{"id":84574,"date":"2023-06-15T10:35:48","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T17:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=84574"},"modified":"2023-06-15T10:42:05","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T17:42:05","slug":"certified-wildlife-habitat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/certified-wildlife-habitat\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Certified Wildlife Habitat? Pros and Cons of Certifying Your Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you passionate about preserving and protecting wildlife? Have you ever wondered how you can improve your local ecosystem right from your own backyard? Look no further than a Certified Wildlife Habitat. A Certified Wildlife Habitat is a designation given to yards, gardens, and other properties that meet specific criteria for providing essential resources to support wildlife. By certifying your home, you can create a haven for animals, birds, insects, and other creatures while enjoying the benefits of coexisting with nature.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what are the pros and cons of Certified Wildlife Habitat, and how can you certify your home if you decide to? Whether you live in a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/4430\/MN\/Duluth\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">house in Duluth, MN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/18894\/NC\/Wilmington\/houses-for-rent\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rental home in Wilmington, NC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, read on to learn everything you need to know about certification and how you can help the world get greener one habitat at a time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-84576 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157611714.jpg\" alt=\"certified-wildlife-habitat-2\" width=\"850\" height=\"583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157611714.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157611714-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157611714-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157611714-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157611714-219x150.jpg 219w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157611714-920x630.jpg 920w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157611714-438x300.jpg 438w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a Certified Wildlife Habitat?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/CERTIFY\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certified Wildlife Habitat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> program is a sustainability program run by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) nonprofit and is part of NWF&#8217;s broader <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/home\/garden-for-wildlife\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garden for Wildlife<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> movement. The program encourages homeowners, renters, schools, groups, and businesses to maintain outdoor environments that support healthy wildlife. Participants in the program create natural spaces that provide wildlife with four essential elements needed for survival: food, water, cover, and a place to raise young.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other certification programs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Certified Wildlife Habitat program is the largest home certification program in the US. However, there are many other local, regional, and species-specific programs that some states and nonprofits offer, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wdfw.wa.gov\/species-habitats\/living\/habitat-at-home\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Habitat at Home<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/audubonportland.org\/get-involved\/backyard-habitat-certification-program\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certified Backyard Habitat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monarchwatch.org\/waystations\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monarch Waystation Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and even <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sustainableballard.org\/help-nw-seattle-become-a-certified-community-wildlife-habitat\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">community-wide certifications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These programs encourage residents to create and maintain wildlife-friendly spaces, but all have different requirements and fees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to create a Certified Wildlife Habitat at home<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat involves providing wildlife with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/-\/media\/PDFs\/Garden-for-Wildlife\/Certified-Wildlife-Habitat\/NWF_Garden-Certification-Checklist.ashx?la=en&amp;hash=FFAA30B3AE06687A881FC4BE615DEFB0E2BACF42\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">four essential elements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> they need to survive:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Provide food<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Certified Wildlife Habitat needs three sources of food, supplemental feeders, or a combination of both. Food for wildlife can come from a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/Garden-for-Wildlife\/Food\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">variety of sources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including native plants, seeds, berries, nectar, and other types of vegetation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Supply water<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/Garden-for-Wildlife\/Water\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essential to survive and helps animals thrive. Your outdoor area must contain at least one source of clean water, such as a pond, stream, bird bath, or water garden.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Create cover<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wildlife need <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/Garden-for-Wildlife\/Cover\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">places to hide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in order to feel safe from people, predators, and bad weather. This cover can come in many forms, including wooded areas, shrubs, thickets, prairies, wetlands, rock piles, or bird houses. Your habitat must contain at least two places for animals to hide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Provide places to raise young<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many species need <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/Garden-for-Wildlife\/Young\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">specific habitat features<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to breed successfully and raise young. For example, some types of birds need a certain variety of tree or shrub to nest in, while some amphibians need ponds or wetlands. Providing these habitat features can help wildlife populations thrive. A Certified Wildlife Habitat requires two places to raise young.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Practice sustainable gardening<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to providing four necessities, it\u2019s essential to use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/Garden-for-Wildlife\/Sustainability\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sustainable practices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in your Certified Wildlife Habitat. This can include things like composting, mulching, using rain barrels to collect water, reducing lawn areas, controlling exotic species, and eliminating chemical pesticides. Your habitat must employ two of these practices to receive a certification.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A balanced Certified Wildlife Habitat should also include 50-70% native plants, which should provide multi-season bloom and be free of dangerous chemicals, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/xerces.org\/publications\/scientific-reports\/how-neonicotinoids-can-kill-bees]\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insecticides<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-84577 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-827116390.jpg\" alt=\"Cardinal\" width=\"847\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-827116390.