andtouch without needing sight.

Communication WithNeighbors Is Key To Success

You need to have realisticexpectations when landscapingfor wildlife. This type oflandscaping is not entirelywithout problems. The first thatyou may encounter is resistancefrom your neighbors.

It is often helpful if you letthem know in advance what youare planning to do, and why youfeel that it is important. Beinformed about the plants youwant to grow and the wildlife youhope to attract.

Sometimes you will have topolitely educate them. Forinstance, it is a common beliefthat tall grasses bring in rats,while in reality rodents areattracted by food that is leftopen and unattended, perhapsfor household pets.

If you want to leave a portionof your yard unmowed, add abench, bird bath, fence, or other

feature to make it look like anintentional part of your gardenrather than just an oversight.

As your neighbors show someinterest in the many species ofwildlife that your yard isattracting, give them tips onhow to get the same results ontheir own property.

Eventually you might be ableto get enough people interestedto create a “wildlife corridor"where each yard provides coverand perhaps other elementsnecessary for wildife.

You may have a hedgerowthat provides cover and greatflowers for nectar, another yardmay include a pond, and stillanother neighbor may beinterested in growing fruitingshrubs for food.

In summary, there are manyreasons why you shouldlandscape for wildlife. Only youcan decide which reasons fityour situation.

This article was written byThomas D. Patrick, President,

WindStar Wildlife Institute, andMaryland Master Wildlife Habitat

Naturalist Cathy Gilleland.

For more information or for thename of a Master Wildlife Habitat

Naturalist in your area, pleasecontact:

WindStar Wildlife Institute

E-mail: wildlife@windstar.orghttp://www.windstar.org

WindStar Wildlife Institute is anational, non-profit, conservationorganization whose mission is to

help individuals and familiesestablish or improve the wildlife

habitat on their properties.