Providing a safe space

When we make a garden and particularly encourage more wildlife into our garden we need to consider their safety along with ours. It is just like when we have small children and want to have a safe place for them to play. We may provide extra shade and remove certain plants like bulbs that may not be safe to chew on or plants that are very spikey. There are a few basic things to copnsider to make wildlife safe. 

Provide layers: Include trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers to offer nesting, roosting, and hiding places for birds, insects, and small mammals.

Shallow dishes or bird baths: Include a gentle slope or stones for small animals to escape if they fall in.

Regular cleaning of bird water bowls: Prevent disease build-up (like botulism or algae).

Position safely water bowls: Place away from dense shrubs where cats might ambush.

Avoid feeding wildlife directly: It can alter natural behaviours and diets.

Choose non-toxic plants: Avoid plants with sharp spines or toxic berries that can harm birds or pets.

No poisons or pesticides: Even “natural” sprays can kill pollinators and aquatic species.

Pet-safe and wildlife-safe traps: Avoid sticky traps, rat poisons, and slug pellets—use physical barriers or wildlife-safe alternatives instead.

Check netting: Use wildlife-safe fruit tree netting (mesh size <5 mm) and secure it tightly to avoid animal entanglement.

Lighting: Use low or motion-sensor lights to reduce nocturnal disorientation for moths, bats, and frogs.

Create wildlife corridors: Connect gardens, parks, and bushland with plantings to help animals move safely between areas.

Avoid reflective glass: Use decals or mesh on windows near trees to prevent bird strikes.

Provide escape routes: Small gaps under fences can allow echidnas, blue-tongue lizards, and frogs to move through.

Cat and dog management: Keep cats indoors or in “catios”; supervise dogs near wildlife areas.

Shelter from heat: Provide shaded spots and moisture-retaining mulch for refuge during extreme weather.

Educate household and neighbours: Explain why logs or “wild corners” are left undisturbed.

Monitor impacts: Watch for injured wildlife, and adjust management if hazards emerge.

We recommend a book by local Hepburn Shire author, Tanya Loos, Living with Wildlife, A Guide for Our Homes and Backyards, Tanya covers a range of topics and practical tips on how to live safely with the wildlife we encounter. It is also available to borrow from Moorabool Libraries.