Backyard Habitat Program
Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to Canadian wildlife. Rapidly expanding urban and suburban areas are eating up great tracks of valuable wildlife habitat. What happens to the wildlife that used to exist in areas where new housing is going up? The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitat Program encourages Canadians to help wildlife by replacing some of this habitat on their own properties and in their communities.
More and more, Canadians are taking a personal interest in conservation by initiating conservation projects and welcoming wildlife to their gardens. CWF is supporting this effort by providing the tools and information needed for success. Our comprehensive materials are part of a whole new way of looking at our relationship with the wild world — of appreciating that we’re part of, not separate from, nature.
Wildlife-friendly gardening, a new approach to gardening, is welcoming wildlife into backyards and encouraging Canadians to look to their own gardens to reduce the need for pesticides and help conserve wildlife habitat. Wildlife-friendly gardening is becoming a growing trend in Canada with gardens, terrains, and even balconies being transformed into homes for wildlife all across the country. A garden created with the needs of wildlife in mind not only provides for the needs of Canada's wild species, it also fosters an appreciation for the natural world for those individuals and communities involved.
The Backyard Habitat Program is a valuable resource to all Canadians interested in local wildlife and making their outdoor space — be it balcony, garden or large tracts of land — wildlife and earth friendly.
Wild Print Resources
Our Wild About… poster series aims to inspire action for wildlife in backyards across the country. These colourful posters introduce Canadians to some of the fascinating wildlife they might encounter on their properties and in local wildlife areas. They feature Canadian species and provide pertinent information such as what native plants attract them and why they are beneficial. Informative and eye catching, these posters have been known to go up on walls of garden sheds, education centres and cottages. The series premiered with a Wild About Birds poster alive with the vibrant colours of 15 common birds. It was expanded to include posters on bats, butterflies, wildflowers, snakes, bees and more birds. We continue to work on new additions.
The poster series is complemented with a series of handouts that provide information on creating habitat for wildlife, such as butterflies and other pollinators, and gardening in harmony with nature. “Wild About” materials are available for free through our resource centre
Other resource material such as a shoreline poster and field guide, garden planner and colouring pages have also been developed through the Backyard Habitat Program.
Wild About Gardening
Another large component of the Backyard Habitat Program is the Wild About Gardening website at www.wildaboutgardening.org. This website is all about gardening for wildlife. It offers a huge amount of information for both novice and expert gardeners alike. You’ll learn how to plan your garden to meet both your needs and that of the wildlife you wish to attract. It is full of tips on attracting all sorts of wildlife from butterflies and birds to bats and frogs. You’ll find lists of plants and the wildlife they attract, scores of planting projects, plans for building bird nesting boxes, amphibian ponds, and many other structures, plus guidelines on how to discourage some species from making pests of themselves in your yard.
There are resources to help decide what to plant and where to buy them with our Native Plant Encyclopedia and Native Plant Suppliers List. Our articles are updated each season, with features on plants, certified gardens, creatures, native plant nurseries and a seasonal backyard habitat article. Watch for this site over 2008 as it gets more photos and a more user-friendly format.
The most recent feature of the Backyard Habitat Program is our e-zine — our seasonal electronic newsletter. It highlights new content on the website as well as timely information for that season of gardening. To register, visit www.wildaboutgardening.org
Certification Program
CWF started the certification program to recognize the amazing efforts Canadians are taking to welcome wildlife to their properties. We have been overwhelmed by the wonderful and wildlife-friendly gardens being created across the country.
The Certification Program allows individuals to have their property officially designated as wildlife friendly. To be certified, properties must meet the basic needs of wildlife — food, water, shelter and space — include some native plants and be pesticide free. If approved, applicants receive a certificate and window decal and have the opportunity to purchase a colourful and weather-resistant sign for their garden.
Whether you are new to the idea of creating backyard habitat, have been practicing wildlife-friendly gardening for years, are limited to a small patio, or have hectares of land, we would like to acknowledge your accomplishments.
Funding
Funding programs are also available through this program. One example is Golden Gardens, a program that offers funding for organized senior groups who wish to plant native perennials to enhance community spaces and provide wildlife habitat. This program is currently being transformed to accommodate more than just senior citizens so stay tuned for more information!