If you enjoy observing wildlife, creating a wildlife-friendly backyard can be a very rewarding. Watching animals interact in their natural environment provides endless fascination, from seeing does with their fawns, turkeys roaming around, to a fox trying to sneak up on the turkeys. It's also a fantastic way to engage your kids, allowing them to learn about animals, ask questions, and take photos. In our home, we always have a spotting scope set up at the front window so everyone can get a closer look at the action.
Here are some tips and ideas for making your backyard more inviting to wildlife, depending on your available space, state laws, and the level of investment you're willing to make.
Install a Deer Feeder
If legal in your area, installing a deer feeder is a great way to attract wildlife. We use Boss Buck feeders, which offer free-choice spouts or an automatic attachment that will broadcast feed at specific times each day. Next to the feeder, consider setting up a rub post, licking branch, mock scrape, golden rope (in the fall), and a water hole. This combination attracts deer and turkeys. Always check your local regulations regarding feeding wildlife.
Plant Fruit and Nut Trees
Fruit and nut trees are fantastic food sources for wildlife and are enjoyable to watch as they grow. However, these trees can be susceptible to heavy browsing by deer. To protect young trees, we fence them off until they're big enough to withstand deer pressure. Over the years we’ve found that they will eat the tree itself and the bucks will rub on them in the fall until they’ve completely destroyed them.
Set Up Trail Cameras
Placing trail cameras on trails near your home or in front of water tanks and feeders can provide insight on what the game is doing in your area. It's fascinating to see what goes on when you're not around. In our garden, for instance, we've noticed that deer wait until late at night or when we're away to come and feast on our plants so a garden is another great way to attract deer right up to your home!
Install Birdfeeders
Birdfeeders attract a variety of birds and can also be a draw for squirrels. Although squirrels are rare near our home South Dakota because of the lack of trees, they occasionally show up, and squirrel feeders can attract them and are fun to watch. There are feeders that hold the entire cob of corn and spin as the squirrels try to eat making it pretty entertaining, especially for our Boston Terrier, Pork Chop. Bird feeders can attract numerous bird species, and installing a hummingbird feeder near a window lets you watch these tiny creatures up close. Building birdhouses, such as those for purple martins, can encourage birds to return year after year.
Use Wildlife Identification Apps
For those interested in bird watching, several apps can enhance the experience. For instance, the Merlin Bird ID app can identify bird species from a photo on your phone, providing information about the bird, its calls, and more. This can be a fun and educational activity for both adults and children.
Creating a wildlife-friendly backyard offers something for everyone, providing endless opportunities to observe and learn about local wildlife. It's a joy to watch these animals and see the natural world through the eyes of a child whether that be your kids, grandkids, friends, neighbors, or nieces and nephews.
