Is your yard wildlife-friendly?

StatePoint – Being a good neighbor means more than being friendly to the humans across the street; it also means being friendly to the animals in your yard. Making your yard a safe place for local wildlife should be a top lawn care priority.

With that in mind, here are some tips for creating a healthy habitat for local critters.

Be a valuable rest stop

Stock your garden with small native species of trees, shrubs and flowers to give wildlife needed nourishment, as well as cover from predators.

A source of water can also be a great resource for visiting fauna. Whether it’s a pond or a birdbath, be sure it is well-maintained so you don’t inadvertently create a haven for unwanted species. In the warmer months when mosquitoes are most active, you should change the bird bath water even more often.

Promote safety

A bird feeder in your backyard, full of water and seeds, will be the perfect invitation for beautiful migrating and local birds to stop by.

Just be sure your property is safe for birds. Unfortunately, birds don’t see clear glass. As a result, millions of birds die every year. Don’t let your sliding glass doors or other windows become a death trap for birds.

To protect birds, apply special decals that reflect ultraviolet sunlight. Find some that have the appearance of frosted glass, but glow like a stoplight for birds, so you don’t have to compromise your own view out your window.

“Wildlife can beautify your garden and be a sign that your yard is healthy,” says Spencer Schock, founder of WindowAlert. “But birds and other wildlife need food, shelter and safety.”

Get out the binoculars or camera!

With a few small actions, you can make your yard or garden a wildlife refuge.