Please allow us one more day to bring you some signage seen around town. Yesterday, we shared the “poison ivy” sign. Today, we share another sign seen while in Fisher Park, “CERTIFIED WILDLIKE HABITAT.” Many residential yards around Greensboro have these signs. They are issued by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, in cooperation with the National Wildlife Federation.

The five requirements for a yard to be certified.

Food: Minimum of 3 sources of native food, such as native trees, shrubs, flowers, seeds, or berries.
Water: Minimum of 1 clean source like a birdbath, pond, stream, or shallow dish.
Cover: Minimum of 2 places to hide from bad weather and predators, such as log piles, dense shrubs, or evergreen trees.
Places to Raise Young: Minimum of 2 locations for reproduction and nesting, such as mature trees, nesting boxes, or dense ground cover.
Sustainability: Minimum of 3 earth-friendly actions, such as using native plants, reducing water use, mulching, and avoiding chemical pesticides

For a standard, residential yard, as long as the above criteria are met, there is no minimum amount of space. We don’t have data for Greensboro, but North Carolina has over 15,000 Certified Wildlife Habitats across. As we surrender
raw tracts of land to construction projects, it will become increasingly important for individuals and companies to create these habitats, even if they aren’t certified. One prime corporate role model locally is the Center for Creative Leadership on North Battleground Avenue. They are certified as a wildlife habitat. Read more HERE. Are there any certified habitats in your neighborhood? This would make a great service project.