Wildscaping: Q: Are there any long term financial benefits of

wildscaping?

A: Yes! Most well managed wildscapes do not

need fertilizer, mowing, or sprinkler sys-

tems like a normal lawn.

Q: Won’t a wildscape attract more bugs to my

property?

A: Wildscaping tends to attract insects that

prey on pests like mosquitoes. Insects also

attract songbirds and other wildlife.

Q: I have a small lot, can I still wildscape?

A: Wildscaping can be done on any scale. How-

ever the larger, the better. Consider joining

together with neighbors and creating a

large, multi-lot wildscape.

Q: How do I get more information on how to

wildscape?

A: Contact us at UKNRC471@gmail.com

Wildscaping FAQ

Property managed for people and wildlife.

Natural Wildlife Habitats in Your Back Yard E-mail: UKNRC471@gmail.com

University of Kentucky NRCM Capstone Class

http://www.ca.uky.edu/nrcm/index.php

Wildscape is a word that is becoming in-

creasingly common across the United

States, especially in communities devoted

to improving local wildlife habitat. The term

“wildscape” comes from the combination of

two familiar words: wilderness and land-

scape, and the idea is to design a landscape

with the needs of native wildlife in mind. In

practice, a wildscape is a small plot of land

(ranging from a few square yards to tens of

acres) that is managed to encourage native

wildlife. A wildscape usually includes a gar-

den of native flowers and grasses, a water

source, and other specific things helpful to

wildlife such as bird houses. “Wildscaping”

is the process of creating a wildscape.

Why Wildscape

A great way for homeowners to improve the

natural wildlife communities in their area.

Encourages the restoration of native plant and

animal species and strengthens the local envi-

ronment .

To create a passageway between two larger

expanses of forest or grassland, such as na-

ture preserves or parks.

Provide food and protection for wildlife.

Improve the aesthetics of your property while

also eliminating the need for manicuring your

lawn.

Control pest insect populations while attracting

birds and other wildlife.

How to get involved

Almost anyone can help create a wildscape.

If you are not a property owner, volunteer-

ing your time or other resources to help

develop a neighbor’s wildscape is a great

option. You can also contact your local

municipal parks program to find out if

there are opportunities to get involved with

a public wildscape. Another great way to

help out is to promote awareness of inva-

sive species in your area. Plants and ani-

mals that are not native to a landscape can

be very detrimental to the natural flora and

fauna.

For more information about Wildscaping ,

you can get a copy of Wildscaping: A How To

Guide, by contacting UKNRC471@gmail.com.

What is Wildscaping?

“Unless we modify the places we live, work, and play to meet not only our own needs but the needs of other spe-

cies as well, nearly all species of wildlife native to the United States will disappear forever. This is not specula-

tion. It is a prediction backed by decades of research” -Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy, University of Delaware