The wildlife is in the backyard
22.05.12
Grab a seat and enjoy. It’s showtime in this Pompano Beach back yard.
Agile squirrels scoot along fence tops. Blue jays swoop in and out of treetops. Grackles wade in a shallow bath, offering an entertaining dip, shake and splash.
“It’s really wonderful. There’s always movement,” said Gordon Gelrod, owner of the home.
It’s no coincidence that wildlife is attracted to his yard. Gelrod and his wife, Jane Duff, have turned their property into a Certified Wildlife Habitat, listed with the National Wildlife Federation.
Broward County is the leader in the National Wildlife Federation’s program, offering more registered sites — about 2,600 so far, most of them homes — than any other county in the United States. Miami-Dade has about 435 sites. Nationwide, about 146,000 yards are registered as Certified Wildlife Habitats.
To qualify, a yard needs to provide several elements for wildlife — food, water, cover and a place to raise their young. From there, there’s plenty of latitude so that even patios and balconies may suffice.
Source: MiamiHerald.com