Your Guide to Wildlife Restoration and Native Gardening - One Native Plant at a Time
If you've flown over the Midwest, you've likely noticed that nearly every acre is farmland. In the eastern U.S., cities and urban sprawl dominate the landscape. With so much land consumed by human activity, little space remains for wildlife. Public lands, while vital, face significant threats-thousands of acres are opened annually to activities like oil and gas leasing or lose protections through legislative changes. Preserving biodiversity now falls to individuals.
Private yards and small acreages may seem small, but collectively they represent a vast opportunity to restore ecosystems. If every yard included native plants, the impact on biodiversity would be profound. In the last 20 years, butterfly populations have declined by over 30%, bird populations have dropped by 3 billion in North America, many mammal species are experiencing significant declines as well, and amphibians and reptiles are vanishing even faster. By taking small steps, like planting natives, homeowners can provide critical habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, helping rebuild the food web.
Rewilding isn't about letting your yard grow wild-it's about making thoughtful choices that prioritize native species. Even small spaces can become thriving habitats, and together, these small spaces can help restore balance to nature. By rewilding, we join a grassroots movement to save wildlife-one native plant at a time.
Why start with native plants? Because they are the foundation of the food chain. They provide the essential nutrients and habitat for native insects, which in turn attract small birds, mammals, and reptiles. As these creatures thrive, they support larger animals, creating a balanced and thriving ecosystem. Non-native plants, in contrast, provide little value to wildlife and often disrupt local ecosystems. By starting with native plants, you're laying the groundwork for a vibrant food web that supports a wide array of wildlife, all the way up the chain.
This website will guide you step-by-step in transforming your yard, or a section of it, into a haven for wildlife. From choosing native plants to creating habitats that support wildlife, you'll find the tools and knowledge needed to make a meaningful impact-starting right outside your door.
Fossilguy.com/rewild is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising
fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
