How to Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Do you want more birds, butterflies & bees visiting your yard? It's possible with a few simple additions!

You don't even need a yard to create a habitat. A balcony or patio works too. Look at these visitors!

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A great backyard wildlife habitat has these three components: 1. Water 2. Food 3. Shelter Add some today!

A simple bird bath is a great place to start. It should be shallow & the water should refreshed every 1-2 days.

1. Water

Insects & butterflies need water too! Fill a saucer with water and a few small rocks for insects to perch on.

Provide nectar and host plants for butterflies, moths and other insects. Choose plants that are native to your local area.

2. Food

Host plants are plants that provide important food to butterfly caterpillars (this Passion Vine is a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary caterpillar)

Other native plants can provide berries, nuts and seeds to birds & other backyard wildlife like this American Beautyberry plant.

You can also provide bird feeders with seeds or suet for songbirds or sugar water feeders for hummingbirds. 

Hang a bird house for birds to raise their young. Create a brush or log pile to provide shelter.

3. Shelter

Plants can provide shelter too! Avoid cutting back plants in the winter to provide shelter for birds & nesting sites for bees.

Add these 3 things and you'll have a habitat!

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Food: host plants & native plants

Water: bird bath or insect puddling dish

Shelter: bird houses to raise young, brush piles, plants