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.
Find Out More
Where Do Bees Go In Winter?
Ever wondered where bees go in the winter? There are many different strategies for surviving the cold months! We’ll take a look at the winter survival strategies of bumblebees and solitary bees.
Monarch Fall Migration Has Started
Wisconsin and other Midwest states are right in the middle of the monarch migration trail or flyway. During spring and summer, the butterflies travel north toward Canada to repopulate. Now they are preparing to migrate south for the winter.
7 Ways To Use Fall Leaves
One of the very best sources of organic matter is autumn leaves. Leaves are packed with trace minerals that trees draw up from deep in the soil. When added to your garden, leaves feed earthworms and beneficial microbes. Learn how to use this valuable resource.
