Oregon Zoo Conservation:Habitat Begins At Home

Photograph by LeeAnn Heringer

Shelter

Native plants also provide shelter.

Try to have vertical layers in your habitat to provide shelter for all sorts of wildlife:

(Courtesy of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Many things can provide shelter. Hollow logs or brush piles are perfect hiding places, as are rock piles. Other ways to provide shelter are bird boxes, bat boxes, toad abodes, or ponds for aquatic animals.

Toads: Make a toad abode with a plant pot and saucer. Fill the saucer with water and prop up the pot upside-down on a rock nearby. This provides shelter and water for a toad to move in!
Birds: Put up a variety of boxes to attract a variety of birds.
Butterflies and Bees
Hummingbirds
Bats
Bugs
Dragonflies
Mammals

TIP: Be sure to set up shelter away from food and water so that animals have a chance to see predators coming.

A big predator for wildlife, especially birds, is the domestic cat. Please try to keep them indoors. For more information, check out these sources:

1. The Cats Indoors! Campaign
2. Humane Society of the United States
3. Learn more about responsible pet choices from Oregon Zoo and Northwest Zoo and Aquarium Alliance.


Animals need food	Native vs Invasive Plants	Water is essential	Shelter for protection is important


Place to raise young	Once your habit is built, maintain it with sustainable gardening	Here are some helpful websites and books on how-to build a habitat	Resourses about Habitats At Home for Teachers/Parents and Citizen Scientists	Back to Home