It's all happening at the zoo - fall backyard habitat classes

Fall Backyard Habitat Classes at Woodland Park Zoo

In this series of five classes, you’ll learn from experts from Seattle Audubon, Washington Native Plant Society, Washington Department of Fish / Wildlife, and Woodland Park Zoo about how to design your wildlife habitat, attract birds and other wildlife to your backyard, select and care for native plants, manage your backyard sustainably, and get your yard certified as a Backyard Habitat. Classes may be taken separately or as a five-part series.

Attracting Birds to your Backyard 

Wednesday, September 25th from 7 to 9 p.m.

Join Neil Zimmerman, Seattle Audubon Outreach Chair and Master Birder, to learn how to attract and care for birds in your yard through plant selection, gardening practices, placement and maintenance of bird feeders and nestboxes and use of water features.

Site Evaluation, Design, and Maintenance 

Tuesday, October 8th from 7 to 9 p.m.

Join Allen Howard, Woodland Park Zoo horticulture staff, to learn the basic principles of creating habitat for wildlife, with a focus on planning, site analysis, design and garden maintenance.

Butterflies / Bees 

Saturday, October 19th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Join Woodland Park Zoo entomologist Erin Sullivan and horticulturalist David Selk to discover how to attract and care for local butterflies and bees. You’ll learn about the importance of these backyard pollinators as well as the threats they face and what you can do to help, including insect-friendly gardening practices.

Fall Plants and Planting 

Saturday, October 19th from 1 to 3 p.m.

Join Monica Vander Vieren, Washington Native Plant Society Native Plant Steward, and David Selk, Woodland Park Zoo horticulturist, to discover how different plants in your garden can provide for the basic needs of wildlife. The class includes a plant walk around zoo grounds focusing on aesthetic and size considerations, as well as proper planting techniques.  

Weeds and “Pests” in your Backyard Habitat 

Wednesday, October 23rd from 7 to 9 p.m.

Join Sasha Shaw, King County Noxious Weed education specialist, and Chris Anderson, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife biologist, to learn how to identify and eradicate problem weeds and coexist peacefully and legally with all wildlife that are attracted to your backyard habitat.

Cost: $25 per person / $100 for the five-part series if you register before 3:00pm on the first day of the five-part series.

For more information and to register, see the zoo's website

The Woodland Park Zoo is located at 601 N 59th St, Seattle 98103.