The National Wildlife Federation celebrates its 70th anniversary this year (1936-2006).

Southern Nevadans can support the effort by creating habitat right in their own backyard.

The NWF sponsors a backyard wildlife habitat program nationwide and is aiming for 70,000 certified backyard habitats by the end of this year. To date, NWF has already certified over 60,000 certified backyard habitats.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife partners with NWF in assisting community members to create backyard habitats and schoolyard habitats. Several local schools have been certified as schoolyard habitats.

The NDOW has produced a brochure, Backyard Birds, which gives tips on bird and hummingbird feeding.

Another department brochure, Living with Wildlife in Nevada, gives tips on attracting watchable wildlife to your yard and pointers on dealing with unwanted wildlife in urban settings. One of the most requested tips is what to do with baby animals "leave them alone."

The department's Wildlife Education Program helps to foster the mission of "Connecting people to wildlife in a positive way." Contact your nearest NDOW office for copies of these brochures or for general information on wildlife.

Backyard wildlife habitats provide wildlife with a friendly place to live or visit, especially where wild habitats are being lost.

Backyard habitats are very important for migratory birds, which use these areas as places to rest during their long migrations. NWF provides information on how to plan a landscape with the needs of wildlife in mind food, water, cover, and space. Common visitors to backyard habitats include birds, bats, reptiles, and a wide variety of insects.

For over 30 years, NWF's Backyard Wildlife Habitat program has helped to make a place for wildlife in urban and rural settings. The program helps children and adults to form a connection with nature without having to travel far.

Certification of habitats can be obtained for homeowners, business owners, schools, community groups, or even an entire community.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.nwf.org/backyard.