Tips For Creating a Wildlife-friendly Property
1. Restore natural habitat on your property and landscape with native plants - For ideas and advice on native plants and plants that require less water check out these sites:
- Grasslands Nursery: A native plant and dryland species nursery with garden information and garden design services. Summerland, BC, (250) 494-4617.
- Sagebrush Nursery: A retail and wholesale nursery with Okanagan native and arid landscape plants. Restoration advice and installation. Oliver, BC, (250) 498-8898.
- Naturescape BC (Southern Interior): A guide to habitat gardening in the Interior including plants that attract butterflies and birds. You can order online!
- Waterwise Gardening for Home and Small Acreage Owners of the Oliver Area: A step by step booklet about water wise and easy care gardens suited for the South Okanagan’s unique climate and landscape.
2. Do you live by water? Enhance your shorelines and creeks - Tips on maintaining a healthy natural shoreline, how to build docks, maintain beaches and control run-off from your property. Check out Living By Water and Home Tips for Healthy Streams. Photograph courtesey of Laure Neish.
3. Build a frog pond or help monitor local wetlands - But remember! Never release non-native fish, frogs or reptiles into the wild. Non-native bullfrogs and turtles can and out-compete local wildlife for food. Click here to view or download a PDF of an Amphibian ID Card on local species Landscape Tips for amphibians. Click here to find out about frog calls and frog monitoring programs.
4. Be Bear Aware - Bear-proof your yard with a few simple steps at Bear Aware or visit the Be Aware of Bears section on this site.
5. Attracting birds - Birds need trees and shrubs for nesting and hiding habitat so the more greenery you have, the more bird-friendly your yard is. But if you have cats that are allowed outdoors do not try to attract birds. Cats are a major cause of bird mortality throughout the world. Bird feeders and nest boxes construction plans and advice on attracting birds can be found by clicking here. Photograph courtesey of Dick Cannings.
6. Go Bats with Bat Boxes - Tips on attracting bats and preventing bats from roosting inside your home can be found by visiting the Bat Conservation International website.
7. Stewardship - Is the conservation of natural areas by landowners. The Land Conservancy (TLC) and SOS Stewardship Program offers advice and brochures for homeowners who wish to provide habitat for species at risk on their property. Click here to view the Publications and Factsheets.
8. Get rid of invasive plants - Invasive weeds can gradually overtake and ruin landscapes and natural areas. It is a good idea to keep weeds in check before they get out of hand. Check out information provided by the South Okanagan Similkameen Invasive Plant Society.