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Backyard Habitat Certification ProgramMelanie McCandless, right, talks birdbaths with a homeowner.

Your yard can provide valuable habitat to birds, butterflies, bees, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and more. Attract these creatures to your yard by gardening for wildlife. Certify your yard habitat-friendly through the National Wildlife Federation with the help of Watershed Management staff.

Your Yard as Habitat

To attract wildlife to your yard, you need to meet their basic needs in these categories: Food, Water, Shelter and Places to Raise Young. 

Pacific Tree FrogExamples

  • Installing bird baths or ponds
  • Planting native plants
  • Creating rock or brush piles
  • Planting trees for nesting habitat
  • Reducing chemical fertilizersCity staff check bee houses in a backyard.
  • Picking up pet waste


Backyard Habitat Certification Brochure (prints legal size, 8 1/2 x 14)

How to Get Certified

1. Set up a free home consultation by contacting Coral Conant at 503-618-2608 or Coral.Conant@GreshamOregon.gov

2. During the consultation, decide which actions are most appropriate for your property. The minimum requirements are: 

  • 3 sources of food
  • 1 source of water
  • 2 sources of cover
  • 2 places to raise young
  • 2 sustainable gardening and stormwater management measure

3. Implement the actions and schedule a follow-up visit.

4. Certify through the National Wildlife Federation.

Cats and Wildlife

Backyard Habitat catInformation for healthier cats and safer wildlife.