Create Edible Tree Décor For Wildlife

Feed The Neighborhood Critters While Sprucing Up Your Trees

Sep 17, 2009

Create delicious treats for wildlife and decorate your yard all at the same time!

The birds, bunnies and squirrels in your yard will thank you when you make natural, edible ornaments for your tree. This is a fun fall or winter project for both children and adults! And as an added bonus, it will draw more wildlife into your yard for you to photograph or just watch and enjoy.

Supplies Needed To Create Edible Tree Décor

Making Pine Cone Bird Seed Treats

The best place to make you wildlife treats is outside, where the mess can be cleaned up by the birds. Using yarn or raffia, tie a hanging loop at the end of the pine cones. Then, using the Popsicle sticks, spread your pine cones with either peanut butter or Crisco or a mixture of both.

Pour the birdseed into a bowl. When the pine cones are coated with peanut butter or Crisco, roll them around in the bowl and press the bird seed onto the coated pine cones. They are now ready to be hung on your tree!

How To Create Edible Garland

Adults should help children with this design as it involves using a sharp needle. Thread the needle, tie a knot around a peanut (still in the shell) on the end. This will keep the rest of your items from falling off the end of the garland. Then begin to thread other items by pushing the needle through bits of popcorn, raisins, more peanuts and Cheerios cereal. When the desired length is achieved, tie off the other end with another peanut and hang your strand on the tree.

Other Edible Ideas

Create other edible ornaments using fruit slices, cereal and pipe cleaners. Push the pipe cleaner through the center of the fruit slices, add some Cheerios as well and then twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together to form a loop. Hang the loop on a tree branch with the edible items hanging downward.

You can also coat the fruit slices in peanut butter and bird seed if you wish and then hang with a pipe cleaner. Remember to avoid any foods that may make animals sick, like buttered or salted popcorn or any cereals that are very high in sugar. But do feel free to use your imagination! Once your tree is done, get ready to enjoy a unique wildlife experience as local critters come by to feast on your treats.

The copyright of the article Create Edible Tree Décor For Wildlife in Crafts is owned by Jennifer Zambri-Dickerson. Permission to republish Create Edible Tree Décor For Wildlife in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.