When you think of wildlife gardening, colorful songbirds are probably the first visitors that come to mind. But a healthy, thriving landscape attracts so much more than birds.
From playful squirrels and busy chipmunks to frogs, turtles, owls, and even the occasional fox, your garden can become part of a larger ecosystem that supports wildlife while bringing nature closer to home. Every visitor has a role to play, and with the right plants and habitat, your yard can become a welcome stop for all kinds of creatures.
Squirrels & Chipmunks
Squirrels and chipmunks are a familiar part of many Virginia landscapes. While they’re often seen raiding bird feeders, they also play an important role in nature by dispersing seeds and helping new trees grow. Forgotten acorns and nuts often become tomorrow’s oaks and hickories.
To support them while protecting your garden:
- Plant native trees like oaks and hickories.
- Offer a water source during hot summer months.
- Use squirrel feeders that dispense nuts and corn as well as birdfeeders to reserve seed for your feathered visitors.
Frogs & Toads
These quiet nighttime visitors are some of the best neighbors a gardener can have. Frogs and toads help keep insect populations under control and thrive in gardens that provide moisture, shade, and safe hiding places.
A shallow water feature, a small pond, or simply a cool, mulched area beneath shrubs can make your landscape much more inviting.
Box Turtles
Virginia’s Eastern Box Turtle is a welcome sight in many backyards. These gentle reptiles spend their days searching for insects, berries, mushrooms, and fallen fruit while helping maintain a healthy ecosystem.
If you’re lucky enough to spot one, admire it where it is. Box turtles have surprisingly small home ranges and do best when left in their familiar habitat. Leaving leaf litter in natural areas and avoiding unnecessary chemicals helps protect these fascinating visitors.
Owls
One of the most exciting wildlife sightings in any garden happens after the sun goes down. Owls quietly patrol neighborhoods looking for rodents and other small prey, making them valuable natural pest managers.
Large mature trees provide ideal nesting sites, but owl boxes can also encourage certain species to settle nearby.
Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, and Red-tailed Hawks are common sights across Coastal Virginia. These impressive birds of prey help maintain balance by hunting rodents and other small animals.
Providing mature trees and preserving natural areas gives hawks places to perch while they survey the landscape.
Bats
As the sun sets, another helpful garden visitor heads out for the evening. Bats are incredible natural insect hunters, consuming thousands of mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and other flying insects each night.
You can encourage bats by preserving mature trees, installing a bat house (link) in a sunny location, and avoiding unnecessary pesticides that reduce their food sources. While you may not see them often, you’ll likely notice them darting overhead on warm summer evenings as they quietly help keep your backyard in balance.
Foxes
Although they’re usually active around dawn and dusk, foxes occasionally wander through suburban neighborhoods. They’re naturally shy and help control rodent populations throughout the year.
If you happen to see one passing through your yard, consider yourself lucky, they’re simply making use of healthy green spaces as they travel.
Every Garden Can Support Wildlife
You don’t need acres of land to make a difference. Even a modest backyard can provide valuable habitat by offering food, water, shelter, and places to rest.
Simple additions like these can help:
- Native trees and shrubs
- Berry-producing plants
- Fresh water in a bird bath or shallow basin
- Dense shrubs for cover
- Wildlife houses
- Reduced pesticide use to support a healthy ecosystem
- A few natural areas with leaves, logs, or brush for shelter
The more diverse your landscape becomes, the more likely you are to discover new wildlife visitors throughout the seasons.
At McDonald Garden Center, we love helping gardeners create landscapes that are beautiful for people and beneficial for wildlife. Visit either of our year-round Virginia Beach locations and discover how easy it is to create a garden that’s full of life, far beyond the birds. To stay inspired and grow with us online, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok to explore more gardening tips and ideas.
