Bumble bees assist with the pollination of many plants, flowers, and fruit trees, they help keep ecosystems healthy and flourishing. However, there are several types on bumble bees that are endangered in Saskatchewan.

"For bees, the only ones we have good data for in terms for actually declines are just a few species of bumble bees," says Cory Sheffield, Research Scientist and Curator of Invertebrate Zoology for the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. "There's the three species that we've assessed that occur in saskatchewna, the western bumble bee, the yellow banded bumble bee, and the gypsy cuckoo bumble bee."

Due to an inadequate amount of certain plants these bees have had their numbers decline.

"When you consider the 300 plus species of bees that are in Saskatchewan, a lot of these bees have relationships with the native plants here," says Sheffield. "Native plant gardening for instance would be preferred over ornimental things."

The good news is that honey bees are not endangered in Saskatchewan. All sorts of fruits, vegetable and crops are pollinated by honey bees. This pollination process impacts the food we directly eat as well as our livestock's feed.

Some tips for helping the bee population include platning bee friendly plants, avoiding insecticides and putting out water for bees to drink from.

Photos courtesy Cory Sheffield, Research Scientist and Curator of Invertebrate Zoology for the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.