The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has named the property
owned by Tanya and Tom Whitaker of Gilroy an official
”
Backyard Wildlife Habitat
”
site. Mary Burnette of the NFW’s communications department
described the Whitakers’ land as
”
attract(ing) a variety of birds, butterflies and other wildlife
while helping to protect the local environment.
”
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has named the property owned by Tanya and Tom Whitaker of Gilroy an official “Backyard Wildlife Habitat” site. Mary Burnette of the NFW’s communications department described the Whitakers’ land as “attract(ing) a variety of birds, butterflies and other wildlife while helping to protect the local environment.”
The NWF began its Backyard Wildlife Habitat program in 1973 and has certified more than 45,000 habitats across the United States. The majority are privately owned like the Whitakers, but more than 2,000 schools and hundreds of business sites have also been certified.
The federation, Burnette said, encourages “any habitat enthusiast (to) create a backyard habitat and learn the rewards of gardening for wildlife.
“The program teaches the importance of environmental stewardship by providing basic guidelines for making landscapes more hospitable to wildlife.
“Habitat restoration is critical in urban and suburban settings where commercial and residential development encroaches on wildlife areas,” she said, adding that “changing landscapes to attract more wildlife enhances the environment’s quality by improving the air, soil and water throughout the community.”
To find out about getting a property certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, visit www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat or call (800) 900-2656.
