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Habitat for Wildlife

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries wants to help you help wildlife on your property. The Habitat Partners© program encourages corporate landowners, private landowners, schools and homeowners to improve habitat in their community that will benefit Virginia's songbirds, mammals, amphibians and other wildlife.

Turning a New Leaf Conference: December 4, 2009 Plan your habitat with sustainable practices in mind! Learn more about conservation landscaping at the upcoming Turning a New Leaf Conference on December 4, 2009, a program of the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council. VDGIF is an organizational member of CCLC and supports their efforts to promote conservation-based landscaping practices that improve water quality and wildlife habitat in the Bay region. Get more details from CCLC's website »

Certify Your Site and Be a Habitat Partner©!

Download the application »

(Word Document)

Backyard Habitat

• Thinking About a Habitat at Home©
• Habitat at Home© (PDF)
• Purchase the Habitat at Home© DVD New!
  • This program showcases four homeowner habitats: a butterfly garden, water gardens, shrub and woodland garden, and a native plant garden. Learn about invasive exotics, the importance of native plants for wildlife, and many tips for making your yard a sanctuary for nature. The DVD comes with informational brochure and plant list. Total running time 40:15.

Improving Habitat for Wildlife

• Gardening & Plants for Wildlife

  • Selecting Trees and Shrubs for Birds
  • Suggested Native Plants for Wildlife
  • Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (PDF)
  • Grow a Native Grass Meadow (PDF)
  • A Woodland Habitat Garden
  • Creating a Butterfly Garden
  • Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping - Chesapeake Bay Watershed

• Providing Shelter

  • Build a Brush Pile
  • Guide to Building a Bird House
  • Make a Bird House (PDF)
  • Attract Bluebirds

• Water Features

  • Vernal Pools & Salamanders
  • Providing Water in Your Habitat (PDF)

• Wildlife Around Us

  • Hummingbirds
  • When Wildlife Overstays Its Welcome (PDF)
  • Feeding Wildlife: Food for Thought (PDF)
  • A Guide to Feeding Wild Birds (PDF)
  • Bird Feeding Basics (PDF)
  • Pollination Partners (PDF)
  • Outdoor Manners (PDF)
  • The Aliens Have Landed! (PDF)

Schools

• Virginia WILD School Sites
• Creating or Improving a Schoolyard Habitat (PDF)
• Teaching the SOLs in an Outdoor Classroom (PDF)
• Schoolyard Habitat References: Top Picks (PDF)
• Schoolyard Habitat Web Sites (PDF)
• Grant Writing Tips & Web Sites (PDF)

Businesses

The corporate Certification Program is open to businesses and industries interested in habitat improvement projects on their lands which will make a substantial contribution to the welfare of wildlife communities.

• Corporate Certification Program

Landowners

• Farm Habitat
• Habitat Management Information Sheets
• Management for Specific Species
• Upland & Wetland Plant Materials and Dealers
• Landowner Incentive Program (LIP)