[PCA] Seeking yards for new "Backyard Habitat" show

[David Mizejewski]

Hi Everyone - Below is a call for applicants to appear on a new TV show and have their yards or gardens turned into eco-friendly zone, complete with native plants, habitat for wildlife, and organic practices.  Schools, community gardens, businesses, zoos and other public spaces can also apply.  Please pass this on to your personal and professional contacts.  Thanks! 

RIVR MEDIA IS SCOUTING FOR HOMEOWNERS TO CREATE A 
BACKYARD Wildlife HABITAT

Rivr Media, the National Wildlife Federation and a major national television network are teaming up to produce a television show that shows you how to bring nature into your life.  We are looking for homeowners who love wildlife or currently live in a wildlife - rich area.  We'll create the perfect oasis for various types of animals in your area and your yard will be certified as an official NWF Backyard Wildlife Habitat(TM) site.  If you have friends or family in the cities below who are interested in creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, please encourage them to email mhbrower at rivr.com with their name, address, phone number and why their yard would be an appropriate habitat for one of the listed species. Thanks! 

Washington, DC & surrounding areas		Deadline to apply is March 25, 2005.
1.	Flying squirrels *We'll visit homeowners who have good flying squirrel habitat (large mature trees near a wooded area.) We'll plant a white oak tree and build a roosting box.
2.	Beavers *visit suburban DC homeowner who has been challenged by beavers. We'll come up with solutions to beaver tree damage. 
3.	Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly and Red-spotted Purple butterfly - We'll create a butterfly garden, complete with nectar plants and host plants.  We'll also build a special feature called a "puddling area" and create a butterfly fruit feeder.
4.	Coyotes * visit a suburban DC homeowner who has been challenged with coyotes.  We'll learn how to live with coyotes, cover coyotes and pets, coyote impacts on rats, white-tailed deer and red fox populations.
5.	Raccoons, opossums and skunks -  We'll  plant native persimmon trees, which produce a fruit that will be a natural food for all three of these mammals.  We'll show how to keep them out of attics and trash containers. Learn also how to avoid getting sprayed and how to get the stink out if you do.
6.	House wrens - build and install a nesting box and create a brush pile for nesting.

Los Angeles and Desert SW area			Deadline to apply is April 15, 2005
1.	Desert wildlife - Plant proper garden for desert wildlife. Install a rain barrel to trap rainwater for use in the landscape.  Create a stump birdbath.
2.	Lizards and backyard snakes - Build a rock pile.  
3.	Wildlife and fire - Restore habitat after wildfires. Plant fire-safe landscaping that also provides for wildlife.  Learn which trees and shrubs are fire-resistant and also feed wildlife.
4.	Bobcats and domestic/feral cats -  We'll plant a bramble patch and add fallen woody debris to serve as cover for bobcats as well as habitat for their rodent prey.
5.	Black-tailed jackrabbit - Plant a natural area with native grasses and shrubs to serve as food, cover and places to raise young for the jackrabbit.  Also install a ground level water resource.

New York metro area and NY & NJ suburbs		Deadline to apply is May 1, 2005.
1.	White tailed deer, deer ticks and deer mice * We'll deal with deer in the garden. We'll show how to have a wildlife garden with deer around (using deer-resistant plants) and how to avoid ticks.
2.	City birds - Visit urban & roof gardens. Plant a container garden for butterflies and a bird garden with the special consideration of the urban environment.  We'll learn how to avoid attracting rats and pigeons. 
3.	Black bears - Living with bears and learn about bears and birdfeeders, bears and trash etc. 
4.	Painted turtles and great blue herons - Need yards with larger ponds. Also explore the red-winged blackbird, which nests in cattails.
5.	Bluebirds * Create bluebird nesting boxes with predator guards and proper habitat

Seattle or Portland, and in-between		Deadline to apply is May 27, 2005
1.	Screech owl and kestrels -  Build screech owl/kestrel nesting box. Create snag and plant it with a native vine.
2.	Salmon - Plant a rain garden/stormwater wetland to filter runoff from yard that would otherwise pollute salmon habitat.
3.	Slugs and ringneck snakes. How you can discourage slugs in vegetable gardens and organic control measures. Learn why some snakes are beneficial like the Ringneck snake as slug predator.    
4.	Pacific treefrog, western toad, red-legged frog - Compare these three very different backyard frogs and their different habitat requirements. 
5.	Woodpeckers - Need a yard with some mature trees near a natural forested area which is ideal for attracting several different woodpecker species.  We'll add feeders to the yard and install nesting box.
6.	Mountain beavers - curious small mammals that are neither beavers or live in mountains.   Need a relatively large yard where we can create a food garden.  A property with documented mountain beavers nearby would be ideal.  We'll plant a garden of the mountain beaver's food plants and talk about protecting garden plants from their browsing.  


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David Mizejewski
National Wildlife Federation
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 438-6499
fax 703-438-6468
www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat
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