Home » 4-H Opportunities » Projects » Wildlife WHEP Wisconsin 4-H & Wisconsin 4-H Forestry » Backyard & Back 40
Backyard & Back 40
“Backyard & Back 40”
Wildlife Habitat & Forestry Activities
Participation in Wildlife WHEP Wisconsin 4-H & Wisconsin 4-H Forestry activities are open to all 4-H members interested in wildlife and forestry. You can be enrolled in any 4-H project and participate in activities.
We’ll introduce you to these activities for your county programs.
- Purple Loosestrife Beetle Growing Program
Raise purple loosestrife beetles as a bio-control method for preventing the spread of this invasive plant species. Detail will be provided on locating the plants, collecting the beetles, raising, and releasing them. You will find & identify the plants near wetlands and along roadways. Permits are required. - Building Bat Houses
Bats eat 4-8,000 mosquitos each night, so fewer will be biting you. Build bat houses and mount them high off the ground. Bats may not move into your bat house for several years. They want to make sure it is safe. - Pollinator Habitat Improvement
One out of every 3 bites of all foods need insect pollination. 1/3 of all food & beverages are made possible by insect pollination. Plant wildflowers & build bee houses. Bees are our buddies, and the honey is good, too. - Building Butterfly & Rain Gardens
Plant wildflowers, especially native species, establish rain gardens and use rain barrels to collect rain water. - Milkweed & Monarch Project
Harvest milkweed seeds in fall, & plant them in spring. Raise butterflies in the summer & release them. - Improving Upland Bird Habitats
Learn how to identify different game bird species, their various foods, and habitat. Learn how you can use different management practices to increase the bird populations. - Improving Habitat for Migrating Land Birds & Bird Watching
Some birds come to visit us every year. Maintaining feeders, providing nesting materials, & housing is important. Some birds are resident birds all year around. Do some family bird watching and keep notes. - Water & Riparian Area Improvements
A riparian area is the land near a river, stream, pond, lake, or wetland area. Learn how this vegetation reduces erosion and provides habitat for wildlife and aquatic critters. Water quality is improved. - Trees for Wildlife, Recreation, & A Renewable Resource
Plant trees for wildlife & landscape your area. Enjoy the forests for food, recreation & hunting. Learn more about this renewable resource by using various forestry management practices. More trees = more wood. - Maps, Topography, Compass, & GPS
Maps show the physical features of our surroundings. Map types provides different information. Learn how to read & understand the map symbols. Learn how to use a compass, how GPS works, & enjoy geocaching. - Viewing Wildlife & Camera Hunting
Enjoy safely searching for wildlife and do some camera hunting to record those memories. It’s a family activity you can do all year. Try using trail cameras to observe some night-time wildlife activities. - Urban Wildlife
Learn how wildlife lives among people in urban settings. Learn about methods to control invasive plant species, native plant restoration for wildlife and reduce bird collisions with building.
