Ready to Create a Brush Shelter for Backyard Wildlife?

  • Thread starter zoobyshoe
  • Start date
In summary, the National Wildlife Federation suggests building brush shelters to attract wildlife to your backyard. The shelter can be placed on the edge between two habitats, and should receive direct sunlight. The shelter can be filled with stone piles as part of the base, plants to attract hummingbirds and songbirds, and tunnels for rodents, reptiles, and amphibians.
  • #1
zoobyshoe
6,510
1,290
No one's in a better position to do this right now than Evo, but anyone with somewhat of a yard might be able to atract some critters:

Brush Pile - Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program - National Wildlife Federation
Address:http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/logpile.cfm

TIPS FOR CREATING BRUSH SHELTERS
Some communities do not allow brush shelters, and some neighbors might not undertand their value. Check you local codes and notify your neighbors if the brush pile will be highly visible.
Place your shelter on the edge between two habitats - these "ecotones" house the most wildlife.
Make sure at least half of your shelter receives direct sunlight - many animals love to bask.
Use stone piles in your shelter as part of the base to create hiding places and along the edges to serve as basking sites.
Plant native flowering/fruiting vines to sprawl over the shelter to attract hummingbirds and songbirds.
Weave evergreen branches into the roof of your shelter in the Winter to provide cover from snow/ice storms.
Add old pipes to your shelter's base to serve as tunnels for rodents, reptiles and amphibians.
 
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  • #2
Hey, look - it's Zooby's house!
http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/images/14082brushpile.jpg
 
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  • #3
But that's NOT my dog!
 
  • #4
Why build a brush shelter?

Why not just keep them in the broom cupboard like everyone else?
 
  • #5
That's my dog.

I sent him to the brush shelter to get me a water color brush.
 
  • #6
Huckleberry said:
That's my dog.
Why won't he leave? I keep telling him "Make your own brush shelter!"
 
  • #7
I'm going to go collect sticks for this. maybe I can catch a PF member lurking around. Oh, crap, we have the homeowner's association in our neighborhood, I'm not sure if they allow it. I'll have to check, but then again...

Why bother? :devil:
 
  • #8
zoobyshoe said:
Why won't he leave? I keep telling him "Make your own brush shelter!"
It's just that I've never seen any zoobies using the shelter so I assumed it was abandoned. Didn't want all those brushes to get all crusty.
 
  • #9
I'm sure you all can observe my shelter's simple, elegant lines and its structural grace. It was designed by Brush Architect, Frank Lloyd Zoobie - a classic!



This site has tons of brush shelter pictures:

Tracker Trail - Brush Shelters
Address:http://www.trackertrail.com/survival/shelter/brush/abbbrush.html
 
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  • #10
brewnog said:
Why build a brush shelter?

Why not just keep them in the broom cupboard like everyone else?

I can supply lots of brushes! I work for a brush manufacturer
:cool:
 
  • #11
Kerrie said:
I can supply lots of brushes! I work for a brush manufacturer
:cool:
I, and the rest of the zoobies, are becoming very tired of that joke.
 
  • #12
Kerrie said:
I can supply lots of brushes! I work for a brush manufacturer
:cool:
So can I send you the 60 pounds of cat hair that Lucy sheds every month?
 
  • #13
I'm doing my part by donating my fence as a termite habitat. :approve:
 
  • #14
the next story will demonstrate my extreme hick-ism:
One weekend (cold and rainy) i determined that i was going to 'rough it', so i did. i rounded up my millitary surplus gear and a couple MREs (Meal- Ready to -eat(millitary ration)) and headed off into the woods. that was friday night, i built a shelter, boiled some H20, built a fire, and slept there that night and saturday night, and left for home sunday morning. it was a peaceful and quite cool experience (except for the freak mountain storm on saturday) and i had a fun time. next time, i will bring a zippo, lighting fires by sparking flint and steel is a *****.

Fibonacci
 
  • #15
Actually, that sounds like a very cool camping experience. Next time don't just bring a zippo, bring some real food. Gots the makings of a great time if you know how to build a brush shelter. (Don't need to lug a tent.)
 
