Sep
27
The Bee’s Knees

One of the most important aspects of the Houston Zoo is the commitment its employees have to conserving wildlife and connecting people to these efforts. This passion for wildlife extends far beyond the impressive Zoo exhibits and day-to-day programming our guests typically see. The Zoo has found a creative way to foster our employees’ passion for the Zoo’s mission: the Houston Zoo Staff Conservation Fund (SCF).

The SCF offers unique opportunities for staff to participate in a variety of conservation efforts. The Fund builds exclusively upon donations from Houston Zoo staff, and these funds contribute directly to the projects that staff members propose and execute. By providing employees with an excellent opportunity to build capacity for conservation, the Houston Zoo accomplishes an integral part of its core mission.

One of the recent recipients of a staff funded grant is Karen Sprague, a Senior Keeper in the Zoo’s Herpetology Department. Karen had the following to say about her successful SCF pollinator project:

One of the new bee houses on grounds!

“My project started mainly because I have a fascination with native bees… while looking for bee ID resources for the Houston area, I was surprised to learn that not much bee diversity research had been done in southeast Texas, and that nobody really knows what species are present here.  Most of the funding for bee research is funneled into European honeybees since we rely on them heavily to pollinate the majority of our crops (excluding wind-pollinated crops of course).  In talking to friends and family, I realized that most people are familiar with the honeybee and MAYBE the bumblebee and are completely unaware that native bees even exist.

A new pollinator sign at the Zoo!

There are about 4,500 species of bee in North America alone (including around 50 species of bumblebee, not just one). Not only do native bees pollinate many of our crops (tomatoes, blueberry and alfalfa for dairy cattle… to name a few) but have evolved with and are responsible for the pollination of the vast majority of our native flowering plants, shrubs and trees.  Even though all these interactions may go unnoticed by us humans, the plant-pollinator relationship makes the world go round… if either were to disappear, our ecosystems would come crashing down and we would all perish in short order.

Can you find this sign and bee house the next time you visit the Zoo?

I started this project not only because I wanted to photo-document the bees of the Houston area, but because the distressing fact is that people don’t know how important our native bees (and all other pollinators) are.  We developed 4 graphic panels (coupled with wooden bee nest boxes) on Zoo grounds to teach people how to help pollinators through gardening, providing nesting areas, supporting organic farms and by simply not using pesticides.  You can start a native bee conservation project in your own back yard - they rarely interact with humans (meaning its near impossible to get them to sting) and it is incredibly entertaining to watch them work.  You get an extra-bountiful garden out of the deal, and you’re helping some very important species, many of which are in serious decline due to extensive habitat loss and rampant pesticide use.  Bees give us so much: 30% of the food we eat every day, spices, coffee, vanilla, cotton for clothing, the list goes on and on… It’s time we give something back.”

Look at that clever hiding spot for our pollinator friends!

You can visit our pollinator webpage created by Karen and our web team to learn more about these fascinating animals.

Another wonderful spot for pollinators at the Zoo.

More Posts Like This!

Leave a Reply