Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary

A backyard sanctuary has trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses and features like water, shelter and space that attract and sustain wildlife in urban areas.

Food – Having a variety of food sources in your yard attracts many kinds of wildlife. Provide a good mix of plants that produce seeds or fruits at different times of the year. Insects are a very important part of the diet of songbirds, so try to avoid insecticides.

Water – Animals will walk, fly or crawl great distances for a drink because water is essential. Water is also needed for bathing so animals can keep clean and thus warm or cool. A birdbath or other form of water will serve as a magnet to many kinds of wildlife.

Shelter – Wildlife must have safe places to rest, escape danger, get out of bad weather and raise offspring. Most animals find shelter in trees or shrubs. Put in buffers of dense vegetation between wildlife areas and busy areas like driveways.

Space – Most birds and mammals need more area than the average backyard provides. That doesn’t mean they won’t visit or nest in your yard. An animal’s space requirements may be less if the resources are abundant and concentrated in a good backyard habitat. Encourage your neighbors to provide wildlife habitat and increase the space available.

The Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary is supported by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.