June 25, 2006
First Wildlife Friendly Neighborhoods in Indiana is certified!

Kensington Place Homeowner's Association officers show off their new Wildlife Friendly Neighborhood sign. Left to right are Kelcy Whitman, President; Sharon Oldham, Treasurer and Gary Doxtater, Secretary.

The Indiana Wildlife Federation recently certified Kensington Place in Carmel as the first Wildlife Friendly Neighborhood in Indiana . This new program requires a certain percentage of homeowner yards to be certified under the National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program. Each participating yard must contain the four basic necessities needed for wildlife survival: water, food, shelter, and a place to raise young. Certification is also determined by the amount of forested area, water areas, and association-owned common areas in the neighborhood. Kensington neighborhood contains seventeen lots; all seventeen received Backyard Wildlife Habitat certification, making neighborhood certification guaranteed.

Don Lamport, coordinator for the Oakhaven Neighborhood Association, along with other Oakhaven residents is shown receiving their Wildlife Friendly Neighborhood sign from Jerry Wheeler, Indiana Wildlife Federation Education and Habitat Coordinator.

Another Indianapolis community, Oakhaven, became the second area to obtain neighborhood certification when eleven of its forty residents certified their backyards as wildlife habitats. Wheeler says, "Certifying your community as a Wildlife Friendly Neighborhood is a great opportunity for residents to get to know one another and, at the same time, make a positive impact on wildlife. We're very proud of the accomplishments and commitments of these two communities." Other neighborhoods interested in this program can find details on the Indiana Wildlife Federation website or can contact Jerry Wheeler at the IWF office at 317-875-9453, 800-347-3445, or via email at wheeler@indianawildlife.org.