Zoo offering backyard habitat classes this fall

Woodland Park Zoo is offering a series of classes to help people turn their yards or school yards into wildlife habitats. Experts from Seattle Audubon, Bats Northwest, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Native Plant Society and the Zoo will help you design your habitat to attract birds and other wildlife, select native plants, manage your yard sustainably, and get your yard certified as a Backyard Habitat.

Photo by Ryan Hawk, Woodland Park Zoo.
Classes are designed to build on each other as a series, but can be taken separately. Cost is $25 per person, per class; or $100 per person for the five-part series if you register before 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22. You can register online.
Wildlife Garden Design and Management – Thursday, Sept. 22, 79 p.m.: “Join Allen Howard, Woodland Park Zoo horticulturist, to learn the basic principles of creating habitat for wildlife, with a focus on planning, site analysis, design and garden maintenance.”
Attracting Birds to your Backyard – Wednesday, Oct. 5, 7-9 p.m.: “Join Neil Zimmerman, Seattle Audubon Outreach Chair and Master Birder to learn how to attract and care for birds in your yard through plant selection, placement and maintenance of bird feeders and nest boxes, and use of water features.”
Fall Plants and Planting – Saturday, Oct. 15, 9- 11 a.m.: “Join Monica Vander Vieren, Washington Native Plant Society Native Plant Steward, and David Selk, Woodland Park Zoo horticulturist, to discover how different plants in your garden can provide for the basic needs of wildlife. The class includes a plant walk around zoo grounds focusing on aesthetic and size considerations, as well as proper planting techniques.”
Preparing your Backyard Habitat for Winter – Saturday, Oct. 15, 1-3 p.m.: “Winter can be a struggle for the inhabitants of your wildlife garden. Join David Selk, Woodland Park Zoo horticulturist and Neil Zimmerman, Seattle Audubon Outreach Chair and Master Birder to learn how to provide for the needs of plants, insects, birds and other wildlife throughout the winter.”
Bats and Nocturnal Wildlife – Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7-9 p.m.: “A whole new world of wildlife comes out when the sun goes down, including bats, coyotes and flying squirrels! Join Bats Northwest and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to learn more about these nocturnal creatures, including how to attract as well as live peacefully with them.