We don’t usually hear good news when it’s about the population of our fuzzy little pollinators, but recent data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is showing a promising growth in several states of 70% or more.
The U.S. experienced a 14% total increase in the number of honey bee colonies between January 2019 to January 2020. The states responsible for the largest increases; Maine, Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma, have added tens of thousands of new colonies.
Maine alone has grown its colony numbers by 73% since 2018, and the state of Michigan has seen a 50% increase as well during the same period.
During the first 6 months of 2020, the Texas bee population grew by 38%. Texas added nearly 100,000 colonies between 2018 to 2019, a 33% increase, which is helping the bees make a wonderful recovery.
Honey bees are responsible for roughly 80% of all pollination worldwide, which gives them one of the most important jobs on our beautiful planet.
According to Greenpeace, “70 out of the top 100 human food crops, which supply about 90% of the world’s nutrition, are pollinated by bees.”
Bee populations decreased by around 40% worldwide between 2018 to 2019, due to pesticides, habitat destruction and global warming, but Maine, Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma are seeing their numbers return, and the United States during the first half of 2020 added more than 420,000 new bee colonies!
Many nature-friendly people have been adjusting their lawns and gardens to help our honey bees survive. Planting bee friendly plants, avoiding pesticides, and replacing lawns with natural flowers are great ways to help our sweet little friends. Allowing dandelions to grow also help bees survive, and buying honey from local beekeepers funds the people protecting them.
Many hearts have been thrilled to hear that our efforts to help the bees are working in many areas.
“This is great to hear and hope thy thrive more and more,” wrote Tina M.
“I had bee’s like crazy this year on all my flowers. Love to sit and watch them,” commented Dianne R.
“Resilient, forgiving, beautiful, industrious, necessary, blessing!” wrote Patricia D.
“Take good care of our very important hard working honey bees,” said Jeannette E.
“Once I get my house, I’m going to have a special area just for dandelions, so the bees can come,” wrote Alison M.
Let’s hope that the movement to save our bees keeps growing around the world and that we each keep doing our part to protect our precious honey bees.
You are Loved.
See Also: Morgan Freeman Converted His 124-Acre Ranch Into A Giant Honeybee Sanctuary To Save The Bees
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