Pollinators play an essential role in our ecosystem, and their populations are declining every year. Since pollinator decline is a global issue, we all face the dilemmas that arise from their decline. Thankfully for us, there are ways that we can support these pollinators in our very own backyards.
First, it is important to know what a pollinator is! Pollinators are anything that facilitates the movement of pollen from one part of the flower to another. This includes insects and animals such as bees, butterflies, bats and birds! When these pollinators move around to locate necessities such as food, water and shelter, they collect pollen on their bodies and move it to parts of plants, which fertilizes the plant and aids in seed and fruit creation. It is estimated that 75% of all flowering plants on Earth are pollinated by insects and animals, including a vast majority of our agriculture system. According to the U.S. National Park Service, we can thank our pollinators for one out of three bites of food that we take every!
Hummingbird drinking nectar from a flower
Six Ways to Support our Pollinators
1. Plant Native Plants
Bee and moth on a flower
Planting native plants in your yard helps pollinators by increasing healthy habitat and decreasing the distance they must travel to find resources. This adds theoretical pit stops along migration or throughout their everyday movement. Planting native plants with diversity and variety will support the pollinators and bring wildlife to your yard!
To support our monarch butterflies, plant native milkweed in your yard! Monarch caterpillars will only eat milkweed, and we need large quantities in our community to increase their struggling population
2. Participate in Conservation Surveys
Man taking a photo of flowers
An important aspect of supporting the pollinators is knowing the data behind their population fluctuations. We can easily participate in this with just an app on our phones!
iNaturalist is a non-profit organization that benefits from the power of community scientists (us!). Participants take pictures of plants and wildlife and upload them to iNaturalist. This data is collected to aid species tracking and conservation management. Even if you don’t know what organism you are taking a photograph of or if you are a seasoned biologist, iNaturalist is a great resource to share and upload these findings in the name of conservation.
If you’re interested in participating in a future survey, join us for the virtual BioBlitz project. Collect plant and wildlife pictures from the community and add them to our project!
3. Reduce your Pesticides
Person spraying for pests
Pesticides pose a significant threat to our pollinators. Many pesticides do not just focus on one organism and spread, harming beneficial insects and wildlife in the area. When treating your property, it is important to be careful with your application (or totally eliminate the use of it)!
4. Keep Cats Indoors
Cat outdoors
Cats are another threat to local pollinators. Outdoor cats are hunters and will prey upon our bird populations. By keeping cats indoors, we can reduce this harmful impact to bird populations!
5. Remove Invasives from your Space
Wheelbarrow filled with vines
Invasive plants are a killer to healthy habitats. These invasive species can take over and out-compete native plants. Invasive plants do not offer the food and resources that our pollinators need to thrive and actively reduce the amount of healthy habitat that they have to support themselves. By removing invasive plants, you can help our pollinators get the resources that they need!
Learn more about invasive plants in our community in our handy resource, Meet the Villain Vines.
6. Spread the Word
Two people under a tree in front of water
Communication is key! Talking to your neighbors, friends and family makes a difference in the support of our pollinators. Share the good work you’re doing at home with your community to encourage more people to make these positive changes in their own lives. If many people make small changes, big differences can be made in our community!
For more information, contact the Environmental Services Department at enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or 281-210-3800.