|
HomeTopics...Gardening TipsAttracting Wildlife
Wildlife Gardens: Tips for Attracting AnimalsSo you have a garden and you're interested in creating a hospitable environment for wild animals or insects? Gardeners who have been successful in creating wildlife gardens arm themselves with knowledge about the natural habitat of the desired animals and the details of their sensory systems. Attracting animals is a matter of knowing what they like to eat, see, smell and hear.
The animals you might want as visitors generally fall into one of three main types: birds, mammals or insects. Occasionally, species from other animal groups such as spiders warrant serious consideration for being part of such a habitat. Of course, you may inadvertently attract the wrong animals to your garden. You need only witness deer destroying a rose garden or rabbits eating vegetables to understand why caution is warranted.
Wildlife Gardens: The BasicsAnimals vary in the ways they sense their environment, but they generally rely on smell, hearing and sight. A number of creatures respond to taste and touch once they enter your garden, but it's the shapes, colors, fragrances and sounds that draw them there in the first place. What, then, are those aspects of your garden that will attract animals from a distance?
Birds respond positively to communication from their own kind. They see color and shades of gray. They also respond to shapes, especially those of predators. So if you wish to attract birds to your garden, make sure that no cats lurk there. Many mammals have a keen sense of smell and they, too, respond to shapes and shades of gray. Insects have a well-developed olfactory system so they can detect tiny quantities of airborne chemicals from long distances.
Attracting Animals and InsectsBirds, bees, butterflies and ladybugs are your friends. They'll keep insects under control, pollinate your flowers and bring your entire garden to life. Here are some tips for attracting animals:
|
|
Related Products and Services
