Daniel Klem Jr., Doug Tallamy, Jim Cubie

Imagine a wildlife refuge that does not protect its wildlife. How could this be possible? Unfortunately, it is not only possible — it is common, unless we take deliberate steps to prevent it.

Many well-intentioned advocates for native plants, birds, and pollinators want to reverse biodiversity declines by planting habitat in their own yards. Yet when ecologically attractive landscapes also include real dangers to wildlife, they can become ecological traps — places that draw animals in and then expose them to harm.

When we design landscapes that offer food and shelter but fail to address threats such as free-roaming cats, reflective glass, pesticides, or artificial light, we undermine our own goals. That is not what conservation is meant to do.

"When we design ecologically attractive landscapes that also include real dangers to wildlife, we create ecological traps."

What’s needed is a cultural shift in how we promote native plantings. Changing culture is never easy, but the logic is unavoidable: protecting habitat means protecting the wildlife that depends on it. We need to raise the bar — not just planting native species, but reducing the risks that surround them.

Five Key Actions

There are five steps that should be in place the day native trees, shrubs, or flowers are planted:

  • Keep cats out of habitat areas. Pet and feral cats kill an estimated 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds each year in the United States, along with countless butterflies and other wildlife.
  • Prevent bird–window collisions. Collisions with glass kill over a billion birds annually in the U.S. Simple, affordable solutions can dramatically reduce this risk.
    • Make glass visible using decals, strings, or films applied in a 2" × 4" pattern. Renters and homeowners can also close blinds and keep screens installed year-round. Detailed guidance is available from the Bird–Window Collision Working Group: https://www.muhlenberg.edu/media/contentassets/pdf/academics/biology/faculty/klem/Brochure.pdf
    • For new construction or replacement windows, consider acid-etched or fritted glass. Some manufacturers are also developing ultraviolet (UV) treatments that are visible to birds but invisible to humans.
  • Manage pests without pesticides. Mosquito fogging and broad-spectrum insecticides kill far more than their intended targets, eliminating the insects birds rely on for food. When control is necessary, products containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) can be used safely. BTI targets mosquito larvae while leaving bees, butterflies, caterpillars, dragonflies, fireflies, and humans unharmed.
  • Reduce artificial night lighting. Outdoor lighting contributes to widespread insect declines, especially among moths that produce the caterpillars birds depend on. Turn lights off when possible, install motion sensors, or switch to yellow bulbs.
  • Practice wildlife-aware yard maintenance. Avoid mowing in the evening when amphibians are active. Raise mower blades to avoid injuring box turtles. Install window well covers so frogs and toads don’t become trapped.

“A Quick Guide to Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary in Your Own Backyard” by Daniel Klem Jr., Doug Tallamy, and Jim Cubie is licensed by the Observatory under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).