Providing Habitat Needs of Wildlife

Every animal has basic needs for survival. These include food, water, and cover. Some wildlife biologists include various types of cover in their list of basic needs. Animals may reproduce in a many types of plant or locations while others pick very specific sites. Where the animal reproduces is usually termed "nesting cover" because many people think of birds when they plan backyard wildlife management. However, biologist will usually call this reproductive cover or something very similar. Animals also need places nearby to escape predators or the elements (that is, rain, snow, cold winds, hot sun, etc.). This type of cover is usually called escape or protective cover. One may also hear the term roosting cover-- animals need a place just to rest and perform "maintenance activities." An example of a maintenace activity is pruning by a bird to keep its feathers in good shape.

Of course, water is necessary for all life. It is well known that there are many more animals in "riparian zones" (places close to water bodies) than far away from such zones. How close the animal stays to water depends on how far they can travel in a relatively short time and how well they are adept at finding other sources of water or conserving it. A deer can travel quite a distance in a day and can be found relatively far from water. Likewise, because birds can fly they can also be far from a riparian zone. However, small animals like a frog better stay close to water of some sort. Otherwise, especially because they have thin skin, they will dry out. Animals have found all sorts of ways to obtain or conserve water so they can live further from standing water. Some drink the dew. Others have mechanisms to obtain all of the water they need from the food they eat. The toad can travel further from water than a frog because the formers skin is thicker and they can store water in their bladders. If times get tought, the toads can absorb some of their bladder water to stay alive.

It is hard to live long without eating. It is always wise to provide many types of foods since "variety is the spice of life." In addition, you'll attract more species to your yard if you provide a variety of foods. For example, you'll attract insectivorous birds as well as seed eaters if you provide tallow (animal fats) or peanut butter in addition to a variety of seeds.

Cover varies among the various animal groups and species. Birds usually use trees, shrubs, and vines for both reproductive and escape cover. Trees that lose their leaves are good reproductive, escape, and roosting cover during the growing season and make roosting sites during the day in winter. However, they are not a good site to rest during the night in winter because an animal is exposed to preditors and the elements. Many species need evergreens for escape and roosting cover during the winter. These also make great places to reproduce, escape from predators, and nest during the growing season. Deer tend to use thick tangles of shrubs and vines, groups of evergreen trees, or tall grasses and "weeds" in which to find breeding, escape, and nesting cover. Reptiles and small mammals tend to hide and reproduce under boards, amoung piled logs, in or under dead trees that are standing or have fallen on the ground (especially if the trees are rotting), underground, and similar locations. Amphibians tend to hide in these same places. Of course, they need water to reproduce so lakes, ponds, creeks, and rivers are ideal locations during the breeding season.

We'll study some of the specific ways to profide food, cover, and water for groups and species of wildlife in later postings.

American Painted Lady on Liatris

This is a photo of an American Painted Lady butterfly feeding on a Liatris spicata flower. The plant is also called blazing star. You can plant the bulbs of Liatris in the spring or fall. Obviously, this is one plant that will attract a variety of butterflies to your garden. I also have seen a beautiful male Goldfinch and a female feeding on the seeds recently. A stunning show-- this bright yellow and black bird on the purple flowers!

Blazing Star is a native to the U.S. (I checked several sources and it is found in much of the eastern U.S.- click here for one good site). I strongly encourage you to only plant species native to the U.S., preferably those that occur in your local area. More about this later.

Backyard Wildlife Management

As a professional wildlife biologist with nearly 20 years of experience, I have learned a thing or two about backyard wildlife management. I have also observed backyard wildlife while taking photos of animals in my wildflower garden, from a blind I set up in my backyard to photograph birds, or from my open window. I'm starting this blog to teach you to manage your yard to attract wildlife, support backyard wildlife conservation, and support conservation efforts in general. You can have a positive impact on wildlife and conservation, even if it is in your yard and even if your "yard" is only a few pots of flowers, vines, shrubs, or trees. My experience is in the eastern U.S., so those interested in other parts of the country might wish to find a blog about wildlife in their location. However, some principles of backyard wildlife management are similar no matter where you are located. So, I will post information periodically and try to answer questions you may have about backyard wildlife management.