Creature Hero Projects

Create a Backyard Creaturefuge

No matter where you live, chances are you have some fascinating creatures living around you. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun ways that you can help animals right outside your house. In fact, you can do projects that help turn your backyard (or local community) into your very own mini wildlife refuge. Here are some tips for your Backyard Creaturefuge:

Terrarium Building

Collect a large glass container with a lid. The larger the container, the more room your plants will have to flourish

Add an inch of small pebbles or gravel to the bottom of the container

Add an inch or two of potting soil

Plant your plants, making sure there is enough room for each of them to fully grow

Add decorations such as plastic animal figures to your terrarium

Place the terrarium in an area with ample sunlight

Lightly water your mini habitat consistently and watch your plants come to life!

Milk Jug Squirrel Feeder

Empty and fully-clean out a milk jug

Cut out a large window on the side of the jug, making sure it is big enough for a squirrel to access the food inside

Poke two holes on top, one on either side of the cap and roughly an inch down

Thread string through the holes at the top of the jug to hang it outside

Fill the bottom of the jug with nuts, dried fruit mixture, or even corn on the cob

Finally, hang your squirrel feeder outside

Frog Hotel

Gather PVC pipes of different widths, a large watertight container, differently-sized rocks, gravel/sand, and some aquatic plants (optional)

Cut your PVC pipes to different lengths and sand the edges so they are smooth

Arrange the pipes in your watertight container

As you’re arranging your pipes into place, have a partner hold them upright while you add gravel and sand to the base of your container; this allows the pipes to stand on their own

If you choose to add aquatic plants, add them now and fill the rest of the container with gravel/sand and decorative rocks

Finally, fill your hotel (pipes and container) with water and your guests are ready to check-in!

Mini Pond

Create mini aquatic habitat in 7 easy steps

Gather a large watertight container, differently-sized rocks, sticks, and aquatic plants

Dig a hole deep enough for the top of your water container to be level with the ground

Once your container is in the ground, surround the outside with dirt, sticks, rocks, and other plants to make it more like a creature’s natural environment

Place some gravel and/or sand at the base of your pond

Plant your aquatic plants! Check out some of these cool aquatic plants that would work best in your mini pond

Finally, fill your pond with water

Lay back and watch the many creatures that come to use it

Urban Gardening

Don’t have a backyard but want to protect wildlife? Try urban gardening!

Urban gardening creates a home for wildlife in the city in just 6 easy steps:

Collect reclaimed wood, old pots, baskets, or even old water jugs to refurbish them into new homes for your garden plants. The bigger the better!

Prep your balcony or windowsill by setting up cages to allow your plants to climb, attaching hangers to your balcony or window

Pick out seedlings from your local nursery and transplant them into your new plant holders. Make sure the seedlings you choose will be able to thrive in your space! If your planter is located in a more shaded area, pick a shade-tolerant plant and vice versa.

Make sure each seedling has enough soil, space, and plenty of water!

Monitor your new garden to check on its growth and don’t forget to water your plants daily

For a more in-depth guide on building a windowsill garden, follow these steps

Composting

Reduce your food waste in 6 easy steps:

Gather a bin with a lid: an old storage container, a new one, or even old water jugs!

Poke or drill 8-10 holes into the side and bottom of your compost bin for proper air circulation

Place some browns (yard waste, dirt, newspaper, etc.) followed by greens (old food waste, grass clippings, etc) to your compost bin

Lightly dampen the inside, making sure everything is evenly wet

As you begin adding more waste to your compost bin, turning the contents of your bin and adding dirt once a week

After about 1-3 months, you should have fresh fertilizer to add to your garden!

Pinecone Bird Feeder

Food for your feathered friends!

Check out our Creature Crafts Video

Take a pinecone and tie a string around it

Spread peanut butter on the pinecone, making sure every crack is filled

Roll the pinecone in birdseed and/or dried fruit mixture

Hang the pinecone on a tree at least 5 feet from the ground

Sit back and try to spot the different species of birds that visit the pinecone!

Toad Abode

A home for your neighborly amphibians!

Take a flowerpot (or similar pot) and break a semicircular opening, about 4 inches in diameter, on the rim

Turn the pot upside down and place on the ground (preferably near flowers or shrubs)

Bury rim into ground, leaving room for opening

Place saucer on top of overturned pot and fill with potting mix + your choice of seeds

Check back to find the toads that live there!

Pollinator Garden

A home for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies!

Plant a mix of perennial wildflowers, annual wildflowers, and shrubs in your backyard

Be careful not to use pesticides or overuse fertilizers – they can harm nearby creatures!

Give shelter to pollinators by letting a log decompose or planting a bush nearby

Provide water in a saucer or bowl, placing rocks inside to provide drinking perches

If you can, try to add a hummingbird feeder to the garden

Come back to count all the new visitors!

Bat House

A home for your resident flying mammals!

Purchase or build a bat house with your parents

Find or purchase a pole to mount the house on (a barn or building with wood, brick, or stone siding works too). Make sure there is a water source nearby – under a quarter-mile away.

With your parents, take an extension ladder and drill the house into your pole (12-20 feet off the ground) using screws

Sit outside at dusk to watch the bats come out to feed on insects

*NOTE Bats can be infected with rabies, use caution when viewing them

Reptile Rockery

A basking spot for lizards! (For warmer climates)

Gather a bunch of stones

Find a sunny, south-facing spot and pile the stones into a mound

Make sure there are lots of small nooks and crannies inside the pile to allow reptiles to move in and out

Allow grass to grow long around it

Be on the lookout for sunbathing visitors like snakes, lizards, and turtles!

