Attracting & Caring For City Wildlife
Posted in Birds, Cats, Dogs, Pet Rodents, Pets | 8 views
by Hardison McMann
Are you a wildlife lover living in a large city? You would certainly not expect to see much native wildlife there. Most big cities have destroyed appropriate habitat for wild species. However, if you like wild animals and desire to have some of them in your area, you can create an urban natural landscape where native wildlife species can thrive.
In order to attract wildlife, you will need appropriate vegetation, housing, and food.
Native wild birds are relatively easy to attract and care for in the city. First, take a look at your yard: does it have any trees? Trees provide protection as well as nesting places for birds. Setting out various kinds of bushes which produce berries will also attract birds since many of them feed on berries. And, of course, a couple of good bird feeders with seeds to attract different species are key.
You will also want to provide some birdhouses designed to attract specific kinds of birds. For example, bluebirds need houses with holes of a specific diameter to keep our competing species and placed at appropriate locations and heights. Keep in mind that birdhouses provide roosting sites for birds during the winter as well as nesting places in the summer.
People don’t often think of attracting bats, but most cities have at least a small population of bats. And bats are very desirable neighbors because they consume large numbers of insect pests like mosquitoes. Providing bat houses can encourage these little animals to take up residence in your area and make evenings outside during the summer much more pleasant. The bat houses can be placed on a side of your house, under the roof overhang of your garage, or at an appropriate height in a tree. Let the bats stay for as long as they want.
If you like squirrels, you may be able to attract some of them by placing squirrel feeders in your yard. Then you will be able to enjoy watching their antics as they scamper about the yard and run up and down the trees.
If you have a dog or cat, make sure they cannot get to any of the wildlife coming into your yard. Feed them in an area away from birds or squirrels. Generally, domestic animals and native wildlife don’t mix at all with one another.
You may even be able attract small diurnal and nocturnal raptors in the city. If you erect a platform in the yard and put appropriate food on it, small raptors may find it. During the day, small hawks may discover the food, and at night, the owls may find it.
For people who have the yard space, installing a fish pond can attract animals. You can put small fish in the pond. If raccoons frequent the area, they will discover the pond and feed on the fish.
Turning a relatively large yard space into a small natural habitat for native wildlife can be fairly easy. The list of things needed is normally pretty short. With some careful planning, most of the work can be done on weekends. Then, if you’re lucky, you may eventually see some wild animals in and around your yard. It can be satisfying to relax by a window and see the results of your efforts.
Original Title: Attracting and Caring For Native Wildlife in the City
About the author: Hardison McMann is a wildlife enthusiast who enjoys observing native wildlife around his home.
Source: EzineArticles
Squirrel Photo: www.thcphotography.com
Hawk Photo: Peter Eavis
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