A wildlife sanctuary habitat provides essential resources - food, water, shelter, places to raise young - to support native species and protect against habitat loss. This can range from large managed areas like national wildlife refuges to smaller certified habitats, such as backyards, that are planted with native species and offer critical elements for animals to survive and thrive.
A habitat is the natural home or environment of an animal. It provides the critters that live there with food, water, shelter and space to survive. Habitats consist of both biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors are living things. The main habitats are forests, grasslands, deserts, mountains and polar regions, and aquatic habitats. Habitats have abiotic features, meaning they provide life with physical factors needed to survive, and they provide life with the availability of food and the presence or absence of predators (biotic features).
Wildlife habitats require a reliable source of clean, accessible water for drinking, bathing, and as a breeding ground or shelter for various species. Providing a water source, such as a birdbath, a shallow dish, or a small pond, is crucial for supporting wildlife, with features like shallow edges, escape ramps, and moving water attracting more animals. Maintaining the water source by keeping it clean and full ensures it remains a vital and safe habitat component.