How to get your backyard wildlife habitat designation
Any Garden Can Provide Wildlife-friendly Habitat
Creating a garden for wildlife is a lifelong endeavour, but getting your backyard designated a wildlife habitat can be accomplished in a relatively short period.
For some, qualifying for the Wildlife-friendly habitat designation may be nothing more than listing what they have already accomplished in their gardens; for others, achieving the designation may involve adding specific elements to their yard – a water source, nesting habitat or more natural food sources. Working toward that designation can lead you down a path of discovery not only about creating the right conditions for the natural world around you to thrive, but the importance of those actions in the natural world.
Gardeners looking to obtain their backyard wildlife habitat designation can use this website as an excellent resource. Many of the articles on our site focus on creating natural habitat, using native plants to attract birds and other wildlife, providing sources of water, and taking steps to ensure a safe environment for our backyard visitors. For more, check out the links at the bottom of this article.
The top half of the Canadian Wildlife Certified backyard aluminum sign.
For me, achieving a wildlife-friendly-yard designation was a catalyst to explore a deeper understanding and appreciation of the needs of wildlife – from the largest mammals to the smallest insects.
All good reasons to begin the process to have your property designated wildlife friendly.
“Rapid and large-scale changes to our lands and waters mean wildlife are losing the habitats they once knew. Every habitat garden is a step toward replenishing resources for wildlife such as bees, butterflies, birds, and amphibians—both locally and along migratory corridors. By adding pollinator-friendly and monarch-friendly plants when you certify, your garden also counts toward the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge.”
It’s important to remember that there are actually several different designations available from many wildlife groups around the world that are all worth pursuing. I will list some of the more well known later in the article.
Although mine is based in Canada, the National Wildlife Federation certification program, based in the United States, provides the same program for its residents.
The National Wildlife Federation also provides a program for those interested in attracting butterflies to their yards called Butterfly Heroes. It also operates an extremely useful Native Plant Finder on-line tool that helps identify native plants in your area.
For those who may not be familiar with the National Wildlife Federation, its website describes it as “America’s largest and most trusted conservation organization, work(ing) across the country to unite Americans from all walks of life in giving wildlife a voice. We’ve been on the front lines for wildlife since 1936, fighting for the conservation values that are woven into the fabric of our nation’s collective heritage.
If you are looking for specific information regarding pollinators, I highly recommend Pollinator Partnership, an online resource for all information regarding pollinator friendly yards. One of their programs, Project Wingspan, is focused on monarch butterflies.
A quick search on the internet should help you locate other programs in your area.
“By joining Canadians who make their gardens wildlife-friendly, you help increase suitable habitat for local and migratory wildlife, some of which may be species at risk. As more land is developed for human activities, each wildlife-friendly garden is a haven that can act as a stepping stone between larger areas of habitat, essential for many species’ survival.”
If you have children or grandchildren, pursuing this designation is both a learning opportunity for them as well as a message from you that the environment and the creatures we share our yards with need our help and protection. It’s an outdoor education lesson that could change their lives, send them toward a certain career path or, at simply give them a greater appreciation for all forms of life.
It’s been several years since I went through the process of having our backyard designated a wildlife-friendly habitat. Since then, our woodland/wildlife garden has grown along with a greater knowledge and appreciation of the importance of natural habitat, native plants, water sources and respect for all forms of life. At the time I applied for certification, our garden was already well on its way toward meeting many of the requirements, so it was not difficult to obtain the certificate.
For you, depending on how wildlife friendly your garden already is, the process could be as simple as filling out a questionnaire listing the features your garden already offers. If those features meet enough of the criteria, your garden can get immediate designation. If, on the other hand, you fall short in certain areas, you will know the steps you need to take to complete the process and obtain the designation.
It does not even have to be your garden. According to the guidelines: “The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Garden Habitat Certification recognizes Canadians who make their home, school, business or community gardens suitable for wildlife by certifying their outdoor space as a “Wildlife-friendly Habitat”.
The organization describes a garden as: “any outdoor space that is influenced by a green (or not so green!) thumb. Everything from veggie gardens to water gardens, acres of land to containers on a patio, a meadow maintained for butterflies to a curated perennial bed, shoreline properties to urban plots – all outdoor spaces can help wildlife. No matter your location, level of experience, garden style or budget, your garden can be beautiful and beneficial for wildlife.”
If you have children or grandchildren, pursuing this designation is both a learning opportunity for them as well as a message from you that the environment and the creatures we share our yards with need our help and protection. It’s an outdoor education lesson that could change their lives, send them toward a certain career path or, at simply give them a greater appreciation for all forms of life.
It’s been several years since I went through the process of having our backyard designated a wildlife-friendly habitat. Since then, our woodland/wildlife garden has grown along with a greater knowledge and appreciation of the importance of natural habitat, native plants, water sources and respect for all forms of life. At the time I applied for certification, our garden was already well on its way toward meeting many of the requirements, so it was not difficult to obtain the certificate.
For you, depending on how wildlife friendly your garden already is, the process could be as simple as filling out a questionnaire listing the features your garden already offers. If those features meet enough of the criteria, your garden can get immediate designation. If, on the other hand, you fall short in certain areas, you will know the steps you need to take to complete the process and obtain the designation.
It does not even have to be your garden. According to the guidelines: “The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Garden Habitat Certification recognizes Canadians who make their home, school, business or community gardens suitable for wildlife by certifying their outdoor space as a “Wildlife-friendly Habitat”.
The organization describes a garden as: “any outdoor space that is influenced by a green (or not so green!) thumb. Everything from veggie gardens to water gardens, acres of land to containers on a patio, a meadow maintained for butterflies to a curated perennial bed, shoreline properties to urban plots – all outdoor spaces can help wildlife. No matter your location, level of experience, garden style or budget, your garden can be beautiful and beneficial for wildlife.”
So, let’s take a look at some of the requirements needed for the designation.
The National Wildlife Federation Garden for Wildlife Program asks applicants to confirm they’ve provided the required number of elements for each of the following categories:
• Food
• Water
• Cover
• Places to Raise their Young
• Sustainable Practises
Before applying, you are asked to download a checklist to ensure you have met all the requirements for your wildlife garden.
When you get the certification you will become a member of the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife community and receive the following benefits
Personalized certificate
A one-year membership in the National Wildlife Federation and subscription to National Wildlife® magazine
10% off the National Wildlife Federation catalogue merchandise, including nesting boxes, feeders, birdbaths, and other items to enhance your wildlife garden
Subscription to monthly Garden for Wildlife e-newsletter with gardening tips, wildlife stories, and other resources
Exclusive option to purchase attractive garden signs designating your garden as a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation
The following is a list of just a few important links on this website that will help you achieve your Backyard Wildlife designation. Links within these articles will take you to more stories you can explore to help you reach your wildlife designation goals.
• Creating a Woodland Wildlife garden (a complete landscape design plan).
• Why you need to use more native plants in your wildlife garden.
• How to attract birds naturally and save money.
• Creating a Wildlife friendly garden (7 simple steps)
• The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard habitat for wildlife
• Building a brush pile for your Woodland Wildlife.
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