Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

By Lyn Hayes, Forsyth County Master Gardener

TownLoafer Magazine, August 2007 

Adding beauty to your landscape that also helps wildlife.

Creating a habitat, where animals live, is key to wildlife survival. In a time where large areas of forest are being cleared for large developments, the need for wildlife habitats is on the increase. Anyone can aid in this process by creating a beautiful sanctuary for all types of wildlife to visit. There are three essential elements in creating any habitat, which are; food, shelter, and water. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the water aspect.

It is easy to incorporate water in your landscape by simply adding a birdbath or a small fountain. The sound of moving water can quickly attract wildlife. Birds will be frequent visitors, provided they have a place to land.

Including a pond in your landscape can add wonderful diversity to your yard, while providing an endless educational experience for you and your family. Backyard ponds will be teeming with life soon after they are created. Frogs and toads may greet you with singing in the spring. Salamanders and turtles may take residence as well. Providing a shallow area allows for birds and butterflies to delight in the splash on hot summer days.

You will also notice that voracious “mosquito-eaters”, dragonflies and damselflies, will be fluttering about your pond. These are a welcome addition to maintaining a natural balance in your pond. Contrary to most beliefs, backyard ponds are not prone to mosquito issues as their larvae do not live where there is moving water. A variety of flora and fauna will work together to maintain your pond as a healthy ecosystem.

Basic Pond Design

Place your pond in an area you visit often. Do not design your pond in an area so remote you will not be able to enjoy its natural beauty. The best ponds are built to look like you bought your home on a property with a natural pond, not the other way around.

A flexible liner pond is the most recommended. They can flow with the land and offer the flexibility for a unique design. When constructing a pond, be sure to incorporate a shallow “beach” area for the small wildlife to enjoy. Wildlife drowning can occur when animals fall in deep water and are unable to escape. Chipmunks, shrews, and box turtles are common victims.

Choose an area with full sun during the day and some afternoon shade. Native plant life practical for ponds require mostly sun, including lilies. Animals that may inhabit your pond will also depend on a lot of sun.

Moving water is essential to the health of a pond. Ponds are easily maintained with the proper pump and much needed filtration. The idea of a natural habitat is to be able to let nature do the work for you. Adding chemicals and algaecide to maintain the clarity of the pond is not the best solution for the wildlife that lives there. Consider a waterfall, a spitter, or even a fountain to create movement and filtration. The most common mistake people make when constructing a pond is to make it too small and without filtration. Because Georgia is hot during the summer, the more filtration the better. This will keep the water cool and lessen the chance for algae to grow. A pond that is 1,000 gallons will not need as much attention as a 100 gallon pond, where the rain and the heat add to changes in the eco system.

With a little research, installing a pond is a project a homeowner can take on and feel very rewarded. There is a ton of information available about pond building online, in book stores, and landscape retail stores. If it seems too large of a project for you, there are several landscape companies available to do the job. Be sure when interviewing contractors for the project, that they have experience in water feature design and construction. Always ask for references and photos of their work.

A pond can be a wonderful addition to your landscape and a welcome necessity to the wildlife community.