Friends of the Earth, in collaboration with the scientists from Bumble Bee Watch, has been delivering the first Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count from June 1- August 15, 2016.  Not enough is known about wild, native bees in Canada, and what is known is troubling.  Right now, one third of the North American bumble bee species are in decline.  Scientist believe that there are six wild bee species determined to be critically at risk.

Scientists are particularly interested if you find one of the bumble bees listed, please take a picture and record it under the Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count project code at bumblebeewatch.org. It will help scientists determine where and how best to protect them.  

  • from Nova Scotia, the Macropis Cuckoo Bee
  • from British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Western Bumble Bee occidentalis
  • from the Yukon, Northwest Territories and British Columbia, the Western Bumble Bee mckayi 
  • from all over Canada, the Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee
  • from Nova Scotia, the Sable Island Sweat Bee
  • from Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Yellow-banded Bumble Bee

Want to know more about how to help bumble bees?  Click here for a guide for ways to attract and help the bumble bee population.