Embracing Spring: Kawartha Wildlife Centre’s Top 5 Tips for Wildlife-Friendly Activities
As the snow begins to melt and with the vibrant colours of spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to connect with nature and support local wildlife. Here are our top 5 wildlife-friendly activities to consider this spring:
Native Plant Gardening:
Embrace the beauty of some native plants in your garden. Kawartha Wildlife Centre encourages homeowners to incorporate native species into their landscaping. Native plants provide essential food and habitat for local wildlife, supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Consider planting wildflowers, milkweed for monarch butterflies, and berry-bearing shrubs to attract birds and provide forage for insects.
Create a Wildlife-Friendly Water Source:
Installing a bird bath or creating a small pond can be a game-changer for local wildlife. Birds, amphibians, and insects all benefit from a freshwater source, especially during the warmer months. Ensure the water is shallow, with rocks or branches for small animals to perch on, and change the water regularly to prevent mosquito breeding, and give it a good scrub to ensure that algae and pathogens are thoroughly removed.
Mindful Lawn Care Practices:
Opt for wildlife-friendly lawn care by avoiding chemical pesticides and herbicides. Kawartha Wildlife Centre advises homeowners to embrace a more natural approach to lawn maintenance, allowing wildflowers to flourish and providing essential food sources for insects and small mammals. Top dressing with White Clover (a fantastic pollinator friendly plant with deep drought resistant taproots that also adds nitrogen to the soil) is available at most garden nurseries. This not only creates a healthier environment but also supports the entire food chain.
Build Nesting Boxes and Habitat
Help local bird populations by constructing nesting boxes for various species. The Kawartha Wildlife Centre suggests placing these boxes in strategic locations, such as on trees or poles, to provide safe and secure nesting spaces. Or even easier? One effective method is the establishment of brush piles, which provide crucial shelter and refuge for various wildlife species. By strategically arranging fallen branches, twigs, and leaves in a designated area, individuals can offer a safe haven for small mammals, reptiles, and birds. These brush piles act as natural shelters, offering protection from predators and adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, they contribute to biodiversity by attracting insects and invertebrates, forming an essential part of the local food chain. Incorporating such features into gardens or green spaces not only enhances the visual appeal but also fosters a harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife, promoting the overall health and resilience of ecosystems.
Leave the CleanUP to consistent warm weather:
Overwintering insects often seek shelter in leaf litter, mulch, or other protective locations during the colder months. If gardening activities begin too early, disturbing these sheltered areas can expose insects to harsh conditions, reducing their chances of survival. Waiting for consistent warmer weather ensures that overwintering insects have a better chance of emerging safely. These insects are the KEY to the food chain; hungry baby birds need the protein in insects to grow and thrive. Even some birds we think of as nectar feeders (ie. hummingbirds, absolutely depend on readily available insect protein to feed their hungry and growing young). Leave the rake until temperatures are consistently above 10 degrees celsius!
To support wildlife in need, please consider making a donation this season: www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/33851
www.kawarthawildlifecentre.ca Info@KawarthaWildlifeCentre.ca
705-292-9211
Local Humane Societies
Lakefield Animal Welfare Society
2887 Lakefield Rd., Lakefield • 705-652-0588
www.lakefieldanimalwelfare.org
Peterborough Humane Society
1999 Technology Drive, Peterborough • 705-745-4722
www.peterboroughhumanesociety.ca
Animal Rescue Krew (ARK)
3307 Lakefield Rd., Lakefield • 705-651-0069
Home Again Bancroft
613-474-3450 • www.homeagainbancroft.ca
Humane Society Of Kawartha Lakes
705-878-4618 • www.hskl.ca
