CERTIFIED SUCCESS.

HABITAT conservation; WILDLIFE attracting; WIDOWS, Steffenie; RESEARCH methodology; COMPARATIVE studies; NATIONAL Wildlife Federation; CONSERVATION biology study & teaching; SUSTAINABLE development education; MASTER'S degree

The article discusses a scientific study that found U.S. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) certified habitats provide more habitat and sustain more wildlife than other properties located in the same area. An overview of research conducted in Orlando, Florida by Steffenie Widows, as part of her master's degree program in conservation biology and sustainable development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, investigating whether NWF's Certified Wildlife Habitat (CWH) programs provided habitat not available in non-certified yards in Orlando, Florida, is presented. Widow's research methodology and examples of wildlife ranging from common to rare that Widows observed, including the eastern gray squirrel, white ibis, and gopher tortoise, is discussed.