Leonardo da Vinci

Project Wildlife Launches New Program
by Rebecca Glissman

Spring is my favorite time of year. I love the warm days and cool nights. I love watching the maple trees outside my bedroom window as they change from bare wood to full of beautiful bright green leaves. The thing that really says "Spring" to me, though, is the smell of dirt. I live in an apartment, but there's something in me that demands I get my hands dirty. So every year I put on my grubbiest clothes and head to my neighborhood nursery.

I'll pretty much try to grow whatever strikes my fancy at the time, but my favorites are anything that will attract visitors. Birds, butterflies, even bees are welcome to my balcony.

I think it's my love for dirt and all things green that has me so excited about this issue of Back to Nature and Project Wildlife's newest project, the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program. We've teamed up with some of the country's best in the fields of gardening and environmental conservation to bring you tips, ideas, and techniques to attract wildlife into your yards; how to provide what they need to keep them healthy and happy; and also how to humanely discourage them from sticking around.

This issue of Back to Nature will provide some basic information to get you started on the road to replacing some of the natural habitats that construction and recreational activities have destroyed in San Diego County. For more detailed information, however, I invite you to purchase a Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary kit, available for a donation of $5 each. In the BWS kit, you will find the full reprint of the articles whose exerpts are in Back to Nature, as well as the complete set of Project Wildlife's "How to Co-Exist with Native Wildlife" series. You can use the form found on page 7 of Back to Nature to request BWS kits, or call (858) 866-0555.

I'd like to thank the following individuals for their invaluable help with our newsletter and new Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program: Loren Nancarrow from Channel 10 News and the author of Dead Daisies Make Me Crazy (as well as three other wonderful books!); from the Humane Society of the United States' Urban Wildlife Program, Dr. John Hadidian, Sydney Smith and Richard Farinato; Maureen Austin from CHIRP; George H. Harrison, author of Squirrel Wars and his publisher Willow Creek Press; the National Wildlife Federation for their wonderful web site; and the American Humane Association.

Do We Have Your Current E-mail Address?

We'll send you advance notice of special events, remind you when it's time to renew your membership, send invitations to members-only lectures, and more! Eventually, we will even be able to send you the Back to Nature newsletter electronically!

Please take the time to give us your e-mail address either by visiting our web site at www.projectwildlife.org. 

Thanks for your help!

Back to Nature newsletter is published quarterly by Project Wildlife, P.O. Box 80696, San Diego, CA 92138-0696.

Project Wildlife is a nonprofit, nonpolitical, volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of San Diego County Wildlife. Project Wildlife is also dedicated to the education of San Diego County residents on local wildlife and how to coexist with local mammals and birds.

To get in touch with Project Wildlife, see our contact page

Editor: Rebecca Glissman

Ways to Give:
Endowment Program
United Way Donations
Flowers for Wildlife
Protectors of Wildlife

Programs:
Education Department and Programs