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-827116390-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-827116390-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-827116390-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-827116390-267x150.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-827116390-1123x630.jpg 1123w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-827116390-535x300.jpg 535w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 847px) 100vw, 847px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to apply for certification<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;ve met these requirements, you can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwf.org\/certifiedwildlifehabitat\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">apply for certification<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the NWF\u2019s website. Anybody can apply, including homeowners and renters. This involves filling out an application and paying a fee. If your habitat is approved, you&#8217;ll receive a certificate and can display a sign saying that your property is a Certified Wildlife Habitat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that the specific requirements can vary somewhat depending on where you live and the specific wildlife in your area. It&#8217;s always a good idea to research local wildlife and native plants to ensure that your habitat is as beneficial as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much does certification cost?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The application fee to certify a wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation is $20. This fee supports the National Wildlife Federation&#8217;s programs, including efforts to address the issues leading to declining habitat for wildlife nationwide. A portion of the fee also goes towards supporting work for local wildlife in select affiliate partner states\u200b.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-84575 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157329538.jpg\" alt=\"certified-wildlife-habitat-1\" width=\"860\" height=\"573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157329538.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157329538-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157329538-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157329538-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157329538-225x150.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157329538-945x630.jpg 945w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-157329538-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros and cons of having a Certified Wildlife Habitat\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat can have tremendous benefits and is generally a beneficial option. However, like any project, it also comes with some challenges. Pros and cons vary widely depending on where you live and your situation, but here are some general aspects to consider.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros<\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improved biodiversity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Creating a wildlife habitat can increase the biodiversity in your yard, attracting a variety of birds, insects, and other animals. This can make your yard more interesting and enjoyable, and help <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-at-home\/\" data-wpel-link=\"exclude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reduce your carbon footprint at home<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Having a certified wildlife habitat can be a great educational tool, especially for children. It provides an opportunity to learn about different species, ecosystems, and the importance of conservation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Environmental impact<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: These habitats can have a positive environmental impact by providing essential resources for wildlife. This is especially important in urban and suburban areas, where natural habitats may be scarce.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supports pollinators<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Many wildlife habitats are designed to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are important for the health of many plant species.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Incentivizes sustainable practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Creating a wildlife habitat often involves implementing sustainable gardening practices, which can be beneficial for the environment as a whole.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons<\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Increased maintenance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Creating and maintaining a wildlife habitat can require a significant amount of time and effort. This can include tasks like planting and caring for native plants, maintaining water sources, and ensuring the habitat remains safe and beneficial for wildlife for an indefinite period.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Potential for pests<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Attracting wildlife can sometimes mean attracting unwanted pests. For example, some types of bird feeders can attract rodents and scavenging birds. Additionally, some wildlife can become nuisances if populations get too large.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Higher costs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: There can be costs associated with creating and maintaining a wildlife habitat, including the cost of plants, water features, bird houses, and other habitat features. There is also a small certification fee.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-84578 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-NBE_059.jpg\" alt=\"certified-wildlife-habitat-3\" width=\"847\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-NBE_059.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-NBE_059-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-NBE_059-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-NBE_059-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-NBE_059-225x150.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-NBE_059-945x630.jpg 945w, https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-NBE_059-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 847px) 100vw, 847px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Certified Wildlife Habitat program provides a structured way for individuals, schools, businesses, and communities to build a sustainable future by creating and maintaining habitats that support wildlife. The program is a valuable initiative that can empower homeowners and communities to play a role in wildlife conservation. It can also make a meaningful difference in supporting wildlife populations, especially in urban and suburban areas where natural habitats can be scarce. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As humans grow outwards, biodiversity is shrinking. How can you help? Luckily, you can make a difference at home. If you have a yard, a little time, and a desire to reduce your carbon footprint, read on to learn how to build a Certified Wildlife Habitat and help create a sustainable future. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":559,"featured_media":84575,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10756,34278],"tags":[13673,402,34704,34612],"coauthors":[34342],"class_list":["post-84574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-post","category-home-improvement","tag-environmental","tag-gardening","tag-lawn-and-landscape","tag-outdoor-upgrades"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Build a Certified Wildlife Habitat at Home | Redfin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you have a yard, a little time, and want to reduce your footprint, read on to learn how to build a Certified Wildlife Habitat at home.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/certified-wildlife-habitat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is a Certified Wildlife Habitat? 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