Statewide Iowa (RI) — A habitat restoration program is helping Iowans turn their outdoor spaces into landscapes that support local wildlife.
Certified Wildlife Habitat is a national program promoted by the Iowa Wildlife Federation. It guides people on how to provide essential resources like food, water, and shelter for wildlife. There are already more than 2,000 certified habitats statewide.
The federation’s Ryan Smith says native plants are crucial in these areas, especially for pollinators.
Smith says providing more of these resources supports a wide range of wildlife across the state, from pollinators to frogs and chipmunks.
He says wildlife struggles to find local habitats due to urban and agricultural development.
Smith says wildlife uses corridors to migrate across habitats and find the right sources of food. He says the program helps because it can restore habitats locally and along those corridors. Many of the certified habitats are in Des Moines, and Smith says more are popping up in rural areas.
KIWA Staff Photo
