The Buzz About Bees

It's National Pollinator Month: Bee a Hero

Without bees, we wouldn't be able to consume much of what we put on the table. 

In fact, one out of every three bites of food we take are a result of bee pollination!

At first, bees may seem scary when buzzing around home gardens; but these beneficial insects are just looking for pollinating flowers to indulge on as their food source. Bees are not looking to destroy flowerbeds, unlike some wildlife. Instead, bees seek pollen and nectar to survive in order to bring us healthy fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Statistics of Honey Bee Colonies

The number of honey bee colonies has increased in number as more home gardeners find the health benefits to honey bee pollination. In 2017, there were approximately 2.67 million honey bee colonies in the United States compared to close to approximately 790,000 in Canada.

Health Benefits Of Raw Honey

Honey is very good for the body. Here's what honey does for guys and gals - all thanks to bees:

• Healthy Weight Management
• Counters Pollen Allergies
• Natural Energy Source
• Antioxidant Powerhouse
• Sleep Promoter
• Wound and Ulcer Healer
• Diabetes Aid
• Natural Cough Syrup

Save the Bees

We all get nervous when we hear a buzzing bee; but instead of swatting them away, or killing them, we need to do our part to save the bees. 

They are critical pollinators: they pollinate 70 of the around 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world. Honey bees are responsible for $30 billion a year in crops. That's only the start. We may lose all the plants that bees pollinate, all of the animals that eat those plants and so on up the food chain.

We need to save the bees; and it starts with wildlife management. If the 9200 Canadian beekeepers can keep bears away from honey combs, and home gardeners can rid deer from flowerbeds, then bees will have a fighting chance at surviving...and we will get to eat, as well! So, how do we do it? Fence out wildlife.

How To Get Involved

There are many ways to protect the bees this Pollinator Week. Here are ways to get involved:

• Volunteer at a bee pollinator garden
• Plant pollinating flowers for bees (aster, sunflower, coneflower, daisy, lavender)
• Educate others about bee pollination
• Advocate for bee protection against wildlife
• Learn how to make honey

Follow the conversation on Twitter at @DeerbustersCan using hashtag #NationalPollinatorWeek during June 18-24, 2018 and begin planting for bees the prior week.