Backyard Wildlife Habitat™ Program

The Backyard Wildlife Habitat program was started by the National Wildlife Federation in 1973, and is administered in partnership with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. The objective of this program is to educate about the benefits, for both people and wildlife, of creating natural landscapes. While restoring wildlife habitat in your own community, you will be doing your part to restore the ecology of the land on which you live. You will begin to see how you can have daily wildlife experiences by creating sustainable, wildlife friendly landscapes. Once you create your habitat, submit an application to become certified by the National Wildlife Federation and join the thousands of other South Carolinians who are gardening for wildlife!

South Carolina is currently NUMBER ONE in the NATION in the number of certified Wildlife Habitats per capita! We're very proud of this distinction, and want to stay at the top of this list! PLEASE HELP us stay number one! Certify your Wildlife Habitat today!

Providing the FOUR INGREDIENTS of Habitat:

- Food
- Water
- Cover
- Places to raise young

Other Helpful Articles

Native Plants Valuable to Wildlife

SCWF's Habitat Blog

Sustainable Gardening Practices

Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden

Attracting Hummingbirds to your Garden

Avoiding Wildlife Conflicts & Wildlife Safety Tips

Identification Guide for Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Groundcovers

Native Gardening and Invasive Plants Guide

Native Plant Nurseries

Project Ideas

Carolina Fence Gardens

Build a Leopold Bench

Recipe for Homemade Suet

Recipes for Homemade Fertilizer, Pesticide, and Deer Repellant

To Certify Your Yard Today:

If your yard already meets this criteria and you want to certify your Backyard Wildlife Habitat:

Click here to Certify Online

Click here to print out the application to mail in to the National Wildlife Federation.

Beyond Your Backyard

The idea of Backyard Wildlife Habitats has been extended to include other places throughout the community. Habitats can be certified at churches, libraries, parks, businesses, government buildings, etc. Click on the links below to find out more about other habitat programs!

Schoolyard Habitat ™

W.A.I.T.™

Community Wildlife Habitats

If you have any questions about Backyard Wildlife Habitats and how you can get involved, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or
call our office at (803)256-0670.