Ten things you can do to save the bees

You may have heard, there is growing global concern about declines in bee abundance and species diversity. In the United States, bees pollinate agricultural crops and plants in gardens, lawns, meadows and forests – so landscape converted for residential and commercial uses eliminates natural bee habitats. Also, many insecticides and herbicides are either toxic to bees or destroy their habitats by killing flowers that provide bees with nectar and pollen. All these factors contribute to the loss of bee populations and diversity. In addition to the well-known honeybee (which is a European immigrant), Maine is home to at least 270 species of native bees, according to the University of Maine. You can help protect them! Here are ten suggestions to support and help grow the bee population in your area:

Plant a bee-friendly garden. Bees rely on the pollen and nectar of native plants. Find suggestions on the UMaine Cooperative Extension website.
Sign on to the Pollinator Protection Campaign. The Sierra Club runs a pollinator protection campaign, and you can join the team to help out. Learn more and sign on at: sierraclub.org/grassrootsnetwork.
Sign Environment America’s petition to ban bee-killing pesticides: www.environmentamerica.webaction.org.
Go organic! Buying organic food and avoiding pesticides and herbicides on your lawn and garden means supporting more bee-friendly habitats.
Encourage your town to stop using pesticides. Many towns around Maine have banned the use of synthetic lawncare pesticides and fertilizers. If your town is not yet one, consider advocating for the cause (Portland Protectors has some good resources for you).
Buy local (organic) honey. Support the local apiary that is helping the honeybee population in your area!
Host a bee hotel. Not ready to keep your own bees but curious about the process? Offer a corner of your yard to a beekeeper in your area and host some hives. Reach out to the Maine Beekeepers Association to see who may be interested.
Build a bee nesting house. Find instructions at extension.umaine.edu.
Become a beekeeper. The Maine Beekeepers Association offers “beekeeping schools” around the state every year.
Watch “A Ghost in the Making,” a documentary on the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee.