"Today's challenges to our natural world are out-pacing wildlife's natural ability to adapt. Global warming, the loss of habitats, and the increasing disconnect of people from nature are creating a perfect storm of weakened natural systems, human-caused climate disruptions, and growing public apathy. National Wildlife Federation's vision is to restore the balance of nature and protect wildlife for our children's future."
A Plan to Restore America's Wildlife, NWF

On October 2, 2013, Piedmont became the first community in the state of Oklahoma to be designated by the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat.


A Community Wildlife Habitat is a community that provides habitats for a variety of wildlife throughout the city - in individual backyards, at businesses and places of worship, on farms, and in public areas such as parks and community gardens. It is a place where residents make it a priority to provide habitats for wildlife by providing the four basic elements that all wildlife need: food, water, cover and places to raise young.


As part of the community certification process, Piedmont was required to have at least 75 residents meet the qualifications of a wildlife habitat, but Piedmont exceeded that requirement with over 100 residents and businesses receiving individual certification in just five months! However, we don't want to stop there. We want you to meet the four basic needs of wildlife and certify your backyard or business also.


If you live in Piedmont it is likely that you already meet most, if not all, of the following requirements for certifying your property as a wildlife habitat:

-     1 source of water such as a birdbath, shallow dish, water garden, pond, butterfly puddling area, rain garden, natural spring, stream, or lake.

-     3 sources of food such as seeds, nuts, pollen, berries, fruits, foliage or twigs, nectar, sap, suet, or a feeder for squirrels, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc.

-     2 places for cover such as a bramble patch, wooded area, dense shrubs or thicket, evergreens, ground cover, brush or log pile, rock pile or wall, burrow, meadow or prairie, roosting box, cave, water garden or pond.

-     2 places to raise young such as mature trees, dead trees or snags, a meadow or prairie, dense shrubs or thicket, nesting box, host plants for caterpillars, water garden or pond, wetland, burrow or cave.


Certification is a simple process.

If you meet the requirements for individual certification, please go to www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife to fill out an application online, or click here to print an application that you can submit by mail. In return for the $20 application fee, you will receive a personalized certificate suitable for framing, and a full year's membership in National Wildlife Federation which includes a subscription to National Wildlife magazine, a subscription to the NWF's e-newsletter Wildlife Online, and 10% off NWF catalog merchandise.

If you received a ladybug with seeds, click here for more information.