Houghton residents turn community into a welcoming place for wildlife

The National Wildlife Federation recently announced that the central Houghton Neighborhood is putting out the welcome mat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife, by registering its Community Wildlife Habitat project with NWF.

December 29, 2008 7:21 pm
John and Beth McCaslin (right) and other fellow Houghton residents recently certified the neighborhood as a Wildlife Habitat.
John and Beth McCaslin (right) and other fellow Houghton residents recently certified the neighborhood as a Wildlife Habitat.

The National Wildlife Federation recently announced that the central Houghton Neighborhood is putting out the welcome mat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife, by registering its Community Wildlife Habitat project with NWF.

Central Houghton Neighborhood is sending a clear and powerful message to communities all over America that caring people, working together, can help wildlife, wild places and the health of the environment.

Since 1973, NWF has provided millions of people with the basic guidelines for making their landscapes more hospitable for wildlife. To date, through the Habitats program, NWF has certified over 112,000 sites including yards, schools, businesses, community gardens and parks, and places of worship. Each of these sites provides the four basic elements that all wildlife need to thrive: food, water, cover and places to raise young.

In addition, NWF has certified thirty entire communities. Central Houghton Neighborhood is working to become part of this distinguished group. A Community Wildlife Habitat project brings people together for a common purpose – to create a community where people, flora and fauna can flourish. Central Houghton Neighborhood‘s action plan includes a long-term commitment to citizen education about providing habitat for wildlife and employing sustainable gardening practices. These practices include reducing or eliminating the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, conserving water, planting native plants, removing invasive plants and composting. Their goal is to certify at least fifty homes, one school and two businesses, places of worship or other locations.

For more information on becoming involved in Central Houghton Neighborhood’s efforts to become a certified Community Wildlife Habitat, please contact Beth or John McCaslin at 425-889-9507 or at mccaslins@verizon.net.

To get started on your own gardening for wildlife adventure, visit NWF’s Web site at www.nwf.org/backyard. You can also obtain a free application by calling 1-800-822-9919 or by writing to National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190.