Margaret Murphy
Horticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire Counties
UW-Madison Extension

Why garden for wildlife?

• It can help restore natural habitat.
• It offers an opportunity to plant native species that, when established, may reduce your time working in the yard and increase your time relaxing in the yard.
• It’s fun to watch birds, butterflies, dragonflies, toads, and frogs in the yard.

The basics for a wildlife friendly yard:

• Food (a variety of options is best). Keep in mind food requirements vary by species and change as animals’ age as well as by season.

• Water is as important as food for survival. Think about adding a water feature to your yard. It can be something simple as a birdbath.
• Cover is important for protection from the weather or predators. It’s also important for nesting and resting.
• Space is needed for wildlife to raise young. Most species also need space to establish territory.

So, if you are considering adding some plants to your landscape this spring, think about selecting plants to benefit wildlife. Make sure to plant a diverse mixture of vegetation so wildlife will have food and shelter year-round, and you’ll have wildlife viewing opportunities year-round.

Learn more about wildlife habitat essentials and how to attract wildlife to urban and suburban spaces at The Urban Wildlife Project: https://urbanwildlifeproject.wisc.edu/.