Wisconsin Bumble Bees 101

Join us for Pollinator Week and learn more about Wisconsin Bumblebees from Clare Carlson, Naturalist for the Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area.

We will begin with an indoor talk covering:

• the importance of wild pollinators, specifically bumble bees, to us and to native ecosystems
• bumble bee anatomy and how you can identify common bumble bee species on your own
• how each of us can support bumble bees (and all pollinators) at home and within our local communities.  

Then we will go outside for an outdoor walk to flowering plants and try to identify bumble bees.  Binoculars are helpful so please bring some if you have them. If you need an all-terrain wheelchair for the outdoor portion, please contact sandford.susan@danecounty.gov by June 8th to coordinate.

How to get more involved
The Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area conduct bumble bee area surveys 2-3 times a month from May through October throughout the Capital Springs Recreation Area. These surveys are conducted under the Bumble Bee Brigade Community Science program, a part of the Wisconsin Aquatic and Terrestrial Resources Inventory and sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Friends also lead weekly stewardship conservation work days on Friday mornings, 9-noon. If you are interested in joining these efforts, contact Clare at carlson.clare@danecounty.gov