Components

 of Habitat

     WILD OVER LKN is a lake-wide initiative to provide habitat for wildlife throughout the Lake Norman region. The National Wildlife Federation has created a Federal Wildlife Habitat Community Certification. A Community Wildlife Habitat is one that provides habitat for wildlife throughout the community – in individual backyards, on school grounds, and in public areas such as parks, community gardens, churches, and businesses.

 
     The Community Wildlife Habitat Program is designed to include all communities, from the smallest towns to entire counties. Currently there are forty one Certified Community Wildlife Habitats nationwide, but none that encompass a large body such as Lake Norman . Since Lake Norman is truly a regional treasure, our goal is to certify the entire lake region, as determined by all zip codes that touch the boundaries of the lake itself.

     So how do we achieve certification? We need to earn a certain number of points in each of four categories: Habitat Certification, Education, Community Projects, and Administration. This point total is determined by the population of the area. The National Wildlife Federation has provided a list of possible activities so that we can create an individual plan that works best for us.

     In the first category, Habitat Certification, we must have a certain number of individual backyard habitat (homes, townhouses, condos or apartments), a number of public/private habitats (businesses, parks, churches, or farms), and a number of school backyard habitats.

     Our Education Team must create an information kiosk, project brochure, information website, publish periodic newspaper or magazine articles, and hold multiple workshops on wildlife gardening, native plants, and protective shelter.

     The Projects Team is tasked with working with local parks to create wildlife friendly landscapes, host information booths at community events, work with local nurseries to label native plants, and develop and implement projects ranging from our osprey nesting platforms and fish attractors to stream and trail cleanups.

     The Administration Team must maintain a project notebook from our inception through certification, apply for available state and federal grants for wildlife enhancement, and seek both individual volunteers and business and civic organizations that wish to affiliate with us.

       EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

     Certifying a backyard may be easier than you might think. It involves little more than providing the four basic elements that all wildlife need: 

• food

• water

• cover

• places to raise young

     Do you have feeders or fruit or nut bearing trees or shrubs? Do you have a birdbath, pond, stream or lake? Do you have natural areas, mature trees, or a dense hedge? Then you probably already qualify! Click HERE for the link to register you backyard.

     Once you are certified or if you are already certified please register with us so we can include you in our count. You can do so by either emailing Don West at don@premiertitleservices.com or by submitting your information below:

      EVERYONE CAN GET INVOLVED.

     Although certification is our stated goal, the process itself will yield many far-reaching benefits as a result. The entire community, especially children, who are our next generation of environmental stewards, can become involved. The program will impact the entire lake region. Ultimately, it will lead to cleaner water, more recycling, smaller lawns, and will help get everyone back outside to enjoy nature. Plus, our wild friends will love us. The final certification will be a drawing card for residents and businesses looking to move to the lake area, and will be an amenity for those already here.

     HOW CAN I HELP?

     If you would like to assist on a special category, you may contact Habitat Team Leader Betts Curtis at betts.curtis@gmail.com. Education Team Leader Ken Conrad at kenconrad1@gmail.com, or Don West at don@premiertitleservices.com for general information or questions.