Habitat 101

To increase diversity and the richness of life in your outdoor space, thinking like one of the wildlife creatures you hope to attract is the first step. Wandering critters are perpetually on the look out for three important things - food, shelter and water.

Food sources come in many forms and you can be sure that they are the first priority on the minds of our wildlife friends. Check your outdoor space for berry bushes, nut producing trees and nectar rich flowers. If there are specific creatures you would like to attract, do a bit of research to find out what their favorite food sources are. For example orioles can't resist fresh oranges or grape jelly and hummingbirds love a mixture of sugar and water set out in a hummingbird feeder.

Water is another top priority for nearly all wildlife and assessing naturally occurring water sources in your area is a great place to start. Are you in close vicinity to a pond or lake? Are there vernal pools that occur seasonally in close proximity to your home? If you have assessed your area and have found no naturally occurring water, setting out a bird bath that you periodically rinse and refill is a great way to attract birds and insects. You may even see a squirrel or chipmunk taking a drink! Standing water in a bucket or rain barrel however, can be a breading ground for mosquitoes and should be avoided.

Lastly, every creature needs a place to call home or ride out a storm. Assessing your property for shelter requires looking at it in a whole new light. That brush pile you have been meaning to move could be home to a family of field mice or could provide shelter to any number of creatures in inclement weather. Your stone wall could hide a chipmunk den and that fallen log that has been rotting away for years could house and feed salamanders, beetles, worms and a host of other life adding a hidden richness to your outdoor space.

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