Creating A Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary

One of my long standing Ocean Omega clients lives in very rural Virginia, and she is not only a breeder of Argentine Dogos, but also a most compassionate animal lover. She has meticulously worked to provide her land as a safe haven animal sanctuary. Being a pet owner, and animal lover and animal rights advocate myself since early childhood (boy was that a long time ago=early childhood), I often think about what we have done to animal habitat as a whole. Especially with urban sprawl, mini mall development, etc. I live in a condo association that has limited access and "backyard" space available for animal sanctuary consideration. Therefore, I try to do what I can, such as provide bird feeders in the nearby fields, bird baths, feed old bread crumbs and bird seed to the birds, squirrels, and such. For those of you folks that are fortunate enough to perhaps have good acreage, please consider helping the animals, by creating your own "Backyard Animal Sanctuary".

A backyard sanctuary usually is enhanced by having trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses and features like water, shelter and space that attract and sustain wildlife in both urban and rural areas.

Providing food – Having a variety of food sources in your yard can attract many kinds of wildlife. Providing a good mix of plants that produce seeds or fruits at different times of the year can be most beneficial. Insects are a very important part of the diet of songbirds, so try to avoid insecticides on your gardens and shubbery.

Providing a good water source – will have animals walking, flying or crawling great distances for a drink because water is essential to them. 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.

Providing shelter – wildlife must have safe places to rest, escape danger, get out of bad weather and raise their offsprings. Most animals find shelter in trees or shrubs. Property owners might consider utilizing buffers of dense vegetation between wildlife areas and busy areas like driveways, workshops, garages, and the like.

Providing space – Most birds and mammals need more area than the average backyard can provide. This doesn’t necessarily 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. Encouraging your friends and neighbors to provide wildlife habitat will increase the collective space available for wildlife.

Habitat should include ...

• Such food sources as – seeds, berries, nuts, flower nectar, and insects.
• Some sources of water could include – birdbaths, drip faucets, sprinklers, ponds, puddles, and streams.
• Consider shelter options which would include – trees, shrubs, brush piles, rock walls, rock piles, hollow logs, and snags.
• When considering space allocation create ample – travel corridors and open space
  

Then sit back, relax, and enjoy a true spectacle of the beauty that nature has provided for us; don't take the small things in life for granted be greatful, appreciate and help the animals and wildlife sustain

Give Them The Santuary They Need and Deserve!