- Habitats are necessary for the survival of local wildlife. Without a proper habitat, animals will not be provided the right sources of food or shelter, thus eliminating local species. Restoring lost habitats, or creating new ones can save local wildlife from becoming endangered or even extinct. Planting trees and other types of plants found locally can provide shelter and food sources for local wildlife, and serve as a conservation area where native plants can flourish.
- Local bird species, and even some non-native species that pass through while migrating, may use nesting boxes to build nests to hatch young or as shelter from inclement weather. Nesting boxes can be made using recyclable materials -- another way to help the ecosystem -- such as old tires, wooden crates and even large plastic barrels to provide makeshift shelters for local fowl. Lining the shelters with straw or grasses can encourage birds to use the boxes, and provides them with materials to build a nest.
- Plants are necessary for most local wildlife as a source of food, but young growth plants are susceptible to being eaten before given the chance to grow and even pollinate. Protecting young plants from wildlife can be as simple as erecting a fenced-in management area, or fencing in individual plants with protective wire screens. Deer especially may prove destructive to saplings, or young trees, so purchasing or making deer nets to slip over saplings will provide protection from deer.
- Keeping our local watersheds, streams, ponds, rivers and lakes clean affects the health of local fauna, flora and even our community. Too often we allow our local waters to become polluted with trash and debris, which can prove damaging to our environment. Organizing a waterway cleanup can be an effective way to better our local ecosystems so local wildlife and plants do not get impacted negatively. Weekly or monthly water quality monitoring can provide a way to keep the accumulation of trash and debris in check.
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