By Kelsey Ligon
The Zion Nature Center will soon host the first of several programs focused on creating better spaces for wildlife in Zionsville.
The program, “Backyard Habitats: Wildlife Outside Your Window,” will include of an hourlong presentation that guides people through the process of becoming a Backyard Habitat certified with the National Wildlife Federation.
According to one of the program’s presenters, Myrene Brown, a space is considered a Backyard Habitat when it meets four basic elements that support wildlife: food, water, cover and places to raise young.
Brown, the owner of Myrene’s Garden, believes that higher quality habitats for wildlife are becoming more important.
“By increasing the quality habitat for wildlife, we help to preserve all wildlife, including the pollinators who start our food chain,” Brown said.
Brown was part of the Habitat C.P. R. team that helped Zionsville become a Community Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation in 2000. Zionsville was the second community in the nation to become certified as a Wildlife Habitat.
Since 2000, Zionsville has continued to grow, and that’s why Zionsville Park Naturalist Mindy Murdock, the second presenter at the program, believes that Zionsville residents need to hear about this topic.
“As Zionsville continues to grow,” Murdock said, “preserving or adding habitats where native wildlife and plants can survive is extremely important.”
This program is the first of several other programs that the Zion Nature Center will offer this spring to improve wildlife habitats. Future workshops include Vermicomposting, Pull for Parks and a Rain Barrel Workshop.
Backyard Habitats
When: 7 to 8 p.m. March 22
Where: Zion Nature Center, 690 Beech St.
Cost: Free, but registration is required.
More info: Space is limited. Register by emailing [email protected].
