The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. Many families decorate their homes with beautiful lights, garlands, and Christmas trees. However, conventional Christmas decorations can be hazardous to local wildlife. Using wildlife friendly decorations is an easy way to celebrate the holidays without harming nature.
Why use wildlife friendly decorations?
Standard Christmas decorations may look festive, but often contain materials that can entangle, choke, or poison wildlife. For example:
- Ribbons, tinsel, and string lights can get wrapped around animals, restricting movement or causing injury.
- Wire, plastic, and shiny ornament hooks can choke wildlife who try to eat them.
- Chemicals in artificial snow and tree preservatives can be toxic if ingested.
Birds, small mammals, and other critters interact with outdoor decorations and Christmas trees. Using wildlife friendly options reduces dangers to local fauna.
Make natural decorations
A great way to create wildlife friendly decorations is to use natural materials from your backyard. Simple DIY decorations protect animals while exhibiting rustic holiday charm:
- Pinecone wreaths – Gather pinecones from your yard or a nearby forest. Connect them into a ring using a natural fiber like jute.
- Cranberry or popcorn garlands – String popped popcorn or fresh cranberries onto plain thread or fishing line. They look gorgeous on mantels or wound around banisters.
- Evergreen branches – Clip low-hanging boughs of cedar, pine, or fir to make free rustic garlands and centerpieces.
Veggies, nuts, leaves, twigs, dried flowers, and seed pods also make charming wildlife safe ornaments when woven, tied, or glued together.
Decorate with care
When decorating outdoors, use care to avoid disturbing wildlife habitats:
- Don’t drape lights or attach decorations to plants, nests, or burrows.
- Use clips instead of nails or tacks to hang outdoor elements like wreaths.
- Choose solar lights instead of wired options.
- Place illuminated decorations away from natural areas to avoid disturbing animals.
Remember – less is more when it comes to outdoor decorating for wildlife. Limit lighting and ornaments in wilder sections of your yard.
Pick animal friendly materials
When shopping for new decor, read labels carefully and choose products made from harmless natural or recycled components:
- Beeswax or soy candles – Safer than paraffin if tipped over or chewed.
- Paper or cloth – For wrapping gifts and making banners or other indoor accents.
- Wood decorations – Opt for untreated, unpainted wood that won’t leak chemicals.
- Organic produce – For natural wreaths and arrangements.
Avoid any decorations with feathers, antlers, glitter, or shiny tinsel that could harm animals if eaten or become wrapped around them.
Select an ethical Christmas tree
Real Christmas trees support tree farms, which provide wildlife habitat. But some are sprayed with chemicals or use monoculture planting. When buying a live tree, ask these questions:
- Are pesticides or chemical flame retardants used in production?
- Are diverse types of conifers planted, or only one cash-crop species?
- Is the farm Wildlife Habitat Council certified?
Also consider a potted or balled tree that can be replanted outdoors after the holidays. Or use an artificial tree made with recycled materials.
Decorate your tree safely
A Christmas tree becomes the heart of holiday decorating for many families. But the tree itself and ornaments on it can pose risks to pets and wildlife. Here are some tips for an animal friendly tree:
- Skip the tinsel. Birds and cats can eat it and get intestinal blockages.
- Avoid ornaments that contain lead, which is toxic. Opt for shatterproof plastic or wood.
- Prevent chewing on electrical cords with plastic cord covers or keep trees unlit.
- Place fragile glass ornaments towards the top where pets can’t reach.
- Omit edible decorations like candy canes and gingerbread if you have pets.
After Christmas, recycle your tree or leave it in a brush pile for birds. Don’t burn Pressure treated trees, which release harmful fumes.
Light up carefully for wildlife
Bright flashing holiday lights are part of the seasonal ambience many love. But light pollution disrupts natural rhythms of wildlife and birds. Here are a few tips for minimizing the impact of outdoor lighting:
- Use a timer to turn lights off at a reasonable hour each night.
- Choose cooler LED lights that reduce blue wavelengths.
- Face flood or spotlights downwards and keep lighting low to the ground.
- If possible, hold off on putting lights up until mid-December.
Also check outdoor lights frequently for dead animals or insects and dispose of them carefully.
Get kids involved
Making wildlife friendly decorations and ornaments is a fun hands-on holiday activity for kids. Here are a few nature crafts to get them in the spirit:
- String Cheerios or apple slices as an edible garland for birds.
- Coat pinecones with peanut butter and birdseed to make a critter ornament.
- Cut animal tracks out of cardboard and use as outdoor window decorations.
- Make wreaths out of gnarly sticks gathered in the yard.
It’s also important to teach young ones which decorations could endanger wildlife so they understand the purpose of safer options.
Incorporate reused or recyclable items
Getting crafty with recycled materials minimizes your environmental impact. Here are ideas for eco-friendly DIY decor:
- Make garlands out of scrap fabric, ribbons, or paper.
- Fold old music sheets into origami stars or snowflakes.
- Cut cardboard from boxes into festive shapes like trees or snowmen.
- Upcycle last year’s cards into gift tags or ornaments.
Scour thrift shops and yard sales for secondhand decorations. Or safely repurpose items from around your home, like turning old jars into snow globe vignettes.
Conclusion
Celebrating Christmas or the winter holidays does not have to harm backyard wildlife. With some simple planning, you can protect local fauna and flora. Opt for natural decorations or sustainable purchased products. Be strategic in how and where you incorporate lights, garlands, tinsel, and ornaments outside. And get into the holiday spirit by crafting decorations with your kids!
The key is being proactive – research options, read labels, ask questions, and practice caution. Going the extra mile allows you to celebrate in style while also giving nature the gift of safety this holiday season.