Habitat destruction and invasive species are major drivers of wildlife decline in the United States, but this trend can be reversed. Homeowners can make a real difference by letting part of their yard go wild, rebuilding the web of life that sustains all living things.

A 2022 study in Landscape and Urban Planning[2]  shows that residential gardens with native plants can significantly improve habitat connectivity for pollinators and other wildlife, even in densely populated areas. While public parks are the cornerstone of wildlife conservation, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) estimates that more than 83 percent of the land in the lower 48 states is privately owned, so individual landscaping choices hold the power to protect wildlife.

“Don’t worry about the whole planet, figure out what you can do to influence the little piece of the Earth that you live on,” advises Dr. Douglas Tallamy, a professor of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware and co-founder of Homegrown National Park, an initiative that urges individuals and businesses to restore native habitats in their own spaces.

Tallamy identifies four key responsibilities for every landscape: support pollinators, manage the local watershed, sequester carbon and support a viable food web by selecting plants that share solar energy with other organisms. Replacing a small patch of lawn with native trees, shrubs, ground cover and flowering plants accomplishes all four objectives. “Even a patio container with a plant to support pollinators makes a difference,” Tallamy remarks. “It’s about adding more resources to the landscape wherever possible.”

 

Prioritize Native Plants

Native plants are the backbone of a wildlife-friendly yard. They evolved alongside local insects, birds and animals, providing food and shelter that ornamental imports rarely match. For example, native oaks support more than 1,000 caterpillar species, which in turn become critical food for nesting birds. Use the NWF keystone plant locator to find the best native plants for specific ecoregions or zip codes: nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Why-Native/Keystone-Plants-by-Ecoregion.

Globally, humans have introduced more than 37,000 invasive species, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. The 2023 Invasive Alien Species Assessment reported that non-native animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms contribute to 60 percent of all extinctions. “If everyone controlled invasive plants just on their property, we would reduce the invasive population by shrinking the annual rain of seeds from these plants,” says Tallamy, adding that this process may take a few seasons to yield results because many seeds lie dormant for a year or more.

 

Layer the Landscape

Design the yard in layers to mimic natural ecosystems by grouping plants of different heights, root depths and types. Canopy trees offer nesting and shelter, mid-story shrubs provide cover and foraging, native perennials feed pollinators and ground cover shelters insects and small animals.

 

Add Wildlife-Friendly Features

Enhance the yard’s habitat value with simple additions:

• Bird baths provide fresh drinking and bathing water. Clean them weekly to prevent mosquito breeding.
  
  
• Birdhouses sized for local species offer critical nesting sites.
  
  
• Bat boxes mounted on trees or poles and facing south/southeast attract bats that eat thousands of insects per night.
  
  
• Bee hotels made from bundled hollow stems provide nesting spaces for solitary bees and wasps, which are among the most effective pollinators.
  
  
• Leaf litter and brush piles provide overwintering habitats for fireflies, salamanders, toads and dozens of beneficial insects.
  
  
• Standing dead trees (snags) are critical to certain bird species like the woodpecker, which carves out cavities for feeding or nesting purposes. Cut snags to about 15 feet to keep the home safe.

 

Preserve Some Wild Areas

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recommends leaving parts of the yard untouched. Letting nature grow wild saves time and money while helping local wildlife thrive. Allowing dead flower stalks and seed heads to stand through winter provides food for sparrows and finches when ground insects and fresh vegetation are scarce. Skip aggressive fall cleanups of dead leaves to protect moth pupae, ground beetles and overwintering butterflies. Even small patches of unmowed grass shelter ground-nesting bees.

 

Reduce Harmful Practices

Limit outdoor lighting to protect nocturnal insects like moths and fireflies, which are essential pollinators and serve as prey for other animals.

Eliminate pesticides and herbicides. Insecticides kill beneficial species along with pests, disrupting the food web. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services  warns that about 75 percent of global food crops and nearly 90 percent of wild flowering plants rely on insect pollinators. A 2019 review in Biological Conservation found that insect populations worldwide are plummeting due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Choose organic, natural products and techniques to control pests and weeds, and always read labels before applying any product.

 
Embrace the Natural Process

Reversing biodiversity loss does not require acreage or expertise. It begins with a handful of native plants and the willingness to let nature reclaim a small corner of the world just outside the door.

 

Tom Whittle is publishing manager of Natural Awakenings.

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