U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service What You Can Do to Help Wildlife and Plants

When most people hear the term Walk, ride your bike, carpool, or use endangered species, they think of public transportation. Using less fuel manatees, grizzly bears, whales, reduces the need to extract energy and other charismatic species. If resources and prevents changing these animals don’t live in your area, habitat that is home to fish, wildlife, you might think there is nothing you and plants. can do to help. However, more than 1,300 species of plants, birds, fish, Organize litter cleanups and recycling invertebrates, and mammals are listed drives. as endangered or threatened—some might live in or migrate through your If you observe evidence of wildlife area. poaching, contact your state fish and game office—http://www.fws.gov. Private citizens can play a critical role offices/statelinks.html. State agencies in protecting our country’s wildlife and enforce State wildlife laws and have plants. The things we do in our daily jurisdiction over most local wildlife lives can help improve our lands so management issues. they provide a better place for wildlife

and humans to live. All endangered Follow fishing and hunting laws. DoD and threatened species need your help, Individual State, territorial, and tribal Young volunteers help plant white from the red-cockaded woodpecker to agencies sell recreational fishing and cedar seedlings. the Karner blue butterfly. hunting licenses and have information about seasons, limits, methods, and You can make a difference by reducing areas that are open or closed—http:// motor oil, plastics, appliances, etc. threats to endangered and threatened www.fws.gov. offices/statelinks.html species and their habitats. The Keep your cat indoors. Roaming following are suggestions to reduce At home house cats kill birds and other wildlife threats. Don’t put hazardous substances such as field mice, frogs, squirrels, and down the drain or in the trash. lizards. Putting a bell on your cat helps, In your community Things like paint thinner, furniture but keeping the cat inside is better. To learn about ways you can assist polish, and antifreeze can pollute our native wildlife, contact your area U.S. water and land, impacting people Don’t leave water running. Turn Fish and Wildlife Service office—http:// as well as wildlife. For information on off the tap when brushing your teeth or www.fws.gov/offices/or your natural how to dispose of hazardous material washing your face. Install water-saving heritage program or conservation data properly, see the Environmental devices, such as low-flow showerheads, center—http://www.natureserve.org Protection Agency’s guide to safe to save water and save money. management of household hazardous Volunteer at a wildlife refuge— waste—http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/ Write, e-mail, or call companies http://www.fws.gov/volunteers non-hw/househld/hhw.htm that send unwanted junk mail and ask them to take your name off their list. Join a conservation organization. Take unwanted, reusable items to a charitable organization or thrift shop. In your yard or neighborhood park Support natural areas and nature For information on working with the centers and participate in habitat Use cloth, not paper, napkins. FWS to restore wetlands and other fish projects. and wildlife habitats on your property, Turn the lights and TV off when you see the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Contact your State or area fish leave a room. Use energy-efficient Program—http://www.fws.gov/partners/ and game office to learn how you light bulbs. can become involved in conservation Remove invasive weeds that displace —http://www. fws.gov.offices/statelinks. Recycle everything you can: wildlife habitat. Plant native trees html newspapers, scrap papers, cans, glass, and bushes with berries or nuts that provide birds and other creatures project certified by National Wildlife with food and a place to live. To learn Federation’s Backyard Wildlife how you can make your backyard Habitat program—http://www.nwf. wildlife-friendly, see the National org/backyardwildlifehabitat. Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat program—http://www.nwf. Hold a school Arbor Day native org/en/In-Your-Backyard.aspx. Contact tree planting. Invite local officials. your County Cooperative Extension Visit theNational Arbor Day Service or local native plant society Foundation’s website– www.arborday. for recommendations. Native species org/ adapted to local climate conditions require fewer resources and less care Let your teacher know about grants to flourish. to raise fish for release to the wild.— http://www.troutintheclassroom.com/ Keep litter, pet waste, grass clippings and yard waste such as leaves out of Explore nature in your neighborhood street gutters and storm drains. These by celebrating National Wildlife Week outlets drain into lakes, streams, rivers at your school. For more information, and wetlands. Pet waste contains visit the National Wildlife Federation’s bacteria and viruses that can threaten website—http://www.nwf.org/ fish, wildlife, and people. USFWS nationalwildlifeweek/ Planting a pollinator garden. Learn about natural insect controls In stores or post offices as alternatives to pesticides. Grow Don’t buy rare or “exotic” pets. Some plants that are natural insect repellents lawn and garden care tips —http:// pets may have been smuggled into the among your flowers and vegetables. www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard. country or taken from their natural For EPA-recommended ways to make habitat. your lawn environmentally friendly, Put a bird bath in the shade to attract visit—http://www.epa.gov/seahome/ birds that eat insects and pollinate Don’t buy products made from lawns.html plants—and provide “watching” endangered and threatened species. opportunities for people. Buy a Duck Stamp to help buy If you use fertilizer, calibrate your wetlands—homes to many species. applicator for the correct amount. On vacation See http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/ Fertilizing more than the recommended Turn the heat and water heater down stamps.htm rate does not help plants grow better before you leave home. and may harm them. In addition, In your car excess fertilizer may wash into streams Don’t pick flowers or collect wild Don’t throw cigarettes or trash and rivers and can lead to amphibian creatures for pets. Leave animals out your window. Cigarettes cause deformities and deaths as well as and plants where you find them. thousands of forest fires every year. excess aquatic plant growth. Food trash along roadsides attracts Going abroad? Think twice about animals that can be killed by cars. Buy or make your own backyard the things you buy. U.S. laws and an composter for your food waste products international treaty make it unlawful Recycle your engine oil. Contact like coffee grounds, vegetables, fruits, to bring many wildlife souvenirs into your local Solid Waste Management or other non-animal products. Compost our country. Visit the FWS Law Office to find out where. is a natural fertilizer that enriches your Enforcement page—http://www.fws. soil. It is especially good for vegetable gov/le/ImpExp/Regional_Permit_ Keep engines well tuned and tires gardens. For information visit— Offices.htm properly inflated to maximize fuel http://www.hdra.org.uk/gh_comp.htm efficiency. In your classroom Pull weeds instead of using herbicides. Ask your teachers to help you organize Consider a career in conservation! clean-up days. Remove trash or Join the thousands people Plant a butterfly garden. To get invasive weeds from vacant lots or working to protect wildlife and started, visit the North American streams. Replant eroding river banks plants around the world. Visit— Butterfly Association’s website— with native trees that will stabilize http://www.fws.gov/jobs http://www.naba.org/pubs/bgh.html the soil and reduce the amount of dirt going into the river. This will not only If you must use pesticides, herbicides, improve the quality of water for aquatic U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service or fungicides, don’t throw leftovers in life and humans, it will provide habitat Endangered Species Program the trash, down a drain or into a storm for birds and mammals. 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 420 sewer; dispose of them properly. Visit Arlington, VA 22203 the Natural Resource Conservation Plant a garden on your school 703-358-2171 Service’s Backyard Conservation grounds to attract wildlife including http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ website for pesticide disposal birds and butterflies. Build homes information and other environmental for bats and birds, and have the June 2011