Illinois homeowners, school administrators, business owners, organization trustees, and other small-tract owners can help wildlife by doing three things:

Other Additions to Your Backyard Habitat

Most of the features discussed in chapter 7 can be incorporated into backyard habitats. Nest boxes are among the easiest and most visually acceptable of the practices. Many cavity nesters are adapted to human-dominated areas and will use nest boxes.

What about brushpiles or rockpiles, which neighbors might consider unsightly? Try hiding these in back corners of the property, with tall flowers planted around the perimeter. Dense shrubs can also hide a brushpile or rockpile. And wildlife will actually like it better when the pile is a bit hidden and has a food source nearby.

Creating backyard habitat can be a rewarding adventure. Numerous publications go beyond the scope of this chapter. Check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a nearby botanical garden, or a local garden center or bookstore for additional materials.

Wildlife Landscaping Needn't Be Wild

Whatever decisions you make or restrictions you face, don't let wildlife improvements be a substitute for maintaining an attractive yard. Just allowing a yard to grow up without some sort of a scheme may look like you are testing the nuisance laws. Plantings for wildlife can be varied and extremely pleasing to the eye and can even include a variety of "weeds" that have wildlife value. Make sure your project plan provides the elements needed by wildlife and also incorporates contemporary aesthetics, especially in suburban settings.

Rural homeowners usually have more control over what they do in their backyards and don't face the restrictions encountered by their suburban counterparts. However, if property is surrounded by agricultural lands, the owner may need to consider the effects of a habitat project on adjacent crop fields. Discussing with the farmer (if someone else owns or farms the property) the location and type of plantings you'll be doing will help avert problems.

Rural homeowners can also work to provide better habitat by undertaking practices on any adjacent farm ground that they own or by encouraging other owners to do activities that enhance the overall area for wildlife. These might include placing any fallow areas or grassy field borders adjacent to the backyard instead of elsewhere on the farm; creating corridors between the backyard habitat and nearby woods, Grasslands or wetlands; leaving a few rows of crops unharvested adjacent to the backyard; and being particularly careful with pesticide use in the vicinity of the yard. Also, if the crop field is tilled each year, encourage minimum tillage on the field, or at least in a strip near the backyard.

Schools and churches might use a habitat project as a demonstration site and actively encourage nearby property owners to incorporate wildlife considerations as well. Habitat projects can often reduce the maintenance time and costs required to sustain a visually acceptable property. This fact alone may sell the idea of habitat development to an organization. Habitat projects also offer a focus for students or members of a religious or civic group.

Richard and Susan Day #################

Nesting kestrels and bluebirds, ruby-throated hummingbirds flitting among summer blooming prairie plants and summer tanagers feeding at one of many bird feeders are just a few of the highlights of Richard and Susan Day's backyard habitat. Their property's bird checklist features 172 species, with 60 of those nesting.

Though the yard has long been colorful, it hasn't always had this diversity of bird life. The Days live in Richard’s grandparents' house, located near the southern Illinois town of Alma. His grandparents had an "old-fashioned" daffodil farm. Once the plants bloomed, the flowers were cut and shipped by train. The daffodils are now gone, replaced by prairie, a wetland, a few crops, and a yard. For a while the Days' yard was "typical," with a few trees and lawn. When they married 1990, Susan learned about landscaping for wildlife and asked Richard, "Do you care if we plant a few things?" The answer was "No, do whatever you want." Susan took the message to heart, and over the years their "few things" have turned out to be more than 200 bushes and trees and twelve flower beds.

While the couple jokes that once they started buying plants they couldn't stop, each plant was carefully selected for its avian benefits. As more bushes and flowers were added, more birds came. The backyard landscape plan was carefully researched to provide the necessary habitats for birds. The Days were interested in providing not only food, but shelter. They were fortunate that nursery owners would search for native
stock for them; this way the Days could be assured the plants would survive in southern Illinois. Today, their three-acre yard is the envy of many and perhaps is the "ultimate backyard."

Providing wildlife habitat doesn't stop with their yard-the Days also have a five-acre prairie. Once again, they researched their plan, contacting the local Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) office. From IDNR they learned about the .Illinois Acres for Wildlife program, in which landowners agree to set aside land for wildlife. They worked with a heritage biologist .in planning, preparing the soil, and planting. To complete their homestead, they established an eight-acre shallow-water wetland, ten acres of crop, and sixteen acres of woodland.

When asked what hands-on lessons they have learned, Susan replies, "With calluses on our hands, we learned how to be flexible, adapt, and that a whole lot of laughter helps! We also learned about patience. We would call the heritage biologist in a panic when only weeds were coming up and were reassured to 'have patience.' We have also learned to say no. You can't do everything. Even though we would like to go to the nursery and say, 'I want one of everything,' you must have guidelines on what to plant. And when you come home and find a big bag of forbs and two tree planters are on your doorstep, you know the plants must be put in the ground immediately-that's hands-on!"

