America’s backyards and gardens often serve as unexpected sanctuaries for wildlife that enjoys federal or state protection. Even in suburban neighborhoods, these creatures find food, shelter, and nesting sites among our plants and trees.
In my own garden in Florida, I’ve watched protected species visit my birdbath and flutter through flowering bushes, making me realize how important our everyday spaces are for conservation.
1. Bald Eagles Making A Comeback
Against all odds, our national symbol has rebounded from near extinction. Near lakes and rivers, even in suburban areas, you might glimpse that distinctive white head soaring overhead.
Their massive nests can weigh up to a ton and are often reused for decades. My neighbor spotted one fishing at our community lake last spring, causing quite the neighborhood stir.
2. Tiny Hummingbirds With Big Protection
Darting between flowers like living jewels, all species of hummingbirds in the U.S. are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Their iridescent feathers catch sunlight as they hover near feeders and garden blooms.
Setting up a simple sugar-water feeder might attract these tiny marvels to your yard. Last summer, a ruby-throated visitor became a regular at my cardinal flowers.
3. Monarch Butterflies In Decline
Fluttering through gardens on distinctive orange and black wings, monarchs make one of nature’s most impressive migrations. Though not yet federally listed as endangered, many states now protect these pollinators as their numbers drop dramatically.
Planting milkweed in your garden provides essential habitat for their caterpillars. Watching a monarch chrysalis transform in my milkweed patch was pure magic.
4. Eastern Box Turtles In Garden Corners
Moving slowly through leaf litter, these dome-shelled reptiles with yellow-orange markings enjoy protection in many eastern states. Their populations face threats from habitat loss and road mortality.
Gardens with natural areas and undergrowth provide perfect habitat for these gentle creatures. One rainy morning, I discovered a box turtle sheltering beneath my hostas, likely enjoying the slugs there.
5. Little Brown Bats At Twilight
Swooping through evening skies, these small mammals provide incredible pest control services while facing serious conservation challenges. White-nose syndrome has devastated their populations, leading to protected status in many regions.
Each bat can consume thousands of mosquitoes nightly. Installing a simple bat house on your property might attract these beneficial creatures. Watching them emerge at dusk from beneath my neighbor’s eaves is a summer highlight.
6. Florida Manatees In Warm Waters
Gentle giants of rivers and coastal lagoons, manatees are federally threatened and especially vulnerable to boat strikes and cold snaps.
On a kayaking trip near Crystal River, I watched a manatee surface just a few feet from me—an unforgettable encounter with Florida’s most beloved mammal.
7. American Goldfinches Brightening Feeders
Brilliant yellow males and olive-green females bring color to garden feeders throughout the year. Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, these small finches particularly love thistle and sunflower seeds.
Native plants like coneflowers and sunflowers attract them naturally. My winter garden seems to come alive when a flock descends on the spent seedheads I’ve left standing, their cheerful calls cutting through cold air.
8. Gopher Tortoises Creating Habitat
Digging extensive burrows in sandy soils of southeastern states, these threatened reptiles serve as ecosystem engineers. Their deep tunnels provide shelter for over 350 other species!
Yards with natural areas and native vegetation might host these beneficial diggers. A friend’s Florida property became an unexpected sanctuary when a tortoise established residence beneath her native wildflower meadow, creating a miniature wildlife refuge.
9. Key Deer Roaming The Lower Keys
The smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer, these endangered animals live only in the Florida Keys. Development and car collisions remain major threats.
Driving through Big Pine Key, I once saw a tiny deer calmly grazing by the roadside, completely unbothered by passing cars.
10. Snail Kites Over Wetlands
This striking raptor, with its hooked beak designed to eat apple snails, is federally endangered. It’s found in Florida’s freshwater marshes, especially around Lake Okeechobee.
On a birding trip, I spotted one gliding low over the water, circling until it dove perfectly to grab a snail—an amazing display of precision.
11. Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers In Pine Trees
Tapping away at pine trees, these endangered woodpeckers with distinctive white cheeks and small red markings create homes that benefit entire forest communities. They uniquely nest in living pine trees, excavating cavities in trees affected by heart rot.
Properties with mature pines might attract these special birds. My cousin in South Carolina was amazed to discover a family group taking up residence in the longleaf pines she’d preserved when building her home.