Index...
Suburban backyards only have a few species of animals living in them because the wild brush, natural ponds and other natural habitats have been destroyed or removed. The species of
animals that favour our suburban backyards are those that have learned to eat a wide variety of foods such as the raccoon who gets his food wherever he can, such as overturning garbage cans.
Bluejays, cardinals, finches and squirrels are common cohabitants . Allowing brush to grow or a pond to form could invite other types of animals to move in as well.
In order to plant grass lawns in suburban backyards, brush and woodland has been cleared and ponds and wetland have been drained causing insects and amphibians to be killed. Birds that eat insects have also disappeared.
However, other animals namely raccoons, some species of birds and squirrels live in parts of the house itself, such as attics, ledges and chimneys.
Plants, grass, flowers and trees flourish and grow when insects, worms, fungi, bacteria and decomposers decay leaves, dead twigs, branches and bark which are then returned to the soil.
Erosion is prevented when the roots of trees and plants bind the soil together. Trees and plants provide shade for animals, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air. Birds and insects are able to find food and also live in the trees and plants. The air is cleaner because of the planting of trees in backyards.
Quite a large number of birds make their homes in our backyards because of the availability of food from gardens, bird feeders and garbage cans but the various species of birds is quite small in comparison to the number of species found in the wild.
Mammals that feed on animal and vegetable substances enjoy visits to our backyards because they eat many different kinds of foods. For example, the raccoon eats refuse from garbage cans.
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Written by Carole Marshall
and last modified June 04,1997
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