Does your yard serve as wildlife habitat?

What features do you have that make it attractive to wildlife, and which kinds come to visit or live there? Is it a work-in-progress or are you able to sit back and enjoy the show?



I've got white-crowned sparrows, mourning doves, an Anna's hummingbird and the resident squirrel in my backyard right now. And "spider season" seems to have kicked in; if you go outside at night you might encounter a web or two in the making!



Mine is a mostly-finished work-in-progress. Fall is planting time in SoCal, and I want to find a spot to put in some deer grass so I can learn native basketmaking next spring!

Does your yard serve as wildlife habitat?
Amy... my kind of person. I have indigenized my garden, specifically, to attract fauna . Many of my plants are endemics selected for Mother Nature's offspring (my property borders onto a nature reserve). I am honored to receive such visitors as bushbuck, ipiti, monkeys, porcupines, otters, mongoose, a variety of snakes, birds (from crowned eagles to hadedas) and even a large monitor lizard (freaks the dogs out) that lives down near the river.



Don't know about you but I take great delight in studying all visitors and try to make provision when planting to cater for all needs. To make access easier I ripped out all fencing except for a small portion around my house to keep my dogs from scaring the smaller creatures off. I do not use pesticides at all. I feed the birds on raised feeders to discourage the vervet monkeys. You have to see the bun fight when the monkeys come ... the drongos and toppies attack them from above.. it is so funny. I ignore the moles and mole rats.. they were there first so they have carte blanche to do as they please.



My garden comprises of three distinct biomes: riverine forest, grassland and a landscaped area that is used to show people what can be done with indigenous plants. Agree with you on the work-in-progress thing. I started my garden from scratch 23 years ago and am not finished with it yet ... never will be finished as I learn new tricks all the time.
Reply:I'm in Michigan and about 1/2 acre of the front yard is 'wild'. I have mowed some walking paths through it for fun (the deer use the paths!) but other than that I really let it do it's thing. Wild flowers and so-called weeds can be beautiful! I've got lots of birds, bugs, deer, squirrels, rabbits, and even see a fox every now and again. In the spring when the lightening bugs are out, the show is fantastic!
Reply:yes - some of the more interesting critters

1- Dear

2-Groundhogs

3-Wild turkey

4-Box turtles

5-Raccoons

6-Opossums

7-Chipmunks

8-Garden,Black,Worm,Rattle,Corn Snakes

9-We feed the birds so lots - A woodcock was here this spring. First one Ive seen - Ruby throutted Humming birds

10-Squirrels

11-Rabbits

12- occasional dumped Cat or Dog

13-Coyote Haven't seen one for a few years

We have woods,over grown Field going back to woods,Black Rasberry,Red Rasberry ,wild Grape.Walnut and Pecan trees.

Fresh water near by. Last year we had a flock of Gennie's
Reply:my Jersey one did

lots of hawks, squirrles. birds and bugs.

so yest
Reply:Yes. I didn't plan it on purposely, but the birds and squirrels are hanging out in my yard all the time. I got Salvias and Crocosmia and Humming bird loved them. I got Lavenders and Russian Sage and Bees went crazy. I got Sunflowers and both small birds and squirrels appreciate the seeds(or whole flower). I don't usually spray on my plants, just because it hurts my throat, but the birds and bees/wasps clean the bugs, such as Aphids.
Reply:yes it does I have several bird houses and feeders and bushes and smaller trees and a bird bath which most of the birds use for water . they love it and have a ton of squirrels as well . I live in florida . good luck .