There are many different species of bumble bees, with 46 species found in Canada. Bumble bees are large in size with a hairy disposition allowing them to spread pollen effectively. They are great pollinators for many foods including tomatoes and blueberries, among others. Unfortunately, many bumble bee species are on the decline. One such species is the endangered rusty patched bumble bee which hasn’t been seen in Canada since 2009. As with other bumble bees following the same path and becoming increasingly rare, we are looking to help using hands-on strategies. It has been found that the yellow-banded bumble bees, which are closely related to the rusty patched bumble bee, are starting to see similar declines. By breeding the yellow banded bumble bee within WPC’s conservation breeding lab, Ontario, Canada, they receive the care they need to establish colonies and this will allow us to produce enough bees to release back into the wild, slowing the decline of these critical pollinators.

Background

Since the 1990s, bumble bee numbers have been plummeting, and that spells ecological disaster for all of us. Bees are responsible for pollinating wild plants and flowers and agricultural crops. Unfortunately, bees have been declining globally having a profound effect on our environment and the food we consume every day. Bumble bees alone provide several billions of dollars worth of pollination services each year worldwide. North American bumble bees have experienced a decrease of over 30% in the past 10 years. While factors such as pathogens and parasites, habitat loss, pesticide use, invasive/introduced species, and climate change may be contributing to the observed declines, continuous research and conservation intervention are critical for the protection of at-risk species across Canada. Through innovative research programs and the use of hands-on monitoring techniques, Wildlife Preservation Canada is saving these insects and protecting them from extinction. Without healthy communities of native pollinators, the sustainability of natural ecosystems and of agricultural production in urban and rural areas will be jeopardized. People and bumble bees need each other.

The good deed

WPC’s holistic bumble bee conservation program includes large scale monitoring and research, conservation breeding and release, and outreach and community science. These are all needed to save bumble bees from extinction. WPC’s one-of-a-kind outreach and community science involves training workshops to empower other organizations (including parks to conservation groups, environmental consultancies, schools, and the public) to identify and monitor bumble bees. We are sharing our team’s experience with interested amateur naturalists to expand the range of bumble bee advocates exponentially for a wider impact. We provide workshops and training in identification and the use of a free, easy-to-use app called Bumble Bee Watch where anyone can take a photo of a bumble bee on their phone to upload it for identification and entry into a North American wide conservation database.