Page 1 A Plant's Home© WindStar Wildlife Institute

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Talk to anyone involved in the improvement ofwildlife habitat and you will hear four words –

food, water, cover, and space.

These are the four essentials for wildlife.Without them you can have the best intentions inthe world, but you won’t attract a wide variety of

species to your property.

Food & WaterEssential Elements

of a Wildlife Habitat

W ildlife doesn’t just randomlyoccur in a given area; it is

there in response to habitatwhich meets its needs. Asbeautiful as humans may find ahouse surrounded by acres ofemerald-green mowed lawn, sucha scene offers neither food norshelter for local species.

If you want wildlife to be partof your environment, you have todo some planning to includesuitable habitat in yourlandscape.

Food for WildlifeThe first essential that we

tend to think about is food.Indeed, one of the most popularnature activities in this countryis bird feeding. What we mayforget, however, is that thereare many species of birds, agreat number of which are notseed-eaters and will never visitour feeders, but all of whichneed food throughout the year.

The same is true of otherwildlife, and this can give us thebasis of our landscape planning.It also means that we need toreconsider our attitudestowards yard maintenance.

Insecticides can kill foodsources and poison many of thespecies that we want toattract, so its use needs to becurtailed.

Choosing native plants andlimiting lawn areas will helplessen dependence onpesticides and herbicides. Whilewe view weeds and wild vines asnuisance plants, wildlife seesthem as valuable sources offood and shelter, so we shouldlook for areas where they can beleft to grow.

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Instead of constantlygrooming our yards, leavingperennial seed heads in placefor winter food, allowing deadtrees and logs to remain forboth food and shelter, andrefraining from raking updropped nuts and fruits are allchanges that will attract avariety of wildlife to ourproperty – and save us money,time, and effort as well.

Variety is BestWhen choosing plants for

wildlife food, think in terms ofvariety, both of the type of foodoffered and the season in whichit will be available. Considerberries, other kinds of fruit,tender buds and bark, nuts, pinecones, crops such as corn orsunflowers, seed-producinggrasses, flowers high in nectar,and host plants for caterpillars.

If you have a pond, a numberof wetland plants also haveexcellent food value. Wheneverpossible, incorporate nativeplants into your property since

these have evolved with thewildlife to best meet its needs.

Some introduced plants anddeveloped cultivars also have alot to offer wildlife, but try notto add any exotic flora to yourlandscape that is known to beinvasive to the point ofoverpowering local nativespecies.

If the size of your property orother factors make it hard toincrease the variety of plants,consider adding wildlife feeders.Most of us are familiar with themany bird feeders now on themarket, some even designed forspecific types of seed, but thereare feeders for other creaturesas well.

Suet feeders appeal to insect-eating birds, corn feeders canhelp deer and pheasants surviveheavy winters. There are nectarfeeders designed to attractboth hummingbirds andbutterflies, and squirrels enjoydried ears of corn on spikefeeders.

In addition to food, you mightwant to offer supplements suchas grit or gravel to aid birdswith digestion, crushedeggshells to add calcium duringegg production, and salt whichis necessary for many species.A little research into the wildlifein your area and its preferredfood should give you a numberof ideas on what to provide andhow to present it.

Water for WildlifeWater, as we all know, is vital

for all living things. Many of ussupply bird baths in thesummer, but we tend to forgetabout other times, especiallyduring the winter. Just as wemake sure that our householdpets have fresh water all yeararound, so do wildlife speciesneed a dependable source ofwater, especially when coldtemperatures eliminate theirnormal drinking locations.

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It takes a little more effortto supply water whentemperatures dip belowfreezing, but the rewards aregreat as you watch wildlife –including species that youwon’t see at feeders – takeadvantage of a chance todrink and bathe.

Water can be provided in avariety of ways, but as youplan your habitat keep in mindthat moving water – whetherflowing or dripping – is themost attractive to wildlife.

Also, think about location.Bird baths need to be locatedat least 15 feet from shrubsthat might hide cats, yetclose enough to taller trees toallow escape from hawks.

Other animals may enjoy amore sheltered spot to drink,but most want to have a clearview of any approachingpredators.

Dew on grass and leaves cansupply some water for rabbitsand other rodents, while

berries and other fruit are highin moisture content, so try tocreate safe feeding areaswhere these are available.

Sand Pile for ButterfliesButterflies and other insects

will be attracted to a shallowcontainer of wet sand placedon the ground. However it ispresented, water needs to befresh, clean, plentiful, anddependable.

There are many commercialmodels of bird baths available,but a trash can lid partiallysunk in the ground can alsowork, as can hollowed-outstone or concrete forms.

When the water is at ground-level, having a dripping hose ora bucket with a small hole in itsuspended above the bath willattract more visitors.

The sides of a bird bath needto be rough and slope gently toa water depth of not more thanthree inches. This will preventslipping or drowning.

Diagram of a small pond

Keep Water From FreezingFor the winter, commercial

bird bath heaters are availablewhich draw very little electricityand will ensure a supply of openwater all season.

A landscaped bird bath orfountain can become the focalpoint of your property. If youare feeling more ambitious, asmall waterfall will add thesoothing sound of moving water.

If your property has a pond orstream on it, you will probablyalready be attracting wildlife.

If water doesn’t occurnaturally, it is easier than everto create a pond using themany kits and instructionbooks now available.

A small pond only needs to beone or two feet deep and eightto ten feet across, lined witheither plastic or concrete. Soilin the pond will allow you to addwater plants, and moisture-

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This article was written byMaryland 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.

loving species can be plantedaround the edges.

Ledges create different waterdepths, while logs and partiallysubmerged rocks offer safeperches for small mammals.

The pond should be locatedwhere it can receive four to fivehours of sunlight a day, and arecirculating pump will keep thewater fresh and moving.

There are also devices tocreate waterfalls or sprays ofmist. Placing the pond withinreach of your garden hose willenable you to fill it duringperiods of limited rainfall.

What Species Do You Want.Think about the wildlife you

want to attract. Including fishwill cut down on the number ofamphibians, since they eat theeggs of creatures like frogs andsalamanders, but will increasethe attractiveness for birdssuch as kingfishers and herons.

If you have a large property,talk to your local ExtensionService or state Department ofNatural Resources forinformation about constructinga bigger pond or a marshy area.These will attract many wildlifespecies including larger birds,ducks, raccoons, and muskrats.

Restoring wetlands isinvaluable for the environment,and will offer you wonderfulopportunities for watchingwildlife.

Moisture-loving plants includecattails, marsh marigold,duckweed, water lily, arrowhead,and rushes.

Suggested Plants WithFood Value For Wildlife

Summerwild plum raspberry

blackberry appleserviceberry mulberryplum blueberry

American elderberry

Falldogwood wild cherrycotoneaster cornoats wheat

winterberry grapeviburnum spicebushmountain ash

Winterblack/red chokeberry hollyVirginia creeper crabapple

highbush cranberry bittersweetmountain ashstaghorn sumac

Nuts & Acornsblack walnut red oakshagbark hickory pecan

white oak butternutAmerican hazel beech

Wetlandsmartweed cattailbulrush wild milletpondweed spike rush

wild rice

Nectarcardinal flower bee balmmorning glory petuniatrumpet honeysuckle