Expand wildlife habitat from backyard to community

Washington residents love their wildlife and backyard habitat gardening so much that our state is home to one of the country’s greatest concentrations of certified “Community Wildlife Habitats” – a national program that recognizes shared devotion to wildlife habitat enhancement and preservation.

The National Wildlife Federation sponsors this program and featured the Washington communities in an article titled “Coloring Communities Evergreen” in a summer edition of its National Wildlife magazine.

Communities qualify for the distinction through a point system awarded by habitat enhancement and community beautification projects and meeting criteria like reduced or no use of pesticides and fertilizers, minimized watering, and measured clean air and water.

The basic idea of the program is that by becoming healthier for wildlife, communities become healthier for people. And the Community Wildlife Habitat distinction promotes pride in neighborhoods.

The Washington communities currently registered in the program are Alki, Bellingham, Camano Island, Fidalgo Island/Anacortes, Lake Forest Park, and Tukwila.

WDFW wildlife biologist Michelle Tirhi reports working with National Wildlife Federation representative Gretchen Muller and the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance to register more communities in the program.

“For example,” Michelle said, “the Crescent Valley Alliance, a local community group living within the Crescent Valley that formed as a result of the BioBlitz in 2005 and subsequent Biodiversity Stewardship Planning venue, are working towards certification. We hope to bring the same effort to the Lower White River, whose planning venue is just beginning.”

For more information about the program and community eligibility, see http://www.nwf.org/community/.