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How to help save endangered native species of bees

525 views · Published 1 October 2018 · 3:00 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The fate of endangered species of bees depends on how much work Americans do at home. Without the help of communities some of the 4 to 5 thousand species of bees could become extinct in our lifetimes.

Anne Rumpke is an intern at Gaiser Bee Company. She’s carefully takes out 1 of 50 honeycomb slabs to show each layer. "So, this is what it looks like. It will have the honeycomb and the bees wax and beneath it will have the honey.”

She explains how the bees make the honey that's eventually taken and sold. A big misconception about these European honey bees is they're going extinct. Cory Christopher, an expert in conservation biology at the Cincinnati Nature Center says that's not the case.

"Our native bees, we do see a decline in their population," said Christopher.

The real issue are native bees that are used to evolving in North America. Christopher says rusty patched bumble bees, a type of native bee, is going extinct. Last year it was declared an endangered species. In the past 20 years, the population has declined almost 90 percent.

"Appreciate our native bees, they're pollinating or crops, they're pollinating our flowers, looking at bees not as enemies that might sting us but appreciating the role they play in nature," said Christopher.

Christopher says it's easy to help. First, buy organic if it’s in budget. In your own yard, use as little pesticide as possible, and be a lazy gardener. Don't cut your grass unless it's necessary. This way wild flowers can grow a prime spot for native bumble bees.

Rumpke says the company she's interning for has shirts dedicated to helping raise awareness about the declining bee population. "We just want people to be aware and to gain education for it," said Rumpke

Both Rumpke and Christopher are optimistic. If everyone pitches in, the bees just might make it.

The Cincinnati Nature center is having an event on October 7 to teach those who are interested how to make a difference in your own backyard.

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