Save The Bees / Activism Pin

We depend on bees more than most people realize. We need bee's now , bee's need us . 🐝 One in three bites of food is made possible by bees and other pollinators . Bees pollinate nearly two-thirds of major U.S. crop species. We can thank bees for coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, cotton and more. Bees are also vital to clover and alfalfa: two crops that feed cattle and other grazing animals. In the United States alone, over one hundred crops need or benefit from bees, which translates to $3 billion of our economy. Pollinators are also essential to other animals. Many fruits and seeds need pollinators to grow and survive – plants that feed a quarter of all birds and several mammal species. In 2006 beekeepers warned that bees were mysteriously disappearing. Bees that seemed healthy were simply abandoning their hives and never returning. Why? No one knows the exact cause, though scientists believe there are several factors: •Exposure to pesticides •Hive management practices •Invasive parasitic mites •A new virus •An inadequate food supply Scientists and researchers all over the country are trying to find solutions, and we can help by: •Planting bee friendlier native wildflowers •Supporting organic agriculture •Avoiding pesticides •Going Organic! 🐝🌼 ------------------ Half of the proceeds go to The Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation . Thank you for your support and activism! Bee friendly, Bee Healthy , Bee happy 🐝🐝 Learn More at : http://www.xerces.org/bringbackthepollinators/ http://www.beelab.umn.edu/ *** Photography is my own , all rights reserved