Wildlife Habitats

Habitat is a combination of food, water, shelter, and space arranged to meet the needs of wildlife. Even a small yard can be landscaped to attract birds, butterflies, beneficial insects, and small animals. Trees, shrubs, and other plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.

The plants you use for food and cover will help determine the wildlife species attracted to your backyard. Nesting boxes, feeders, and watering sites can be added to improve the habitat.  Some suggestions can be found here on how to attract birds to your yard.

Lots of people look to add plants to their yards so that birds will come too!  Different plants bring different birds.  The following list came from the NRCS website and is some plant species to consider for wildlife habitat. Check with a local nursery on plants suitable for your area. Some of these plants, while suited for wildlife, may have characteristics such as shallow roots or weak limbs that make them inappropriate for small urban properties--or they may not be winter hardy in all locations. Birds eat any flower seed, depending on the kind of bird and seed.

Trees for Birds

·         American beech (Fagus grandifolia)

·         American holly (Ilex opaca)

·         Balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

·         Black cherry (Prunus serotina)

·         Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)

·         Crabapple (Malus spp.)

·         Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

·         Hawthorns (Crataegus spp.)

·         Hickories (Carya spp.)

·         Live oak (Quercus virginiana)

·         Oaks (Quercus spp.)

·         Red mulberry (Morus rubra)

Shrubs for Birds

·         Common juniper (Juniperus communis)

·         Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

·         Hollies -- both evergreen and deciduous species (Ilex spp.)

·         Pyracantha (Pyracantha spp.)

·         Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)

·         Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

·         Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

·         Sumacs (Rhus spp.)

·         Viburnums (Viburnum spp.)

·         Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Vines for Birds

·         American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)

·         Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens and related spp.)

·         Strawberry (Fragaria spp.)

·         Trumpet creeper or vine (Campis radicans)

·         Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

·         Wild grape (Vitis spp.)

Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees are attracted by a different style plant than most birds.

·         Aster (Aster spp.)

·         Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)

·         Bee balm (Monarda spp.)

·         Butterfly bush (Buddleia alternifolia)

·         Butterfly weed and other milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)

·         Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

·         Clover and other legumes

·         Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)

·         Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)

·         Delphinium (Delphinium spp.)

·         Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)

·         Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)

·         Jewel weed (Impatiens capensis or I. pallida)

·         Lobelia (Lobelia spp.)

·         Lupine (Lupinus spp.)

·         Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)

·         Phlox (Phlox spp.)

·         Salvia (Salvia spp.)

·         Trumpet creeper or vine (Campis radicans)

·         Weigela (Weigela spp.)

·         Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)

Attracting mammals may not have been your intention but, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, skunks, woodchucks, mice, and deer are commonly found in many urban environments. These species are highly adaptable and, in many cases, are becoming unwanted visitors rather than welcome guests.

As with all wildlife, cover is essential for the survival of these species. Small brush piles intended for amphibians and reptiles will also provide shelter for rabbits and mice. Chipmunks and woodchucks are adept at digging their own burrows. Trees may provide shelter for squirrels, raccoons, and opossums. Food set out for birds may attract many of these animals. Squirrels, chipmunks, and mice will readily eat birdseed. Raccoons will feed on suet. Woodchucks and rabbits will eat a variety of vegetation including garden vegetables and flowering plants. Deer are browsers and will nibble at trees, shrubs, hay, and grain.

A few precautions can be taken to avoid unwanted encounters with these animals. Avoid setting out food that may attract scavengers such as raccoons. Keep garbage cans in a secure shed or garage or use metal cans that scavengers cannot chew through. Check the exterior of your house for loose or rotted boards that could allow access by mice or other rodents. Remember that these animals are wild, and if threatened they can bite. Raccoons can be particularly aggressive. All these species can carry diseases. Do not handle them.  The may make cute babies, but make destructive adults.

Laws vary from state to state on wildlife issues. If you have questions or concerns about wildlife, contact ODNR online to find a list of numbers to call.