In my last post, I discussed the impact that humans can have on wildlife. Many people are unaware of the consequences their actions have on wildlife. However, you can play an active role in reversing some of these damages and help wildlife thrive. There are many things that you can do to help the wildlife around you. I would like to talk to you this week about creating a wildlife-friendly backyard. With some changes, you can ensure that your yard provides a safe haven for animals. Even urban environments can benefit from wildlife-friendly landscaping; in fact, urban areas are possibly the most important, as wildlife will have a hard time finding adequate shelter and food. In fact, Dallas is right in the center of Texas’s migratory bird funnel, meaning it is the path for a diverse range of unusual species (Jackson, 2013). Even in the heart of the city, Dallas is teeming with unseen wildlife, from small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Whether you have a large amount of land, or a small windowsill garden, inviting wildlife into your garden not only can give them a safe, comfortable place to survive, but can also be beneficial to you as well. For instance, bats and birds can help keep mosquitoes and other insects under control, as a single bat can eat about 1200 mosquitoes per hour (Mies, 2001). Not to mention, you may find joy in simply observing your new wild neighbors.
There are a few things to consider before inviting wildlife into your garden. First off, will attracting wildlife expose them to other danger? If you have outdoor cats, for instance, you may not want to install a birdfeeder. Or if your home is very close to a busy road, you may not want to give animals reason to be crossing it frequently. Another consideration is that often by trying to attract certain kinds of wildlife, it is possible you may end up with an unexpected type of visitor, which you should be prepared for. Some animals, such as bobcats and coyotes, can potentially be dangerous to encounter (Jackson, 2007). For example, you may find that instead of sparrows, there is a snake living in your birdhouse, or that your feeders attract raccoons at night. Another thing to consider is that certain things, such as providing food and water, animals will start to rely on. If you choose to make these resources accessible, you need to ensure that you continue to so that you do not end up making them dependent on something that gets taken away. It is important to make smart choices when it comes to wildlife, and sometime the best solution, rather than attracting animals, is keeping them safely away and ensuring you minimize potential for harm. I will discuss more on this in a few minutes.
But, for now lets assume that you want to attract wildlife to your yard. The basic needs are food, water, cover, and nesting. You will need your garden to have sufficient shelters and escape routes for animals to stay safe from predators (“Gardening Tips”). One way to do this is to plan native trees, shrubs, and grasses. Not only will these plants create habitats for wildlife, but native species will typically be fairly low maintenance to care for. They will be less susceptible to disease and have lower water demands. You will want to create a good variety of shrubs, canopy, and ground cover in order to create habitats for a variety of animals. Not only that, but the seeds, nuts, nectar, sap, and berries from many of these native plants should suffice to provide food to many of the animals inhabiting your yard. It is not encouraged to leave out large amounts of food for wildlife, as they can become dependent on the handouts and it can cause issues with your neighbors. That said though, these plants should help meet some of their food needs through natural, native sources.
In addition to native plants for shelter, you may want to provide some artificial shelters. This can require some research depending on what species you are trying to attract. One easy and beneficial type of shelter, as I alluded to before, is a bat shelter. Bats play a critical role in controlling insects and pollinating flowers, but sadly, about 40% of bar populations are in danger of going extinct. Bats suffer greatly from loss of natural habitats, and have difficulty recovering due to their slow reproduction rates. If you want to help provide shelter for bats, you can start by leaving any dead trees in your yard as long as they are not a hazard. Bats love to nest in the layers between bark and the trunk of a tree. Alternatively, bat shelters are very simple to create. You can construct a bat house from cedar or plywood. They should be about 2 feet tall, but relatively flat, to emulate the separation between the bark of a tree and its trunk (Mies, 2001). The inside should be lined with grooves for the bats to latch on to and caulk should be used to seal the edges for warmth. For more details, BatConservation.org has a fantastic video showing you how to build one.
Like I mentioned earlier, though, there are sometimes situations where it is not appropriate to necessarily attract wildlife. You can still, however, make certain that your yard is not doing them harm. First, use only non-toxic products in your yard. Often, pesticides and weed killers have more negative impact on bats, birds, and bees than the benefit you gain from killing the bugs. Keep trash and compost secured to prevent animals from getting into it. In addition, be aware of litter and pick up any refuse that you find that could harm wildlife. You should close off all chimneys, vents, and spaces under your house. Often, animals will enter these to find shelter and will either get trapped or cause damage to your property. For birds, one of the most important things that you can do is keep your windows either covered by blinds or curtains, or leave them slightly dirty. Many of us have all seen the Windex commercial with the crows hitting the glass, but the sad truth is this is a leading cause of death for birds.
Whether you are looking to attract wildlife into your backyard safe haven, or simply wanting to prevent conflict with them, your actions can have a huge impact on the wild animals in urban and suburban environments. Taking steps to live harmoniously with wildlife can be rewarding and beneficial. However, always remember that even in your backyard, wildlife still belongs in the wild. You can do your part to help them, but you should never attempt to keep or raise wildlife yourself. If you think an animal needs help, contact a rehabilitator. However, you can still enjoy their company in your eco-friendly backyard.
Build Your Own Bat House. (2012, January 24). Retrieved March 12, 2015, from http://www.batconservation.org/bat-houses/build-your-own-bat-house
Gardening Tips. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2015, from http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips.aspx
Jackson, C., & Salinas, N. (2013). Introduction. In In Your Backyard: Discovering Urban Wildlife. Dallas, Texas: House & Home. Retrieved From https://books.google.com/books?id=MmKRBQAAQBAJ&pg=PP12&lpg=PP12&dq=dallas+landscaping+for+wildlife&source=bl&ots=y1BsdxRRYk&sig=NYkEIBDRfp2yMoyvwaPvz581zE8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_TwzVf2OIMzOgwSC6YC4BQ&ved=0CGwQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=dallas%20landscaping%20for%20wildlife&f=false
Jackson, M. (2007, March 1). Managing Urban Wildlife Becoming Critical in Growing Cities, Suburbs. Retrieved March 10, 2015, from http://www.nhnct.org/pdf_files/Urban_Wildlife_and_People.pdf
Mies, R. (2001, August 1). Control Insects By Bolstering Your Bat Habitat. Retrieved March 10, 2015, from http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/control-insects-bat-habitat.aspx?PageId=1
Reese, B. (n.d.). Natural Beauties: A guide to native and adapted drought-tolerant plants that thrive in Dallas with minimal watering. Retrieved March 10, 2015, from https://savedallaswater.com/pdf/naturalbeauties_eng.pdf
Impacting Wildlife 