Plight of the Pollinators

One way that you can help our pollinators is through gardening and landscaping! Gardening with native plants, especially with plants that specific local pollinators love, helps create natural refuges in which pollinators can flourish.

1. Plant Native Plants

The presence of non-native plants can help maintain pollinator populations by extending the flowering period and by providing mutualistic support; however, within the same flowering season, plots containing native and near-native plants generally receive higher visitation by pollinating bees than plots dominated by exotic (non-native) plants (Salisbury, Armitage, Bostock, Perry, Tatchell, & Thompson, 2015).

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Ecoregion Planting Guides: http://pollinator.org/guides#all

2. Provide Nesting Sites and Shelter

Protect or provide nesting sites in trees, shrubs, wood, or in the ground. Insect pollinators may nest or lay eggs on specific plants and all pollinators require safe and protected places in which to rest and reproduce (US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2015).

Build a Certified Wildlife Habitat: http://www.nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife/Certify.aspx

3. Limit Pesticide Use

Pesticides are chemicals that are intended to target insect pests. Unfortunately, insecticides don't usually distinguish between different species of insects and helpful pollinators can get caught in the mix. Avoiding chemical insecticides and using natural methods to control pests (such as integrated pest management methods) can reduce harm to our helpful pollinating friends. 

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Salisbury, A., Armitage, J., Bostock, H., Perry, J., Tatchell, M., & Thompson, K. (2015). Enhancing gardens as habitats for flower-visiting aerial insects (pollinators): should we plant native or exotic species?. Journal Of Applied Ecology, 52(5), 1156-1164. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12499

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US Fish and Wildlife Service. Pollinators: How You Can Help. (2015). Fws.gov. Retrieved 16 April 2017, from https://www.fws.gov/pollinators/PollinatorPages/YourHelp.html#bee