Landscape Your Backyard For Wildlife!

IDAHO FALLS - While it is beneficial to both man and beast to maintain a respectable distance from wildlife, there are a lot of things that can be done in the confines of our own backyards that can enhance the quality of life for humans and wildlife. On Saturday, September 14 the annual Landscaping For Wildlife program will be held in Idaho Falls and its environs. Six different homes that have been landscaped for wildlife will be open to the public, free of charge. According to IDFG Nongame Biologist Lauri Hanauska-Brown, "It's a great opportunity for wildlife lovers to get out and gather new ideas on how they could do things in their own yards to benefit wildlife."

The program will feature six different homes; each with landscaping designed to benefit different species of wildlife. Most of the homes are located in a rural setting, but one of the homes demonstrates what creative things that even suburban dwellers can do for wildlife. As an added bonus, local falconer and raptor rehabilatator Jim Porter will be on hand at ones of the homes with a kestrel, a species of falcon that one might expect to see pay a visit to a backyard that was landscaped for wildlife.

The program is being sponsored by the Idaho Nursery Association, Idaho Fish & Game, Snake River Audubon Society, and the Bonneville County Master Gardeners. All homes will be open to the public from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM. A flyer describing the program, along with a map will be available at the Farmers Market held in downtown Idaho Falls earlier on that Saturday morning.