Wisconsin Native Pollinators
Wisconsin Pollinators is a comprehensive resource to Wisconsin native pollinators including
bees, butterflies and birds. It includes a large catalog of Wisconsin native plants to create your
own pollinator habitat and guidance on how to support your pollinator garden.
Why are pollinators important? Approximately three quarters of the world’s
major food crops require or benefit from animal pollination. This includes many fruits
and vegetables such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants, plums, apples,
sweet cherries, pears, watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, squashes, and tomatoes.
Pollinators also are beneficial for seed production in crops such as carrot, onion, broccoli,
cauliflower, cabbage, and many herbs.
How do I attract and support native pollinators? Recent declines in honeybee populations
have gained much attention, but there also have been notable declines in some native bees,
including many species of bumblebees. Local populations of all types of bees can be supported
by cultivating flowering plants, providing nesting sites, and eliminating the use of pesticides.
Please Help Native Pollinators
Ask the Wisconsin Dept of Transportation to replace the planting of non-native grasses
with pollinator-friendly native plants along Wisconsin roadways. Provide a corridor for
Bees, Butterflies and Birds to move through the State and restore the natural beauty of
our roadways.
Wisconsin Native Plant Nurseries
Landscaping with Wisconsin native plants improves success and supports the environment. Native plants are
hardy because they have adapted to our local conditions
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Wisconsin Badger: Our State Symbol
What do you know about the Wisconsin badger, our state symbol? The badger lives across
Wisconsin in open areas like plains and prairies, farmland, and the edges of woods. Learn about their
diet, social behavior, digging skills and much more.
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Wisconsin's Native Wild Rice
Wisconsin's native wild rice, Zizania palustris, is one of the only grains native to North America,
and definitely its most misunderstood.
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