Contacts:
Nina Struss | Prairie Rivers Network | nstruss@prairierivers.org | 217-344-2371 x 215
Liz Mackenbach | Prairie Rivers Network | lmackenbach@prairierivers.org | 217-344-2371 x 201
Putting down the rake is beneficial for the environment, local ecosystems, and wildlife
ILLINOIS — Not in the mood to rake leaves this fall? The environment and wildlife will thank you if you don’t, experts say.
October is National Leave the Leaves Month. Those with yards, lawns, and other outdoor areas are encouraged to put down the rakes and the leafblowers and opt, instead, to leave the leaves where they fall. “This is a great opportunity for those with yards to re-imagine how they manage their outdoor areas throughout the fall season and into winter,” says Nina Struss, River Health and Resiliency Organizer at Prairie Rivers Network.
“Letting nature take charge is really beautiful,” adds PRN’s Habitat and Biodiversity Organizer, Liz Mackenbach. “When we leave the leaves, we’re leaving the space for native wildlife to overwinter safely and re-emerge in the spring.”
Struss and Mackenbach say there are four main reasons why people should consider letting the leaves fall – and stay – where they land:
- Leaves provide habitat for wildlife. To many wildlife species, leaves are a home. 94 percent of moth species rely on leaf layers to complete their life cycle, and the vast majority of our backyard birds rely on those butterfly and moth caterpillars as the primary food source for their young during nesting season. Removing leaves means fewer of these insects in and around the yard, and likely fewer birds, too.
- Leaves can increase soil fertility. Gardening’s “off-season” can be a critical time for building soil quality. Adding leaves to garden beds or compost will also add nutrients to soil through decomposition, improving soil structure and water retention.
- Leaving the leaves reduces waste and pollution. Bagged leaves often end up in the landfill and break down without oxygen, producing methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change. If leaves must be moved, a rake rather than a blower or a lawn mower is a cleaner, quieter choice.
- Leaving the leaves saves time. Letting leaves rest frees up more time for fall activities, like hiking, camping, attending fall festivals, and participating in a Fall Bingo Walk.
Struss believes the move toward leaving leaves each fall is gathering momentum. “A National Wildlife Federation survey found that most people –72 percent – know that fallen leaves and leaf layers are beneficial to wildlife and biodiversity, yet only 25 percent are leaving their leaves where they fall,” she says. “Fortunately, more than 80 percent of people are open to leaving leaves to benefit wildlife in the future.”
Leaving the leaves is also a way to start the conversation with neighbors and community members about the importance of natural landscapes where we live. Showing and telling others can help them reconsider more traditional lawns that offer nothing for wildlife.
The Certified Wildlife Habitat® program, led by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and supported in Illinois by Prairie Rivers Network, recognizes land caretakers who have taken meaningful steps to create a safe, sustainable space for native wildlife, like leaving the leaves.
Anyone who cares for a piece of land can take part. A Certified Wildlife Habitat sign lets passersby know that you have provided a safe haven for Illinois wildlife. “We’re all about inspiring others,” says Mackenbach. “Getting certified and placing your sign shows how easy and beautiful it can be to provide wildlife habitat right in your neighborhood.”
Learn more about how to certify a yard or other piece of land and save 10% on certification and yard sign this October with the code FALL10.
“It’s such an easy and extremely impactful way for people to help support biodiversity,” Struss says. “We hope to see lots of leaves left throughout Illinois this fall.”
At Prairie Rivers Network (PRN), we protect water, heal land, and inspire change. Using the creative power of science, law, and collective action, we protect and restore our rivers, return healthy soils and diverse wildlife to our lands, and transform how we care for the earth and for each other. PRN is the Illinois affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. To learn more please visit www.prairierivers.org.