Every year during the first week in May, the Days volunteer at Stephen A. Forbes State Park during conservation field days for the fifth graders of Marion County. Here excited kids learn about backyard wildlife and their food, shelter, and water requirements. The Days find this very rewarding-they note that the future is in children's hands, and they believe they can have a significant influence on these young minds.

Susan L. Post ##################

When Wildlife Wear Out Their Welcome

When you provide habitat and food for wildlife, you may get more than you bargained for. Species you didn't plan for may show up, literally at your door. And even desired species may overstep their welcome.

We enjoy the entertaining antics of a family of raccoons, the incredible ingenuity of a gray squirrel, the grace of a white-tailed deer. Watching a doe and her speckled fawn just outside the kitchen window on an early summer evening makes developing backyard habitat all seem worthwhile. Later, however, when deer browse prized garden plants or raccoons take up residence in the garage attic, our attitudes may change.

The homeowner who creates songbird habitat or a butterfly garden may later realize that other species may be attracted as well. Opossums may show up at night to feed on leftover birdseed. Or a red-tailed hawk may be attracted to the bird feeder-not for the seeds, since it is a carnivore, but for other birds as potential prey.

Yes, these are the facts of nature! Wildlife are hot-wired to survive. It can be difficult, perhaps impossible, to provide for only a few desired species without attracting others. This fact reflects the ecological adage that "everything is connected to everything else." It also speaks to the soundness of planning for more than just a few favorite species. Occasional nuisances can be dealt with humanely and effectively. The resources listed at the end of this chapter can help you avoid problems before they start. Many are simple, common-sense approaches for keeping raccoons out of the house, reducing squirrels' access to the bird feeder (unless you intend the feed for them, too), and protecting valuable landscape plantings from browsing.

The more we learn about wildlife, the easier it is to plan and enjoy a positive relationship with them. Inviting wildlife into your backyard can be a very important way to nurture this relationship. Watching squirrels from your dining room window provides year round glimpses into their lives. From their mating chases twice a year, to their chattering communication system, to their scatter hoarding of nuts in the fall, each seasonal observation provides a chance to better understand them.

Squirrels may challenge you to keep them out of the attic or the bird feeder, but remember, they have to make a living, too! You will find it helpful and enjoyable if you supplement your observations by reading about the life histories of a few of the animals you have attracted. Knowledge leads to understanding. And understanding can lead to tolerance and a peaceful coexistence.

Other Additions to Your Backyard Habitat  

Most of the features discussed in chapter 7 can be incorporated into backyard habitats. Nest boxes are among the easiest and most visually acceptable of the practices. Many cavity nesters are adapted to human-dominated areas and will use nest boxes.

What about brushpiles or rockpiles, which neighbors might consider unsightly? Try hiding these in back corners of the property, with tall flowers planted around the perimeter. Dense shrubs can also hide a brushpile or rockpile. And wildlife will actually like it better when the pile is a bit hidden and has a food source nearby.

Creating backyard habitat can be a rewarding adventure. Numerous publications go beyond the scope of this chapter. Check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a nearby botanical garden, or a local garden center or bookstore for additional materials.

When Wildlife Wear Out Their Welcome  

When you provide habitat and food for wildlife, you may get more than you bargained for. Species you didn't plan for may show up, literally at your door. And even desired species may overstep their welcome.

We enjoy the entertaining antics of a family of raccoons, the incredible ingenuity of a gray squirrel, the grace of a white-tailed deer. Watching a doe and her speckled fawn just outside the kitchen window on an early summer evening makes developing backyard habitat all seem worthwhile. Later, however, when deer browse prized garden plants or raccoons take up residence in the garage attic, our attitudes may change.

The homeowner who creates songbird habitat or a butterfly garden may later realize that other species may be attracted as well. Opossums may show up at night to feed on leftover birdseed. Or a red-tailed hawk may be attracted to the bird feeder-not for the seeds, since it is a carnivore, but for other birds as potential prey.

Yes, these are the facts of nature! Wildlife are hot-wired to survive. It can be difficult, perhaps impossible, to provide for only a few desired species without attracting others. This fact reflects the ecological adage that "everything is connected to everything else." It also speaks to the soundness of planning for more than just a few favorite species.
Occasional nuisances can be dealt with humanely and effectively. The resources listed at the end of this chapter can help you avoid problems before they start. Many are simple, common-sense approaches for keeping raccoons out of the house, reducing squirrels' access to the bird feeder (unless you intend the feed for them, too), and protecting valuable landscape plantings from browsing.

The more we learn about wildlife, the easier it is to plan and enjoy a positive relationship with them. Inviting wildlife into your backyard can be a very important way to nurture this relationship. Watching squirrels from your dining room window provides year round glimpses into their lives. From their mating chases twice a year, to their chattering communication system, to their scatter hoarding of nuts in the fall, each seasonal observation provides a chance to better understand them.

Squirrels may challenge you to keep them out of the attic or the bird feeder, but remember, they have to make a living, too! You will find it helpful and enjoyable if you supplement your observations by reading about the life histories of a few of the animals you have attracted. Knowledge leads to understanding. And understanding can lead to tolerance and a peaceful coexistence.