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Build a wildlife habitat

Build a wildlife habitat
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Build a small backyard wildlife habitat using native plants, fresh water, shelter, and food to attract local birds, insects, and small animals.

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Step-by-step guide to build a wildlife habitat

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Natural Habitats and Ecosystems - Compilation Video - Science for Kids

What you need
Adult supervision required, bird seed or fruit pieces, gardening gloves, mulch or leaves, native plant seedlings or seeds, potting soil, rocks and sticks, shallow dish or birdbath, small trowel or spoon

Step 1

Pick a safe spot in your yard that gets sun or part shade and is sheltered from strong wind.

Step 2

Spend five quiet minutes watching the spot to see where birds insects or small animals already visit.

Step 3

Bring all your materials to the spot so everything is ready to use.

Step 4

Use your trowel or spoon to loosen the soil or fill your container with potting soil.

Step 5

Make holes for your plants or seeds spaced the distance the seed packet or plant tag suggests.

Step 6

Put each native seedling into a hole or sprinkle seeds into the holes and cover them gently with soil.

Step 7

Water the new plants gently until the soil is moist.

Step 8

Place a shallow dish or birdbath near the plants and fill it with fresh water.

Step 9

Arrange rocks and sticks to create small crevices and hiding spots for insects and small animals.

Step 10

Spread mulch or leaves around the plants to keep soil moist and give insects shelter.

Step 11

Put bird seed on the ground or place fruit pieces in a shallow dish to offer food for wildlife.

Step 12

Check the water dish each morning to see if it needs more fresh water.

Step 13

Share a photo and description of your finished wildlife habitat on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a trowel, potting soil, or a shallow birdbath?

Use a sturdy kitchen spoon or small hand fork to loosen soil, fill a clean milk jug, yogurt container, or nursery pot with garden soil mixed with compost as a substitute for potting soil, and use a shallow saucer or lid as the birdbath.

My seeds didn't sprout — what might have gone wrong and how do we fix it?

Check that you made holes at the depth and spacing shown on the seed packet, kept the soil evenly moist (not waterlogged) after planting, and move the container or choose a sunnier or shadier spot as needed while protecting seedlings from strong wind.

How can I adapt this habitat activity for younger or older children?

For toddlers, have an adult do the trowel work and let the child sprinkle seeds, arrange rocks, and refill the water dish each morning, while older kids can measure spacing from plant tags, research native seedlings, and design a planting map before digging.

How can we extend or personalize the wildlife habitat after finishing it?

Enhance the habitat by adding a labeled native-plant sign, rotating different foods like fruit pieces and bird seed, installing a small camera or notebook to record visitors, and sharing photos and observations on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to build a wildlife habitat

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Intro to managing land for wildlife

4 Videos

Facts about wildlife gardening

🐦 Backyard habitats can attract dozens of local bird species across a year when they provide food, water, and shelter.

💧 Even a shallow birdbath or dripper can bring wildlife to your yard; moving water is especially attractive to birds and insects.

🦋 Native plants support many more local insects than non-native species — some native trees host hundreds of caterpillar species that feed baby birds.

🌱 Planting natives usually cuts down on watering and pesticides, helping wildlife thrive while saving time and resources.

🪵 Simple shelters like brush piles, rock piles, nest boxes, and fallen logs give small animals safe places to hide and raise young.

How do we build a small backyard wildlife habitat for kids?

Start by choosing a sunny or partially shaded spot and a few native plants that provide nectar, seeds, berries and shelter. Involve your child in sketching the layout, planting in layers (groundcover, shrubs, small trees), and adding a shallow water source like a birdbath or tray. Create shelter with a brush pile, rock pile or nest boxes, avoid pesticides, and check seasonally. Let kids observe and record wildlife to learn and adapt the habitat.

What materials do I need to create a backyard wildlife habitat?

Gather native plants or seeds, potting soil or compost, mulch, a shallow water dish or birdbath, rocks and logs for shelter, and a few nest boxes or insect hotels. You’ll also want child-safe hand tools, gloves, plant labels, twine, and a watering can. Optional: binoculars, field guide, and notebook for observations. Check local native-plant lists or a nursery for species that suit your yard and climate.

What ages is building a wildlife habitat suitable for?

This activity suits many ages: preschoolers (3–5) can plant seeds and observe with close adult help; elementary kids (5–10) can help dig, water, and identify species; tweens (10–13) can plan plant choices and monitor wildlife; teens can design and maintain the space independently. Always supervise tool use, water features, and interactions with wildlife. Tailor tasks to a child’s coordination and attention span for safe, engaging learning.

What are safety tips and precautions when making a backyard wildlife habitat?

Use non-toxic, native plants and avoid pesticides or treated wood. Keep water features shallow and change water often to prevent mosquitoes; supervise young children near water. Secure heavy rocks or logs so they won’t shift, and teach kids to wear gloves when handling soil or debris. Stay cautious around nests or wild animals—observe from a distance and never feed processed human foods. Check local rules about attracting certain species.
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