Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program

• Contact Information
• Great Wildlife Links

Creating wildlife habitat in your landscape is different than simply attracting them with feeders or flowers. By providing habitat you are giving wildlife a place to live; feeders and flowers simply attract animals that live elsewhere to visit you. Habitat allows you to produce your own birds, butterflies and other critters.  Without habitat in your yard, you are relying on someplace else to produce the wildlife that you wish to attract. These wildlife may not always be around if that someplace else becomes developed or altered.

Certify your habitat! If you wish, you can certify your habitat through this program. The requirements are:

• Food, water and cover are provided for wildlife;
• The area is a minimum of 10 square yards (approximately 12 feet by 12 feet);
• 50% of the plant species in your habitat area are native to Florida.

When your yard is certified, you will receive an aluminum "habitat sign" and a certificate. We wish you well in your efforts to help Florida's wildlife. Your yard can have a big impact and it will bring you much enjoyment.

Educational presentations and a display are available to groups and organizations upon request.

To receive the Wildlife Habitat Packet and subscribe to the "Creature Comforts" newsletter, complete the application and send $10 to:
      Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program
      Hillsborough County Extension Service
      5339 C. R. 579, Seffner, FL 33584
 

Contact us for more information. JoAnn Hoffman - Coordinator Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program (813) 744-5519 x 139 or joannh@ufl.edu

GREAT LINKS!

Association of Florida Native Nurseries

UF Florida Wildlife Extension

UF Wildlife publications online

Florida Master Naturalist Program

Butterfly Gardening in Florida

Butterfly Sheet 1

Butterfly Sheet 2

Butterfly Flash Cards

USGS Butterfly Page

Florida Butterfly Tutorials

Hummingbirds in Florida

Guide to Florida's Venomous Snakes

Native Plants that Attract Wildlife

The Hummingbird Society

Online Guide to the Snakes of Florida