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Beavers, like humans, alter their habitat to suit their needs. Unlike most human landscape alterations, however, the changes beavers make support ducks, wading birds, amphibians, fish and numerous other wildlife species. Beavers dam streams with branches and mud to create ponds. Ponds provide these semi-aquatic, vegetarian rodents with protection from predators and places to build their lodges. Beavers feed on the bark of trees and use branches and logs to build their dams. You can protect specimen trees from beaver damage by wrapping them with four feet of hardware cloth. You can purchase exclusion devices that prevent beavers from building dams over stream culverts and flooding yards and neighborhoods.

I’m glad that the Wyoming trip made such an impression and that you’re eager to help protect our remaining wilderness.

The Wilderness Act, signed into law in 1964, created the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). It empowered Congress to permanently protect undeveloped tracts within our 623 million public acres by making them part of the Wilderness System. These areas then belong to not only, say, Yosemite National Park but to the NWPS, as well.

What difference does it make? If land ins…

There are a number of commercial birthbath heaters on the market, as well as heated birthbaths. Retailers for either are easily found with a quick Internet search, or you might try your local garden supply shop. You can find out more about taking care of visiting winter birds in Bringin’ in the Birds, by Terry Krautwurst.

Here are some pointers for the times when birds have non-fatal window collisions:

1. It is important to remember that if a bird is stunned enough to end up on the ground, it can easily go into shock and die of hypothermia or be eaten by a predator while the bird is incapacitated. Many birds are able to fly off after window collisions, but if they are knocked out or stunned and on the ground they should be gently picked up and placed in a warm, dark, sheltered place for at least two hours. If the …

Feeder placement around houses can be very important, and there are easy things that can reduce the likelihood of fatalities from bird strikes, at least from birds taking off from the feeders.  There are two options: place the feeders close to the windows (or stuck to them with suction cups), or make sure they are some distance away.  Feeders close to the windows should be less than three feet away; those at a distance should be more than 30 feet away.

Here's a good online resource about this in …

If you don't want to use bleach to disinfect your feeders or nesting boxes, plain white vinegar is a great alternative. A 5-percent vinegar solution kills the majority of bacteria, viruses and molds. Tea tree oil is also an effective disinfectant — you can find it at most health food stores. Simply mix a teaspoon of the oil in a gallon of warm water and scrub away.

It’s OK to feed birds year-round. The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to bird feeders is that birds really only use them to supplement natural foods. That includes insects and all manner of seeds, berries, fruits and nuts, as well as sap and nectar (depending on the species). With that in mind, it’s less important when you feed than how you feed. If you really want to help birds the most, you should focus your efforts on planting the native plant species they rely on for food …

The League of Conservation Voters’ (LCV) Web site is a great place to start. You can find scorecards for each of the 2008 presidential candidates — based on their environmental voting records — here.

The LCV doesn’t only cover presidential races. You can find out how your state ranks overall on environmental issues, and look up the environmental rankings (based on voting records) for every senator and house representative in your state, as well. Click here to get started.

For more information and …

First, thank those industrious bees for gracing your garden! Bees are terrific pollinators, and they’re presence in your garden is great news for the flowers you enjoy so much. With so much concern over Colony Collapse Disorder, there are many people who would love to have such a worry.

And, actually, honeybees aren’t likely to bother you unless you disturb them or their hive. You go about your business, they’ll go about theirs (making sure the flowers keep coming back!). Pay attention, and use c…

Making Earth- and people-friendly laundry soap is simple and inexpensive. For starters, try this easy whitening formula from Natural Home magazine:

Bleach/Brightener Substitute
1 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup lemon or grapefruit juice
12 cups water

Store in a labeled plastic jug. Add 2 cups per load.

You also can find great recipes for Washing Powder and Pre-wash Stain Spray here.