SM&P’s Victoria Turney Supports Local Wildlife

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization, is pleased that SM&P’s client relations director Victoria Turney has successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat in Marietta through its Garden for Wildlife movement.

NWF applauds Victoria’s effort to create an environment that supports birds, butterflies, bees, frogs, and other local wildlife. Certified Wildlife Habitat Gardens are maintained sustainably — they incorporate native plants, conserve water, and don’t rely on pesticides to provides natural sources of food, water, cover, and places to raise young.

For more than 45 years, the Garden for Wildlife movement has recognized a total of over 227,000 Certified Wildlife Habitat gardens across the United States encompassing more than 2.5 million acres. Through the program, backyards, urban gardens, school grounds, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms, zoos, and community landscapes can all be recognized as wildlife habitats.

“I enjoy working outside,” Victoria said. “A couple of years ago, I invested in bird feeders and some bird houses. It wasn’t too long before multiple feathered species began visiting the yard.”

“Anyone, anywhere can restore wildlife habitat right in their own yards and communities,” said NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski. “Whether you garden in a suburban yard, an urban area, or a rural plot of land, you can make a difference for neighborhood wildlife. It’s the perfect grassroots way to think globally and act locally.”

From woodpeckers and purple finches to the seasonal hummingbirds and sought after, colorful bluebirds, Victoria enjoys being a part of this movement and seeing the impact her efforts have made in her community. “Watching the interaction of the various birds at the feeders adds a great deal of joy to my morning cup of coffee. The scurry before dusk provides more delight,” she said. “There will always be the squirrels to contend with – but they have to eat as well.”