[Pollinator] Bee foster program creating buzz

[Ladadams at aol.com]

Bee foster program creating buzz
_CBC News_ (http://www.cbc.ca/news/credit.html)  
Posted: May 13, 2011 7:54 AM MT 
Last Updated: May 13, 2011 9:19 AM MT 

 
 
_Bumblebee  species 'in trouble': U.S. study_ 
(http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2011/01/04/bumblebee-population-delines.html)  
 
 
External Links
_Community  Pollinator Foundation_ 
(http://www.thepollinatorfoundation.org/)  
(Note:CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of  
external links.)

A new foster program in Calgary will pair unwanted bee  colonies with 
willing homeowners.

 
A bee advocacy group has been fielding calls over the past year from  
concerned urbanites finding bumblebee nests in problem locations, such as under  
the porch. 
Volunteers with the Community Pollinator Foundation are going to try and 
find  new homes for bees in such circumstances. 
"It's not a good thing to destroy bumble bee colonies because basically  
bumblebees are extremely beneficial," said Robin Owen, a professor at Mount  
Royal University. "The idea is to take these colonies, put them in boxes and  
move them, hopefully not too far, so other people can look after them." 
He is leading a research project connected to the foster program and will  
collect more information on the habits of Calgary bees.A  bumblebee leaves a 
flower after gathering pollen. Tony  Dejak/Associated Press 
Calgary has more than 20 species of bumblebees, some gentler than others, 
he  said. 
"They really won't do you any harm unless you threaten them directly." 
Owen blames the decline of bumblebees in recent years mostly on habitat 
loss  and pesticide use.


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