This is the million dollar question that scientists are struggling to answer. The bee’s navigational abilities are altered, causing these precious insects to loose track of their way home to their hives. Some scientists believe that the increasing cell phone towers are affecting their sonar skills. Others believe the ever changing environment has taken its toll on the bees. Some feel the mainstreaming of the bee keeping industry is segregating the bee colonies to select regions of the nation which might be exposing them to pesticides, herbicides, and other potential harmful elements. The fact is billions of bees are disappearing and no one knows why. This epidemic has actually been labeled as Colony Collapse Disorder (C.C.D.) and the mystery continues as we strive to save the bees that seem to be dying off in record numbers.
It may seem like a helpless issue, but there is hope. We can impact the production and sustainability of bees by just taking a few simple steps.
1) Foster a bee hive in your own backyard. You can actually build one yourself or buy one, and just let the bees do their work. Plus, it’s a fun activity or project.
2) Buy honey and bee bi-products (like bees wax candles) from local bee harvesters. This helps support the local businesses and encourages them to continue to offer a much needed function.
3) Plant bee attracting flowers and plants in your garden
4) Share the scare of loosing our bees with family and friends. To read more about the impact of loosing our bees, go to http://www.elephantjournal.com/2008/05/elesustainability-o-beehive-yourself-via-will-dart/.
For additional information, go to:
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2008/05/elesustainability-backyard-beekeeping-via-will-dart/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/bees/help.html
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