Pollinators and Creating Pollinator Habitat
Pollinators are vital to ecosystems and crop production. Butterflies, bees, wasps, and moths are just a few of our pollinators! However, pollinator populations have been declining recently for a variety of reasons including habitat loss and pesticide use. One way anybody can help is by creating more habitats for pollinators!
The Board of Water and Soil Resources has resources to help create a pollinator garden. They also have a grant program landowners can apply for called Lawns to Legumes aimed at increasing pollinator habitat. This program provides funding for landowners to plant their own pollinator gardens!
Another simple way to protect pollinators is by participating in "No Mow May". The main purpose of No Mow May is to encourage people to let spring flowers bloom before mowing. Hibernating pollinators also often need more time under the leaves before they safely emerge. Leaving leaf cover on your lawn provides safe hibernating spots for them.
Interested in a workshop about pollinators? The Blue Thumb has many resources and events to learn more. The Xerces Society also has a range of webinars offered, and sometimes our partners through the Lower St. Croix Watershed or EMWREP host pollinator workshops.