Expert tips and tricks

A humane backyard is a safe haven for wildlife—a space where animals can thrive free from pesticides, trapping and other threats. These All Animals magazine articles offer practical advice for creating your own habitat, plus profiles of the wild animals you can help protect and more.

Learn More About Humane Backyard

Make your backyard a safe place for wildlife.

No matter how big or small your outdoor space, you can create a haven for local wildlife. By providing basic needs like water, food and shelter, you can make a difference in your own backyard.

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Bird in birdbath, enjoying a humane backyard
ebettini / iStock.com
2023-present
Black Beauty Ranch visitor center garden
Emily Hamlin Smith
/
The HSUS
A native garden plan for pollinators: Recreate our colorful Black Beauty Ranch welcome center garden with this preplanned design
Winter 2024
Illustration of a chipmunk and bird being disturbed the the noise of a leaf blower.
Birdsong, interrupted: The aural violence of leaf blowing and lawn mowing
Fall 2023
a naturalistic pond
Nancy Lawson
/
The Humane Gardener
Wild waters: Naturalistic backyard ponds welcome frogs and other animals
Summer 2023
A goldfinch sitting on a thistle plant.
Nancy Lawson
/
The Humane Gardener
Should we let nature feed the birds? Exploring the problems posed by bird feeders
Spring 2023
Illustration of a dog and cat looking out a window at backyard wildlife.
Rachel Stern
/
The HSUS
It's their world, too: Curbing your dog’s instinct to hunt and harass wild animals
Winter 2023
2021-2022
A soft landing below the trees
Heather Holm
Grounded and surrounded: How you can help wild animals come in for a soft landing
Fall 2022
Bat rehabber working with a small bat in her home
Photo by Meredith Lee
/
The HSUS
Sharing the work of caring: Join the network of volunteers who rehabilitate wildlife
Summer 2022
Monarch butterflies on plant stem
Nancy Lawson
What the monarchs taught me: How awareness in the garden can lead to scientific discoveries
Spring 2022
Photograph showing wildlife-friendly plantings in Janet and Jeff Crouch’s yard
Courtesy of Janet Crouch
Dispelling myths about wildlife gardens and native plants
Winter 2022
Neighbors working in a community garden
Carey Murphy
Go-getting for wildlife: How to spur wildlife-friendly projects in your community
Fall 2021
Illustration of a mole peeking out of a burrow
Rachel Stern
/
The HSUS
Small but mighty: Little mammals play a big role in healthy gardens
Summer 2021
Two deer in a landscaped yard.
Willowpix
/
iStock.com
Deer eat my garden­—and it flourishes
Spring 2021
Chipmunk outside, on bird feeder
Goddard_Photography
/
iStock.com
The invasion of the chipmunks? Exploring the temporary rise and fall of wildlife populations
Winter 2021
2019-2020
woodpecker on persimmon tree
Dan Sullivan
/
Alamy Stock Photo
Dining from the wild table: Growing native edibles increases food security for all
Fall 2020
Illustrtion of a woman lying on a blanket in the grass reading books.
Rachel Stern
/
The HSUS
Backyard book list: Get a read on the wild animals in your community
Summer 2020
Illustration of a beaver in it's natural habitat
Illustration by Rachel Stern
Welcoming nature’s best architects: When beavers return, habitats flourish
Spring 2020
Green snake in grass
JasonOndreicka
/
iStock.com
Why you shouldn’t fear snakes: Make space in your habitat for these shy, misunderstood animals
Winter 2020
An American robin eating a hawthorn berry during a snow storm.
rmarnold
/
iStock.com
What do wildlife need in winter? Plants!
Nov/Dec 2019
small mouse hiding in brush
DamianKuzdak
/
iStock.com
A modern-day DDT? Rodenticides wreak havoc across the animal kingdom
Sept/Oct 2019
Young girl playing near stream in forest
Inti St Clair
/
Tetra Images
Into the urban wilds: Help family and friends find nature wherever you go
June/July/Aug 2019
hummingbird sipping nectar from orange flowers
Stephen Brown
/
Alamy Stock Photo
To feed or not to feed: Keep hummingbirds healthy with a balanced diet
March/April/May 2019
Coyote on an urban sidewalk
Jaymi Heimbuch
/
Minden Pictures
The misunderstood coyote: How to make the best of life with our newest wild neighbor
Jan/Feb 2019
2018
baby raccoons in a hollow tree
Design Pics
/
Alamy Stock Photo
What are we so afraid of? Why we should challenge our misguided assumptions about wildlife
Nov/Dec 2018
hummingbirds sipping nectar from bright red flowers
Danita Delimont
/
Alamy Stock Photo
Beyond the tulip: Trade garden-variety bulbs for wildlife-friendly plants
Sept/Oct 2018
a bluebird sits on a tree with a loud weed whacker in background
Rebecca Hallenbeck
/
The HSUS
Let’s go make some quiet: Studies are beginning to show why it might be best to turn down the volume
July/Aug 2018
Photo illustration of a dim light bulb with illustrated butterflies
Zffoto
/
iStock.com
Going to the dark side: How turning off the lights—and choosing bulbs with care—can help wildlife
May/June 2018
Turtle crossing the rural road
jahmaica
/
iStock.com
Roadside assistance: Millions of animals die in the road. How can we help?
March/April 2018
Monarch butterfly in a field of grass
Meredith Lee
/
The HSUS
Beyond the backyard: How you can reclaim unused spaces—even small ones—for wildlife
Jan/Feb 2018
2017
brown rabbit in the grass
AHPhotoswpg
/
iStock.com
Gardening with rabbits: Coexisting with these shy plant-eaters is easier than you think
Nov/Dec 2017
open gate leading into a lush green garden
Meredith Lee
/
The HSUS
Wild by design: How to garden for wildlife without upsetting your neighbors
Sept/Oct 2017
overhead view of a woman tending her garden
CJP
/
iStock.com
Sharing the bounty: You can have your veggies and your wildlife, too
July/Aug 2017
Mom bird feeding her babies in a nest
William Leaman
/
Alamy Stock Photo
How to make your yard family-friendly
May/June 2017
fat caterpillar curled on a leaf stalk
Radius Images
/
Alamy Stock Photo
Are you a humane gardener?
March/April 2017
closeup of a bee on a large yellow flower
Megan E. Leach
How to really save the bees: It’s not about hives—it’s about habitat
Jan/Feb 2017
2016
Wearing gloves, Lori Thiele relocates the baby squirrels to a cardboard pet carrier
Lori ThIele
Untimely evictions: Prune trees carefully to avoid harming wild families
Nov/Dec 2016
three bats hanging upside down
CraigRJD
/
iStock.com
Spirit of the evening sky: How you can help your friendly neighborhood night-flyers
Sept/Oct 2016
baby robin sitting in a nest
Jennifer Johnston
A resting place for all: Finding life in unlikely places
July/Aug 2016
three skunks walking around a backyard
Karel Bock
/
iStock.com
No need to raise a stink about skunks: Myths abound, but these animals are gardeners’ friends
May/June 2016
Mother and three kids on a nature walk
Imgorthand
/
iStock.com
Through a child’s eyes: Tips for engaging kids in nature outside your door
March/April 2016
Bird and babies in the nest tucked in a tree trunk
mauribo
/
iStock.com
Life after death: Trade the chainsaws and leaf blowers for a natural approach
Jan/Feb 2016
2015
Gray squirrel eating in a tree
doug4537
/
iStock.com
Squirrels: They’re no nuts - The uncommon life of a common animal
Nov/Dec 2015
Hummingbird stopping at a flower to eat
nkbimages
/
iStock.com
A humane backyard without the ‘backyard’
Sept/Oct 2015
hummingbird sipping nectar from orange flowers
Eileen M. Stark
Yes, in my back (and front!) yard: Even if you’re part of a homeowner association, a wildlife-friendly garden is possible
July/Aug 2015
monarch butterfly on a milkweed flower
Lynn Stone
/
AnimalsAnimals
Plant this, not that! Choose native plants to help put your garden to work for wildlife
May/June 2015
vole in the grass
McDonald Wildlife Photography
/
AnimalsAnimals
Underground wonder: Appreciating what lies (and eats and sleeps) below
March/April 2015
woodchuck in the grass
McDonald Wildlife Photography
/
AnimalsAnimals
Strangers in a strange land: Why you shouldn’t trap and relocate wild animals
Jan/Feb 2015
2014
a small bird eats seeds from a hanging bird feeder
piluhin
/
Alamy Stock Photo
First, do no harm: What you don’t know can hurt birds
Nov/Dec 2014
a green spicebush swallowtail caterpillar munches on a leaf
Darlyne A. Murawski, National Geographic Image Collection
/
Alamy Stock Photo
The caterpillar effect: By catering to caterpillars, you can create a butterfly garden
Sept/Oct 2014
DIY painted bird baths made from clay pots
Meredith Lee
/
The HSUS
Cheap thrills: You don’t have to break the bank to create a lovely backyard haven
July/Aug 2014
A frog jumps to safety out of a pool using a ramp to rejoin the other frogs on the safety of the grass
Ashley Barron
Don’t fence them in: How to save wildlife from netting, pools and other death traps
May/June 2014
a dog points in a field of grass and wildflowers as a rabbit looks on
David Pohl
The mindful gardener: Bring a reverent approach to your patch of earth this spring
March/April 2014
native seed packets
Rebecca Hallenbeck
/
The HSUS
Planting the seeds: Homegrown gardens can help prevent pollinator poisonings
Jan/Feb 2014
HSUS staff helping with a transport of puppy mill rescue dogs
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