How to Turn Your Backyard into a Wildlife Sanctuary

By Hurdle Land & Realty

Have you ever dreamed of having a backyard full of butterflies, birds, and bunnies? You can actually design your space to attract the animals you want and keep them coming back. Strategic planting and habitat building will provide food, water, and shelter to your furry (and not-so-furry friends). Here's how you can turn your backyard into a wildlife sanctuary.

Native Plants

One of the best ways to care for local wildlife is to grow native plants in your yard. Native plants are species that have been growing in the area for thousands of years, and they are best adapted to benefit local wildlife.

Choose native plants that produce food items like fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, and pollen. Colorful native flowers will attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Clover and carrots are perfect for rabbits. Also, try to cultivate native plants for each season to attract wildlife year-round. You can find out what native plants grow in your area here.

Water Sources

Water can be hard to come by in some areas, so providing a water source in your backyard is an excellent way to help animals feel at home. Set up a birdbath or two to keep your feathered friends hydrated, or set out a couple of water dishes for an animal to access. You can even build a small pond to house frogs and insects in your yard. Plus, it's a pretty lawn decoration.

Wildlife Houses

If you want your yard to feel like a home for animals, you'll also want to put up some little dwellings. Birdhouses and bird feeders will encourage birds to lay eggs in your yard. Tiny wooden bat houses hung on trees will give bats a place to rest during the day. Toad houses can be as simple as an old bowl or pot flipped upside with a hole in the side.

Best of all, healthy trees in your yard are the best homes for squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and insects. Evergreens are the best choice, as they offer year-round protection, and animals munch on their seeds and cones. Don't underestimate the role of trees in an ecosystem!

If you need land to start your wildlife habitat journey, you can rely on Hurdle Land & Realty to help. With owner-financed land, we make it easy to own property in an age where it seems impossible. See how you can purchase land today.