Your Backyard Can Be a Five-Star Resort for Frogs and Snakes

When you think of wildlife conservation, you might picture sprawling national parks or remote rainforests. But the fight to protect our planet’s biodiversity can start much closer to home—right in your own backyard. Amphibians and reptiles, a group often overlooked and misunderstood, are facing global declines, primarily due to habitat loss. These creatures, from the jewel-toned tree frog to the shy garter snake, are vital indicators of environmental health. Their permeable skin makes them incredibly sensitive to pollutants, making them the “canaries in the coal mine” for our ecosystems. The good news is that you don’t need to be a field biologist to make a profound difference. By making a few simple, conscious choices, you can turn your property and your community into a haven for these fascinating animals.

The single most impactful thing you can do is transform your yard into a mini-sanctuary.

The single most impactful thing you can do is transform your yard into a mini-sanctuary. Start by rethinking the perfect lawn. A manicured, chemical-treated monoculture of grass is a food desert for most wildlife. Reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers. These chemicals can be directly toxic to amphibians and can wipe out the insects that both amphibians and reptiles rely on for food. Instead, embrace a little wildness! Let a corner of your yard grow naturally. Create brush piles with fallen branches or rock piles to offer shelter from predators and the elements. Allowing leaves to remain on the ground over winter provides crucial insulation for hibernating creatures like toads and salamanders. If you have space, consider adding a small pond or water feature—even a container pond on a patio can provide essential breeding grounds for frogs and a drinking source for other animals. Be sure to keep it free of fish, which will eagerly eat eggs and tadpoles. By planting native flowers, shrubs, and trees, you’ll attract native insects, creating a robust and healthy food web right outside your door.

Your conservation efforts can extend far beyond your property line. One major threat is the introduction of non-native species. Never release unwanted pets into the wild. That pet store turtle or exotic snake can become an invasive species, outcompeting native animals for resources or introducing diseases. On that note, our domestic pets can also cause harm. Free-roaming cats are incredibly efficient predators that kill billions of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians each year. Keeping your cat indoors is safer for them and for local wildlife. When walking your dog, keep it on a leash, especially near wetlands or in natural areas. Another huge challenge for these animals is navigating our human-dominated world. Roads fragment habitats and are a major source of mortality. Be especially vigilant when driving near wetlands or forests, particularly on warm, rainy nights when amphibians are most active. If you can safely do so, help turtles cross the road by moving them in the direction they were already heading.

Finally, your power as a consumer and a citizen is immense. Many products we use, from food to cosmetics, contain ingredients like palm oil, the cultivation of which can lead to the destruction of vital rainforest habitats that are home to countless amphibian and reptile species. Support companies that use sustainably sourced materials and make conscious choices at the checkout counter. Get involved locally by supporting conservation organizations or volunteering for habitat restoration projects in your community parks. Educate your friends and neighbors about the importance of these animals and the simple steps they can take to help. By fostering a little empathy for the scaly and slimy residents of our world and taking these deliberate actions, we can collectively ensure that the chirps of frogs and the silent watchfulness of a garden snake remain a part of our landscape for generations to come.