(Certification Programs
Providing a food source like Holly berries for wildlife such as squirrels is one of the objectives under the Wildscape certification programs.
There are two certification options available for the Texas wildlife gardener through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – the traditional Texas Wildscapes certification and the more challenging and new Best of Texas Backyard Habitats program.
Providing nesting and escape shelter in the form of birdhouses for a variety of wild birds such as this Screech owl is another objective within the Wildscapes certification programs.
Texas Wildscapes requires that the person be providing food, shelter and water for wildlife using a majority of native plants. Best of Texas Backyard Habitats makes this more challenging by requiring that the site be obviously a native plant habitat, that the applicant take active measures to control non-native threats and that the participant be involved in a number of conservation stewardship activities.
A third Wildscape certification goal is to provide habitat for water animals and needed water for other wildlife which can be achieved by installing man-made ponds.
People qualifying for the Best of Texas Backyard Habitat certification will also be eligible for Wildscapes certification and will be considered for the National Wildlife Federation Backyard Wildlife Habitat program.