Tree Houses for Birds

A home inside a dead tree

Instead of cutting down that dead tree in your backyard, simply leave it up (if it’s safe to do so)! It provides vital habitat for birds

Woodpeckers eat grubs found in trees and create holes for their nests

Eagles and other birds of prey perch on branches to hunt for food

Consider putting a pinecone bird feeder up to attract new birds

Sit back and spot your new neighbors!

Hummingbird Feeder

A feast for the quickest birds

Gather a plastic water bottle, disposable red bowl, and yellow drinking straws
Cut out flower shape from bowl and then punch a hole in the center just big enough for a straw
Drill hole in top of bottle cap just wide enough for a straw
Insert straw into the hole in the bottle cap, push on the cut-out flower, and then seal with non-toxic glue. Make sure the straw bends after it exits the bottle
Wrap wire around bottle to hang upside down from a tree
Remove cap to add nectar (sugar water) to the bottle
Hang and watch hummingbirds stop at your new creation!

Trash Collection

Clean up your neighborhood for your fellow creatures!

Stray trash pollutes ecosystems and harms all our fellow creatures
You may choose to do this in your neighborhood, a local park, or even a beach
Gather a trash bag and walk around the area, picking up garbage and litter
Disposable plastic is the priority, as it is the most harmful to wild creatures
Make the walk even more fun! Bring your pets for a walk and explore!

Butterfly House

A home for a kaleidoscope of butterflies (advanced)

Check out these detailed directions and make sure to build the Butterfly House with your parents
You will need wood, screws, nails, a jigsaw, copper pipe strap, a drill, a hammer, and moisture-proof glue
The house will feature small slits for butterflies to enter, with places inside for butterflies to rest
Once completed, make sure to place the house in an area with lots of flowering plants, mounted 2 to 3 feet off the ground

Tree Planting

A lifelong investment for wildlife and breathable air

Research which trees are native to your area

Go to a local nursery and purchase a sapling

Identify the ‘root ball’: the collection of dirt and roots at the base of the sapling

Dig a broad, shallow hole for planting (around 2-3 times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball)

Place the sapling into the hole

Fill hole with soil gently, then pat it down lightly with your hands

Put mulch around the base of the tree to hold moisture

Make sure the tree receives water at least once a week

Bird House

A home for your flying friends

Take one 5-foot 1 x 6 inch board (preferably pine wood)

Build the bird house according to these directions or purchase online

Place bird house on a pole or hang from a tree at least 5 feet above the ground

Make sure your birdhouse is located away from any bird feeders or ponds you have

Check back in spring and place nesting material for birds inside house (cottontail nesting balls, pet hair, lint, thread or yarn)

Watch the house for any birds that come by!

Leaf and Log Pile

A surprising refuge for the winter months

Rake your backyard leaves into a pile

Add a log pile or wood chippings on top if you have them

These leaves will act as a mulch and fertilizer for the ground

The leaf pile will be a vital hibernation spot for toads, frogs, and other amphibians

The pile will also serve as a home for tons of insects, which can feed local birds

Poke around the pile in early spring to reveal all the creatures you helped!

Bird Bath

A watering hole for your feathered friends!

Take any bowl, saucer, platter, or tray that can hold water

Get a pedestal or gather materials that you can make one out of (bricks, wood, etc.)

Place the pedestal near a natural feature (a tree, bush, lawn, etc.)

Place the bowl/saucer/platter on top of the pedestal and fill with water

Customize your bird bath any way you want! Check out these bird baths

Watch the bird bath for any birds that come by!

Berry Bushes

Snacks for you and other furry creatures!

Purchase berry seeds or bushes at your local store or nursery (could be blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, currents, etc.)

Tip: You can sometimes use your own berry seeds from berries you already have!

Choose a spot to plant your bush/seeds with good drainage, ample sunlight, and fertile soil (look online for instructions about your specific berry plant)

Follow the directions from your seed packet or bush and plant in your garden

Make sure to give the berries enough water if mother nature doesn’t oblige

Once the berry bushes have established themselves, place mulch around them to prevent water loss and weed growth

Come back to pick the berries and keep on the lookout for birds, bears, and other creatures that will come to feast!

Vegetable Garden

Reduce your footprint!

Purchase vegetable seeds at your local store

Follow these steps or make your own!

Pick a grassy spot with a good amount of dirt underneath; remove around 3 inches of sod (current soil and grass) with a spade or shovel

Add an inch of compost (including leaf compost if you wish!) to the area

Use a shovel to mix together the compost and the underlying dirt, making sure to break up any clumps that come up

Plant any seeds you’d like to grow, making sure to follow the directions on the seed packet! Make sure to plant after the last frost in your area.

Water the seeds/plants according to the directions!

Once the vegetable plants have established, place mulch around them to prevent water loss and weed growth

Harvest your very own vegetables at the end of the season!

Bug Hotel

For detailed instructions, click here!

Find a used plastic jug, wooden box, or other container (as seen above)

Cut the side out of your container to welcome your guests!

Stuff your container with leaves, pinecones, sticks, pine-needles, or other plant matter. You can separate these with walls if you choose.

With the help of an adult, use punch pliers or a drill to make two holes in the top of your hotel and loop some string through.

If you want, you may cover the entrances of your hotel with wire mesh or chicken wires to protect your insect-guests from intruders!

Decorate your hotel!

Place or hang the hotel in your backyard, garden, windowsill, or balcony. Make sure it is fixed in an area that receives some sun and light shade. Placing it near flowers will also help draw insects in.

Your hotel is now open for business!

Creature Hero Projects

Create a Backyard Creaturefuge

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