Sting Operation: What Does 'Saving the Bees' Really Mean
The decline of bees throughout the world began before the 1990s, but environmentalists began seeing a major drop off in 2005, according to grassroots pollinator groups. That's when the slogan, "Save the Bees," came to be.
Adam Wehling, Dean of Agriculture at Chippewa Valley Technical College, grew up on a farm. He knows the importance of pollinators like bees, butterflies and other bugs. Wehling and his wife own Cedar Bee Farm where they raise bees, sell honey (among other things), and have established 52 acres of wildflower pollinator habitat.
On National Don't Step on a Bee Day, Monday, July 10, 2023, Wheling is prepared to share the buzz about saving bees.
"To me, saving the bees is more about helping protect and establishing habitat for native pollinators. This means more than just honeybees, it's about wild bees and other pollinating insects as well," Wehling said. "Honeybees take center stage for most people when they hear the word bee, but there are hundreds of native pollinators here in Wisconsin that need protection, too.
"Providing adequate habitat for overwinter, nesting and foraging are all important items for individuals to consider when saving the bees."
Jodi Lepsch, an adjunct instructor in beekeeping at CVTC who also works for the Department of Natural Resources office in Eau Claire, received training at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab under Dr. Marla Spivak, a professor of entomology considered one of the nation’s leading experts on bees.
"To me saving the bees means sharing the incredible lifecycle of honeybees and hopefully during that process, encourage the recognition of the importance of the little things in a properly balanced ecosystem," she said.
CVTC expects to host a Beekeeping for Beginners course starting in April 2024. Want tips on how to save the bees, go here.
Ready to Get Started at CVTC? Apply online or call 715-833-6300 with questions.
