The Houghton Wildlife Habitat team has successfully registered the Houghton neighborhood with the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat, and has accomplished well over half of the requirements for getting it certified.

This requires getting a number of residences, schools, and parks individually certified, and also performing public education and community improvement projects. Eventually, this registration and certification activity will encompass all of Kirkland (ZIP codes 98033 and 98034).

This project is supported by Mayor James Lauinger, Deputy Mayor Joan McBride, and Councilmembers Mary-Alyce Burleigh, Tom Hodgson and Dave Asher, who have already certified their yards, as has 45th District Rep. Larry Springer. “City fathers” Bill Woods and Chuck Morgan also endorse this community project.

What can you do? The requirements to certify your yard are easy to achieve, and many residences will already qualify. Certification can be done online instantly. Visit http://secure.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/certify/page1.cfm and note the simple check-off requirements for Food, Water, Cover, Places to Raise Young, and Sustainable Gardening Practices. There is a $20 fee, which includes a year’s membership in NWF and a subscription to National Wildlife magazine.