The ideas you will see will benefit all kinds of animals, from butterflies to birds to deer. Food A collection of shrubs and small trees that produce berries, like the blackberry and dogwood, will provide food for wildlife. They will also bloom with beautiful flowers which will enhance your backyard landscaping. Berries from these and many other shrubs are eaten by song birds, deer, and other animals. Butterflies and hummingbirds feed on nectar from many garden flowers.
Bird feeders are excellent food sources.
If you have a large backyard, you might consider planting a wildlife food plot with corn, sorghum, millet or other crops, These crops will be eaten by deer, pheasants, and many song birds. Wildflower meadows and unmowed areas provide excellent food and cover for birds and butterflies, Some local governments restrict lawn length, so check your local ordinances before letting your lawn grow wild. Cover Animals need places to protect themselves and their young from the weather and from predators. Many birds will build their nests in fruit-producing shrubs. A hedgerow with a combination of plants like blackberry and blueberry for summer cover and holly and juniper for winter shelter can protect wild animals.