Laura Holder, co-founder of Conservation Dogs Collective, has really pioneered some new ground in her approach to conservation. To do this, she’s trained two Labrador Retrievers—Ernie and Betty White—to sniff out bumblebee nests. This ambitious initiative launched four years ago. It has become indispensable in the battle to rescue the rusty patched bumblebee, a pollinator that has experienced a dizzying population crash of almost 90% since its once plentiful presence in the Midwest and Eastern United States.
One hot afternoon this past July in Somers, Wisconsin, Dave Giordano went out to check on a strange buzzing noise in his yard. In search of the source, he was inspired to investigate further and found a bumblebee nest with as many as 1,000 bees. Among them were as many as 50 gynes, or new queens, ready to start new colonies the next spring. Giordano knew he had an important discovery on his hands and swiftly filed an official report. He was a leader in the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade, a community science program that trains volunteers to identify and report bumblebee sightings.
The rusty patched bumblebee was the first bumblebee species in the continental United States to be listed as federally endangered. It was given this dubious distinction in 2017. Since then, only a dozen nests have been documented, leaving substantial gaps in researchers’ understanding of this vital pollinator’s nesting needs. As populations continue to decline and more data becomes available, the demand for successful conservation work has never been greater.
Jay Watson and his co-authors understood the dire need of the time. They recently released a simple framework to guide researchers through efficiently collecting data every time they come across a bumblebee nest. This framework is intended to give direction about the species’ nesting needs as new data and knowledge emerges.
“Instead of the crazy mess that has been happening in that two-week window or so, we’re trying to get people to think about it ahead of time,” – Jay Watson
Amy Toth, an entomologist at Iowa State University, is fervent about this new effort. She hopes that it will serve as a powerful roadmap for new discoveries to come. She stresses that, for the most part, bee conservation efforts have focused on flowers. Ensuring that there are adequate nesting habitats, she says, is equally important.
“If they don’t find a good location to nest, the entire colony can fail.” – Amy Toth
When the nest in Giordano’s yard was excavated, it uncovered a giant web of rodent tunnels. Judy Cardin, the educator of the Wisconsin Bumblebee Brigade, who helped with the excavation, was excited by the find.
“By all measures, this is what we want to see happen,” – Judy Cardin
She stressed that researchers frequently face a short turnaround time. By the end of summer, colonies are often finished off by wax moths. While the excavation process allowed us to collect valuable data, it was a reminder of the significant role that community participation can play in enhancing conservation efforts.
Toth was excited that people could take action for conservation right from their own backyards.
“We’re in a cool period of time where you can just sit in your yard and participate in the conservation of endangered species.” – Amy Toth
The Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade’s effort has drawn the attention and enthusiasm of residents across the community. The more people that are trained to recognize and report bumblebee sightings, the more researchers will be able to collect this crucial data to guide conservation strategies.
“When we get a critical mass all moving toward the same common goal, that’s when I feel like there is hope.” – Amy Toth
Endangered species advocates have spent tremendous time and effort protecting the rusty patched bumblebee. Holder’s implementation of trained dogs represents an exciting new approach that merges community science with animal protection. Giordano’s discovery makes one thing very clear. It demonstrates that average Americans have the power to boost the protection of endangered species.