The plight of the honey bees

Most people know bees for their delicious honey, but what would happen without them?

In the last 15 years, the population of bee colonies has declined by 40%, according to abcnews.go.com. Even after this drastic decline came to the attention of the general population, the Sacramento Bee reported that there are 30,000 fewer colonies in California from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2019.

Sos-bees.org explained that parasites, pesticide, habitat destruction, and climate change are the main threats for the bees.

Honey Bees aren’t only needed for honey but for other foods and plants such as almonds, avocados, grapes, and more. They are one of the most popular pollinizers and with the decreases in their population, there is also a threat to the agricultural produce of California and other areas that rely on them.

Protection of the honey bees comes closer to home than many realize, with the bee haven that is housed at UC Davis. “The Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven is a unique outdoor museum where visitors can observe and learn about bees and the plants that support them…” states www.beegarden.ucdavis.edu. “It was planted in Fall 2009 thanks to a generous gift from Häagen-Dazs. The garden is open year-round during daylight hours. Admission is free.” At this site local students can observe the bees and increase their knowledge about their role in our world and how to protect them.