By Caroline Grass
November 10, 2023
A Swallowtail butterfly rests on the trellis in my family's backyard in Virginia (Photo by Caroline Grass).
The National Wildlife Federation writes that habitat loss is the primary threat to wildlife in the United States. Habitat destruction, degradation and fragmentation due to development harms plants and animals, so making our yards as friendly as possible for these creatures is one way to make a positive impact on the environment. Even if you don't have a huge yard or area to work with, small green spaces are also important and even just putting up a bird feeder can help out animals.
Here are some tips to make your green space more wildlife-friendly.
1. Plant native plants
If you are looking to adds plants to your yard, planting natives will offer food and habitat for wildlife and require less work to maintain as these plants are adapted to the weather and soil conditions where you live There are tons of resources for finding what plants are native to your area.
The New York Department of Conservation has a native plant document and the New York office of the National Audubon Society has a great guide and database for information about planting natives.
2. Eliminate or reduce pesticide and herbicide use
While pesticides can be useful for food production by controlling weeds and pests, they also can kill insects and run off into local waterways. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 1 billion pounds of conventional pesticides are used each year in the country and research shows that of the 30 most commonly used pesticides in yards, 16 are toxic to birds, 24 are toxic to fish and aquatic organisms and 11 are deadly to bees.
Using boiling water, table salt or vinegar on weeds are pesticide-free options. Additional options can be found here. Also, the fall is the best time to apply fertilizer to your lawn if it is needed. Applying fertilizer on frozen ground is more likely to run off your property.
3. Leave the leaves!
While you might feel that fallen leaves don't look the best on your property, leaving the leaves on the ground is helpful for animals! Many insects overwinter and rely on fallen leaves for cover and insulation.
Raking or blowing leaves can destroy critical habitat. An upside to leaving the leaves is that they will provide the same benefits as mulch. Leaves help build healthy soil and fallen leaves can help suppress weeds and retain moisture in the same way mulch does.
4. Provide food and water
Adding a bird feeder or water vessel can help migrating birds and other animals stopping by your yard. Water features can be as simple as a dish of water or bird bath or as complex as a pond, rain garden or natural swimming pool. Additionally, bird and bat houses can be bought or made to provide shelter. (Fun fact: a single bat can eat between 500 -1,000 mosquitoes in a night!)
5. Reduce runoff
Storm water runoff is water that isn't absorbed into the ground and carries harmful pollutants with it. Planting a rain garden and/or installing a rain barrel to capture rain are two options to help reduce runoff from your property. Also, reducing the amount of impervious surfaces by using porous materials for driveways and paths like pavers or gravel instead of asphalt or concrete will help reduce runoff.
Making any of these changes can positively impact the environment for pollinators and other wildlife where you live. Also, by creating a wildlife-friendly yard, you'll be more likely to see cool creatures just like Bandit, my family's dog, who is investigating an Eastern box turtle in our yard pictured below!
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