Ways to Protect Wildlife

Wild animals need clean habitats to find food, shelter, and water. When people make choices that damage habitats, animals can lose everything they need to survive — but people can also choose to help!

Actions that HELP wildlife

• Plant trees and flowers to give animals shelter and food.
• Pick up litter so animals don't eat or get tangled in trash.
• Recycle to reduce pollution and keep habitats clean.
• Put up bird feeders or nest boxes to support local birds.
• Leave wild areas undisturbed — don't pick flowers or disturb nests.
• Use less plastic — plastic in water harms fish, birds, and turtles.

Actions that HARM wildlife

• Dropping litter and leaving trash in parks or near water.
• Cutting down forests without replanting destroys animal habitats.
• Pouring oil or chemicals into rivers and soil poisons animals.
• Building over wild land removes the places animals call home.

Why it matters

• If one animal in a food chain disappears, the whole chain is affected — other animals lose their food source too.