Conscious Conservation: Springtime is for pollinators

Yard signs like these indicate to your neighbors that you care for the bees and aren't just lazy.

Pollinators are animals—primarily insects like bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and flies, but also birds and bats, (and even giraffes) that move pollen between flowers. By transferring pollen from the male to the female parts of plants, they enable fertilization, allowing plants to produce seeds, fruits, and new plants. Bees are our most essential pollinators and are crucial for the reproduction of most flowering plants.

Did you know that for one out of every three bites we take, we can thank a pollinator? Pollinator populations are in decline, so here’s how you can support them.

As we transition between winter and spring, please resist the urge to clean up your gardens. Pollinators overwinter* in dead leaves and hollowed-out stems from last year’s plants. If you clean up and throw these away, you may also be throwing away pollinators.

Dandelions are sometimes considered weeds, but please do not pick or spray these perennials, as they are among the first sources of food for bees. If you have used weed killers in the past (like Roundup), consider switching to natural alternatives.

You can also mow your lawn less, leave some wild zones in your yard or garden, and plant flowers such as lavender, zinnia, verbena, and sunflowers that attract and feed pollinators. Limit bright lights in your yard at night, keep fresh water available for bees and birds, and if a moth comes into your house, consider trapping it and releasing it outside.

Together, we can help stop the decline of pollinators. Protecting them helps preserve 75% of flowering plant species and maintains the production of essential fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Ultimately, this prevents agricultural losses, enhances ecological health, secures global food production, stabilizes ecosystems, and boosts biodiversity.

*overwinter-the process of keeping creatures alive through the winter season.