Wildlife Center of Virginia certified as official National Wildlife Federation site

The National Wildlife Federation® (NWF) is pleased to recognize that the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro has successfully created an official Certified Wildlife Habitat™ site.

NWF celebrates the efforts of Headwaters Master Naturalists, Area Master Gardeners and volunteers to create a garden space that improves habitat for birds, butterflies, frogs and other wildlife by providing essential elements needed by all wildlife – natural food sources, clean water, cover and places to raise young.

NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program has been helping people take personal action on behalf of wildlife for more than 40 years. The program engages homeowners, businesses, schools, churches, parks and other institutions that want to make their communities wildlife friendly.

This new certified habitat joins NWF’s roll of more than 150,000 certified habitats nationwide. Wildlife habitats are important to year-round wildlife residents as well as species that migrate, such as some birds and butterflies. Each habitat is unique for both beauty and function.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia’s habitat makeover diverts roof runoff into rainbarrels, and a pond, instead of causing erosion.  Native plants took the place of invasives, all the better for pollinators and compatibilility with our soils and moisture.  A garden space is even used for harvesting appropriate native nibbles for patient diets at the wildlife hospital.

“It only took a week for treefrogs to move into the new habitat; they’re already at home!” says Ed Clark, President of The Wildlife Center. “I am grateful to all the volunteers who made the outside of the hospital as healthy and healing as the inside!”

Also part of the project is a display of nestboxes for a variety of species of native wildlife, with interpretive signage on best practices for wildlife in everyone’s backyard.

For more information on gardening for wildlife and details on how an entire community can become certified, visit www.nwf.org/habitat or call 1-800-822-9919. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.