Certified Wildlife Habitat

American toad photographed in Ohio. Credit: Kathy Bodall

Vernal Pools Make Your Garden Sing

If you’re trying to find a vernal pool in spring, you’re best off closing your eyes and listening. As sunset approaches, the pond begins to sing. Tree frogs make a … Read more

The base of a large tree is surrounded in a leaf layer.

Pro-Tips for Leaving the Leaves

The National Wildlife Federation has designated October as Leave the Leaves Month! As we head into autumn, many trees and shrubs shed their leaves or needles in preparation for their … Read more

Seven Species that Need You to Leave the Leaves

As the hues of autumn give way to winter detritus, many homeowners are quick to discard the fallen leaves suddenly blanketing their yards. But what if we told you that … Read more

A bright yellow bird perches on a yellow flower.

Five Simple Ways to Create Habitat this Fall

The idea of “gardening for wildlife” evokes images of beautiful, blossom-filled gardens teaming with colorful birds and butterflies. But did you know that fall is the best time to plant … Read more

A long-horned bee (Melissodes spp.) feeds at a cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia lanciniata) cultivar in a garden in Nebraska.

Creating a Bee Garden

Bees are incredibly important wildlife. Yes, insects are wildlife–and they’re a group of wildlife that we all have an opportunity to help right in our own yards and gardens. Especially … Read more

Top Five Cities That Garden for Wildlife

National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife™ 50th year celebration recognizes cities with the highest wildlife gardening activity. These concentrations of Certified Wildlife Habitats® help connect fragmented habitat in highly developed areas in … Read more

Washington State Celebrates Garden for Wildlife’s 50th Year!

2023 Ushers in Half a Century of Garden for Wildlife’s “Certified Wildlife Habitat” Program In 1973, two U.S. Forest Service researchers in Massachusetts conducted a small study. Their plan: discover … Read more

eagle in flight

Garnering Successes, Gardening for Wildlife: A Camano Island Volunteer with a Passion for Conservation

When Val Schroeder wakes up at her beachside home on Camano Island, in Western Washington, she has plenty to look forward to. She can walk the shoreline and view Whidbey … Read more

art made from bottle caps

5 Ways to Reduce Waste in Your Garden

Plastic pollution is a big deal News about its devastating effects on wildlife and the environment is everywhere and as a result, many of us are now opting for reusable … Read more

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Update on Mysterious Bird Deaths

This summer, sick and dying birds were documented in several states in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South. The main symptom was swollen, crusted-over eyes in fledglings of blue jays, robins, … Read more