Shelter/Cover for a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

A good wildlife habitat provides food, water, and cover. Since different species require different types of cover, offering a variety is best – cavity nesters need dead trees and snags; small mammals and grassland birds require areas of tall grasses, weeds, and wildflower patches; deer prefer dense shrubs; brush and rock piles provide shelter for small mammals, birds and reptiles (“A Home for Wildlife in Your Backyard” Arkansas Game and Fish Commission). Plant trees and shrubs of a variety of species and heights. Thick, thorny evergreen patches provide superb hiding places. Hang nest boxes, bee and butterfly boxes, and bat houses in the habitat. To accommodate all of their requirements, place cover within 10-15 feet of food and water.

Cavity Nesters

Many species nest in cavities, and a lack of appropriate nesting areas limits their populations. Cavity-nesting species include three species of bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, woodpeckers, flycatchers, Screech Owls, American Kestrels, nuthatches, Purple Martins, wrens, Wood Ducks, grey squirrels, flying squirrels, and bats.

Birdhouses

Birdhouses should be tailored to the species one hopes to attract. The nest box/hole dimensions and height/location placement varies by species, so decide what species you hope to attract (consider the habitat you have to work with) and build or purchase the house made for that species. Consider adding a predator baffle beneath the house. A few characteristics all houses should have: natural, untreated wood that’s a minimum of ®” thick, an extended and sloped roof, a recessed floor with drain holes, good ventilation created by a narrow space between the roof and sides and ¼” holes drilled in each side. They should have no outside perch and a panel that opens so the box can be cleaned (Bird Houses for Songbirds – Alabama Cooperative Extension System). Do not paint unless made of a soft wood, and then choose light, drab colors to reflect heat and blend with the natural environment so as not to attract predators. Birds may use nesting material (string, moss, hair, yarn, etc.) hung in a basket or box nearby.

Cover for Herpetofauna

Attempt to attract reptiles and amphibians to your yard – they control rodent and insect populations, and are very beneficial. Provide rock piles in sunny areas for basking sites. Plant shade-tolerant groundcovers under trees, and allow thick layers of fallen leaves to accumulate, which helps them thermoregulate and hide from predators. To provide a safe haven, place fallen logs, stumps and rock piles in shady spots. Offer a ‚”toad abode” – all that is needed is an old clay pot and saucer. Chip away a small area of the pot’s rim to create a doorway, and turn the pot upside down in a shady patch. Fill the saucer with water and place it nearby.

Building a Brush Pile

To create a brush pile, start with a strong foundation by using 6-10 large logs 6-10 feet long and 4-6 inches in diameter. As they are stacked, criss-cross them to create spaces and a sturdy base. Next add large branches, and continue to add branches in a criss-cross pattern, getting smaller and denser as the pile grows. Ultimately aim for a domed structure, 10 feet wide and 5 feet high. To increase the likelihood of use, place on the edge of two habitats, partly in sun and partly in shade. Cover with native vines, or weave evergreen branches into the top. To encourage use by small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, add pipes at the bottom of the pile when construction begins to create tunnels for them.

Keeping Wildlife Safe

If luring wildlife to your yard, do not use pesticides! Insecticides decrease insect populations, which adults need to feed their young, and poison the young. Make certain nest boxes are securely attached to a tree or pole so as to endure severe weather conditions. Hang boxes well in advance of the breeding season (before March in the south). If non-native House Sparrows or European Starlings begin to nest in a bird house, clean out their nests when they start to build to discourage them. If you are going to monitor the nestlings, gently tap the side of the nest box as you approach to encourage the adult to leave, and do not check the box more than one minute once per week. Do not check during the first three days of egg laying, nor when the young are ten days old until they fledge, as this may cause them to fledge too early.

For more suggestions on cover for wildlife, see Shelter and Nesting Boxes for Various Species of Wildlife.