Community Wildlife Habitat – Coming Soon!
Rapid and large-scale changes to our lands and waters mean wildlife are losing the habitats they once knew. More than half of America’s wetlands that support waterfowl and wildlife have been drained and/or plowed. Habitat fragmentation reduces biodiversity by 13 to 75%.
To combat fragmentation, Wells Branch is partnering with the National Wildlife Federation to become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat. Every habitat garden is a step toward replenishing resources for wildlife such as bees, butterflies, birds, and amphibians—both locally and along migratory corridors. To secure certification, Wells Branch would need at least 175 homes with the Wildlife Habitat certification.
The basic requirements for the certification are to provide food, water, cover, and a place for wildlife to raise young, and to engage in sustainable gardening and landscaping practices. Examples of food are as simple as having a bird feeder and plants that provide pollen and nectar. Similarly, a birdbath, roosting box, and a rock pile are sufficient to meet the water and cover requirements. Mature trees and host plants for caterpillars meet the places to raise young requirements. The use of compost and native plants in your landscape fulfills the sustainable practices requirement.
If you are interested in this program, Jill Douglass will be presenting at the July meeting of the Wells Branch Garden Guild (Saturday, July 15, 10am at the Recreation Center on Shoreline Drive). You can also visit https://nwf.org/CERTIFY to learn more about the program. Feel free to reach out to me directly at jdzurenko@gmail.com.