Waukesha County Home

Who doesn't like watching birds flutter- ing about, or small critters scampering around or the awe of a deer roaming through the area? But our activity has dramatically changed many things on this planet, and one of them that has been hit the hardest is wildlife habitat. And this includes every- thing from birds and butterflies, small- to medium-size critters to larger ones like deer. This is not only a global issue, it is also a local issue. As we expand into their territo- ry, we are making it more difficult for them to survive naturally as they once did. This is forcing them into areas they normally wouldn't occupy and is simply putting them under more pressure as we squeeze them out. If this concerns you like it concerns me, don't fret! We can make a difference by inviting them back into our landscapes. We simply need to re-create what we destroyed by fixing the environment around us. Just imagine your landscape coming to life with singing songbirds, colorful butter- flies, flitting hummingbirds and other wildlife scampering about. Not only will this improve things for them, but trust me, it will make you feel more at peace with yourself. Creating an environment for wildlife con- sists of three basic elements: food, water and shelter. And of course we need to do this with sustainable practices to not only build up the environment but to keep it healthy. Food Planting a native plant garden just for them is a great start. Since you are planting this garden specifically for them it doesn't matter if they browse upon it, ramble through it, etc. In fact, they prefer these foods and will keep them away from your other plants. Native plants provide nectar, seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, foliage, pollen and insects. Some people will also do supplemental feed- ing just in case you have a higher popula- tion then you have food available. You want to keep squirrels and chip- munks out of your bird feeders? Make them their own area to feed with sunflower seeds. I even mix in old nuts or ones I simply don't like to eat. You can do the same with deer using corn, pumpkins, apples, etc. Water Water is also crucial. Many of you already have bird baths. Place some rocks in it to help out the butterflies that need a shallower drinking area. So place some water around your property near their food source to keep them from wandering to other areas. An interesting fact, some animals will eat your plants, not for the food, but for the water. So by keeping water available, you also deter them from chewing on your desired plants. Animals also need water to bathe and some need it to breed. Shelter Cover/shelter is also crucial. They need a place to hide from predators or stalk prey, to raise their young or simply to find some shade on hot days or shelter from stormy weather. They are really no different than us if you think of it. We also need to remember that we must look into sustainable cultural practices. Limit the use of herbicides and pesticides the best you can. They only create un-natu- ral environments. Also, stay away from synthetic fertilizers which kill your soil and anything living in it. Just one more thought — eliminate as much grass as possible. Grass or turf, unless native, is not a natural environment for wildlife. So if you want to bring your landscape back to life and delight in watching things scamper around again, let's think of them for a change. I always tell people, we moved into their neighborhood, they didn't move into ours. Happy gardening! (Michael Timm is the chief horticultural- ist for Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixo- nia.) OCTOBER 2022 HOME 5 Learning to garden for wildlife MICHAEL TIMM Michael Timm Creating a water source for wildlife will also keep them from eating plants to obtain water. Michael Timm A wildflower bed can provide food and shelter for wildlife as well as draw them away from plants that you'd wish they didn't visit.

• Cover