Creating a Wildlife Friendly Yard

In the summer, I switch most of my outdoor activities to the sundown hours. Change is good for the spirit. As I have mentioned before, I have strewn fountains and water features around the yard for the benefit of all the wild creatures that visit. Of late, I have had a mystical-like creature show up at just about the same time in the evening.

As the sun begins to go down, I watch the diurnal creatures visit one last time before tucking in for the night. And it’s then that the nocturnal visitors begin to rouse. About a month ago, I lingered in the yard watching my solar landscaping lights pop on and bring a different atmosphere to the yard. For a moment I glanced down the walk and away from the fountain in my yard… and when I looked back the wingspread of a little owl appeared at the fountain. It was silent. No swoosh. No splash. No audible indication at all that a new visitor was present. A western screech owl had found my water.

I was so intrigued that I sat motionless as it looked in all directions, silently checking for safety, maybe ensuring no threats were present, before it very quietly ducked its head to drink from the pooled water in the fountain. A few sips seemed to suffice, but it stayed in place…wings folded in, taloned feet and legs submerged in the cool water of the recirculating fountain. I was mesmerized.

I looked away for just a fraction of a second and then back at found the fountain…once again vacant. The screech owl was nowhere in sight. Not one hint that in that second of distraction it absolutely silently had unfolded it’s almost two-foot wings and took off, I suppose, for the more vegetated back of the yard. My neighbor has a nest box back there, and it is my greatest hope that babies were raised in that cavity this year and that the ‘hood’ was hospitable enough to make it a home again in future years.

I am all about doing what is possible to attract more of my wildlife neighbors to reside in my space. When it is eventually time to start planting again, I am going to concentrate on everything that I can do to make my yard ever more irresistible.

No pesticides. No traps. No invasive plants. I hope to let nature take the first shot at making my yard balanced and hospitable. Perhaps any semblance of a mosquito, mouse or rat will fall prey to the quick response of bats, owls, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, or snakes. All have been spotted around the neighborhood, and hereby invite all to dine at my house.

I will look to add night blooming plants like cereus, sacred datura, and tufted primrose. I intend to plant insect attracting plants like desert hackberry, desert willow and velvet mesquite. Providing food plants throughout my yard will further entice wildlife in search of appropriate habitat. Indian mallows, wolfberry, and globe mallow are not only a beauty to the yard that pleases my senses, but they are also nurturing, food-providing additions for the critters.

While I know that none of these efforts will prevent “other” non-native pests from showing up, maybe the presence of native wildlife in my yard will restore the balance that we should all seek. And with that in mind, I hope we all remember that our pets should remain inside when possible—for their safety and for the safety of wildlife. They will all live longer when there is no enticement for conflict.

So, sit in a quiet space as the sun goes down. Take in the nocturnal bliss. Watch for the magic of a silent visitor to your yard. It is something you are unlikely to forget.

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Our friends at Desert Botanical Garden offer insights into adding native plants to your yard: https://dbg.org/learn/dls/. Look for our wildlife education teams at the DBG during the holiday “Noches de las Luminarias” festival. Additional landscaping classes are available from our friends at Boyce Thompson Arboretum: https://btarboretum.org/classes-and-workshops/.