“The bulldozer and not the atomic bomb may turn out to be the most destructive invention of the 20^th century.”

- Philip Shabecoff on the destruction of wildlife habitat, New York Times Magazine

Gardeners are stewards of the land. As land is converted to housing and shopping malls by development, our native wildlife species have fewer and fewer places to live and visit and raise young. Wildlife benefits most when native plant communities remain intact or are restored to their natural habitats. I believe it is important that our gardening practices are in keeping with this restoration. An easy and fun way to create restored and sustainable gardens is to use as a guideline the Certified Wildlife Habitat program sponsored by the National Wildlife Foundation.

Certification requires that you meet the needs of wildlife within your yard by providing four basic requirements: food, water, cover and places to raise young.

The best way to provide food for native wildlife, including pollinators, is to plant native trees and shrubs. Not only do the foliage, berries, seeds and nuts on native plants provide food for wildlife, but they also provide cover and a place to raise young, satisfying three of the requirements in one. Sometimes a pollinator requires a very specific native plant. It is helpful if we become aware of those needs and acquire the desired plant. Vegetation is the key to attracting a variety of wildlife.

Sustainable gardening techniques help to conserve your wildlife habitat. Replacing grass lawns with native shrubs, trees and wildflowers will attract native wildlife species. Avoiding poisonous insecticides will allow the number of insects to increase, thereby providing food for songbirds. The birds in turn will keep the insect population in check. Composting and mulching will improve the soil, air and water quality.

Clean water is perhaps the most challenging provision. Wildlife needs water for drinking and bathing. Natural sources (lakes, creeks, ponds) are desirable, but most city lots don’t have that. Human-made features such as birdbaths, fountains, dripping faucets and fine spray will draw many critters. Butterflies like puddles. When providing water keep in mind catch basins and recirculating pumps so the precious resource is not wasted.

Wildlife needs to feel safe to be attracted to your garden. When you provide several places for cover they can easily escape from humans and predators. Shelter is also important for raising young as well as creating hiding places in inclement weather. Again (are you seeing the theme?) using native vegetation is the best way to provide shelter, which will meet the needs of the wildlife in your area. Dead trees and stumps are great for providing cavities and branches for nesting and perching. They also attract insects that become food for wildlife. Shrubs, thickets and brush piles are good hiding places. Birdhouses and roosting boxes provide shelter as well.

Residents of Washington State can make use of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program. As their program states: Good environmental stewardship begins in our own backyards. Washington state and the National Wildlife Federation have partnered so that you can certify your yard with both organizations in one step.

The Washington program provides a packet, which helps you develop a plan for your yard with many hints on how best to make your own backyard sanctuary. You do not need to be a resident to order their Backyard Sanctuary Packet. It is full of information on how to attract and feed many types of wildlife. You do need to be a resident to apply for certification in their program.

Both programs provide a plaque that you can purchase once you have completed the certification program. The plaque demonstrates your commitment to wildlife conservation and may help encourage your neighbors to also complete the program. Each yard added to the program will increase the wildlife in your neighborhood.

Information on the programs can be found online at www.nwf.org for the National Wildlife Foundation and wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/backyard for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program.