World Wildlife Day occurs every year on March 3rd and celebrates the diversity that exists all over the planet including plants, animals, and small microorganisms that all help contribute to the health and well-being of the planet. While World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on March 3rd, here at Sawgrass Nature Center, we celebrate it every day. Our organization takes in injured, sick, and orphaned native wildlife throughout the year and works to release them back into the wild. On average, we take in around 1,200 animals a year including opossums, squirrels, birds (owls, songbirds, hawks, vultures, egrets), snakes, turtles, and tortoises. We are able to help all these animals throughout the year, and you can as well. I have provided a list below of some small things you can do to help protect the native wildlife in your area.
- Plant native
- Planting local and native plants in your garden helps to increase the biodiversity and resilience of your backyard garden and attracts and promotes the growth of native pollinator species as well.
- Nesting boxes
- If you can, setting up nesting boxes helps to provide shelter for other native animal populations besides just birds. Other species like opossums, bees, and bats (depending on the type of nesting box) can benefit from them as well.
- Education
- Help educate not only yourself, but future generations on the native wildlife in your area by encouraging them to engage with the world outside through walks, camps, and local discussions or events that occur.
- Donate
- If you can, donating to conservation efforts and organizations (local, national, or global) helps to provide these companies with the necessary resources to continue helping the local wildlife in their communities.
Support local events during World Wildlife Day by going to the link below