WILDLIFE FREINDLY NEIGHBORHOOD

Wildlife Friendly Neighborhood
a project of the Indiana Wildlife Federation

IWF designed this program to promote conservation and habitat restoration in neighborhoods throughout Indiana. The Wildlife Friendly Neighborhood program educates individuals about the need to and benefits from "add(ing) a little something special" in their own back yard and neighborhood for wildlife.

Wildlife friendly neighborhoods attract birds, butterflies or other small mammals facing habitat loss due to growth and expansion in our neighborhoods.

Kensington Place, Carmel, IN

You don't have to be a professional landscaper or know everything about plants, trees and animals. You and your neighbors can make a difference by providing just a few basic needs for wildlife. Creating a place for wildlife in your neighborhood will also help instill a new sense of awareness about nature in your residents, especially children, and provide a unique asset to the place you call home!

Talk to your neighbors and home owners association about this program. Once your neighborhood has reached the required number of certified homes, the Indiana Wildlife Federation will provide an attractive sign for you to proudly display at your neighborhood entrance. The following guidelines will help you get your project started.

HOW TO CERTIFY YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD:

Step 1-
Talk to your neighbors and/or neighborhood association about creating a "Neighborhood Wildlife Habitat."  Contact Indiana Wildlife Federation, Community Habitat Coordinator for the Indiana Wildlife Federation at 1-800-347-3445, and schedule a presentation for your neighbors about the requirements and guidelines of the program.

Step 2-
Create a "project team" with neighbors who would like to help design and implement a plan of action for the "neighborhood certification" and facilitate communication between your neighbors and the Community Habitat Coordinator.

Step 3-
GET THE WORD OUT to everyone in your neighborhood! The Indiana Wildlife Federation will help you inform your community about the project.

CRITERIA AND FEE SCHEDULE:

• Initial on-site visit and group meeting to discuss process, Commitment to Certify and Program compatibility.
• IWF will determine the number of backyards necessary for certification.
• Form a Habitat Team made up of IWF members to assist homeowners with their backyard design. Team size should be determined by number of homeowners in the Neighborhood. Program fess includes IWF membership for the Team and on call technical services.
• Habitat Team will help homeowners certify their backyards through NWF (mail the certification forms and $15 fees to NWF)
• Provide IWF with copies of NWF certification forms along with $10 fee for each certified property.
• Consider common areas and ponds as wildlife enhancement areas*
• Provide IWF with the opportunity to make a wildlife presentation at Association Meeting
• Final meeting at IWF office to review NWF documentation for all certified yards
• Final site visit by IWF for approval
• Annual IWF sponsorship post-certification (includes technical services)

* Although certifying common areas such as parks, businesses, and ponds is not required for certifying your neighborhood, please consider making these areas wildlife-friendly as well. If you do certify a common area, it may be used to fill some of the percentage of certified backyards (based upon review by IWF).

FEES:

• 1-25 homes $25 assoc. + $10 from each home for 1-yr membership = 85% homes cert.
• 26-50 homes $50 assoc. + $10 from each home for 1-yr membership = 80% homes cert.
• 51-100 homes $100 assoc. + $10 from each home for 1-yr membership = 75% homes cert.
• 101-300 homes $150 assoc. + $10 from each home for 1-yr membership = 65% homes cert.
• 301+ homes $200 assoc. + $10 from each home for 1-yr membership = 60% homes cert.

Above assoc. fees include the following IWF technical services:

• On-site visits and meetings as stated above.
• On-call phone consulting service for Habitat Team.
• Recognition, sign presentation, photo and media opportunities at final site visit.

Association responsibilities:

• Habitat Team will work with home owners to get them certified.
• Process all NWF applications for Backyard Wildlife Habitat directly to NWF with $15 fee.
• Provide IWF a copy with $10 check for documentation and membership.

Post-certification annual IWF sponsorship, including technical services: $100 per year.