  • #16
zoobyshoe said:
Actually, that sounds like a very cool camping experience. Next time don't just bring a zippo, bring some real food. Gots the makings of a great time if you know how to build a brush shelter. (Don't need to lug a tent.)

actually, the MREs i had were quite swell, some random italian food with chicken, and if you get the heaters that have an extothermic reaction when you mix them with water they are hot too! the old MREs are sucky, and you have to know which ones are good. italian stuff is usually good.

Fibonacci
 
  • #17
You didn't build a fire?
 
  • #18
i did, as i said in my first post.
 
  • #19
1 said:
i did, as i said in my first post.
You did say that, yes. What was the function of the exothermic heater thingies?
 
  • #20
zoobyshoe said:
You did say that, yes. What was the function of the exothermic heater thingies?
Man build fire. Man no cook. *grunt grunt* :biggrin: :rofl:
 
  • #21
zoobyshoe said:
I, and the rest of the zoobies, are becoming very tired of that joke.


:confused: it's no joke, I seriously work for a company called American Brush Company.
 
  • #22
Kerrie said:
:confused: it's no joke, I seriously work for a company called American Brush Company.
And do they sell instructions on how to make shelters from their products?
 
  • #23
zoobyshoe said:
And do they sell instructions on how to make shelters from their products?
Oh, I thought you were making shelters for their products. :tongue2: With all that hair, I thought you'd need a lot of brushes, and might need a special shelter just for them. :biggrin:
 
  • #24
zoobyshoe said:
You did say that, yes. What was the function of the exothermic heater thingies?

they heat the MREs, and give off hydrogen, which i like to capture in a bag and explode.
yes, i am a pyro, too.

Fibonacci
 
  • #25
1 said:
they heat the MREs, and give off hydrogen, which i like to capture in a bag and explode.
yes, i am a pyro, too.
It's loud and firey. It burns clean, and leaves nothing behind but pure H2O. I'm not seeing a problem.
 
  • #26
zoobyshoe said:
I, and the rest of the zoobies, are becoming very tired of that joke.

The rest? so you're in the zooby club now? How do I join?
 
  • #27
Zantra said:
The rest? so you're in the zooby club now? How do I join?
There is no "zooby" club. There is a race of beings called "zoobies". I am a "zoobie", but my name is "Zooby". I am Zooby the zoobie. Zoobies live in brush shelters. If you want to make a brush shelter and live in it, you will not become a zoobie, merely zoobie-like.
 
  • #28
zoobyshoe said:
There is no "zooby" club. There is a race of beings called "zoobies". I am a "zoobie", but my name is "Zooby". I am Zooby the zoobie. Zoobies live in brush shelters. If you want to make a brush shelter and live in it, you will not become a zoobie, merely zoobie-like.

I will meditate on this. Perhaps after years of meditating inside of a brush shelter I may one day become one with the brush shelter and transcend to zoobie status...
 
  • #29
Zoobyshoe

Has his own universe
 

1. What materials do I need to make a brush shelter?

To make a brush shelter, you will need long branches or poles, smaller branches for weaving, and natural materials such as leaves, grass, or bark for insulation and waterproofing. You may also need a machete or hand saw to cut branches to size.

2. How do I choose a good location for my brush shelter?

Choose a location with a flat surface and enough space for your shelter. Look for a spot near trees or large rocks for added protection from wind and rain. Avoid low-lying areas that may flood during heavy rain.

3. What is the best way to construct a brush shelter?

The best way to construct a brush shelter is to create a frame with the longer branches or poles, then weave smaller branches in between to form a sturdy structure. Use natural materials to cover the sides and roof, making sure to leave a small opening for ventilation.

4. How can I make my brush shelter more waterproof?

To make your brush shelter more waterproof, add a layer of large leaves or bark on top of the roof, then cover with a layer of smaller leaves or grass. You can also place a tarp or plastic sheet over the top of the shelter for added protection.

5. Is it safe to sleep in a brush shelter?

While a brush shelter can provide temporary protection from the elements, it is not a long-term solution for shelter. It is important to assess the weather conditions and potential hazards in the area before deciding to sleep in a brush shelter. Always have a backup plan in case of emergency.

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