U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Lake Champlain Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Office
Conserving the Nature of America

Facebook Icon Twitter Icon YouTube Icon Flickr Icon Wordpress Icon

Slide 1
A Biologist spreads milkweed seed at a pollinator habitat project
Slide 2
A completed pollinator project in full bloom
Slide 3
A summer intern planting a pollinator garden
Slide 4
Monarch butterflies return to restored habitat
  • Home
  • Partnerships
  • Fisheries
    Restoration
    • Science
  • Sea Lamprey
  • Habitat Restoration
    • Partners for Fish and Wildlife
    • Aquatic Connectivity
    • Riparian Restoration
    • Wetland Restoration
    • Young Forest Management
    • Pollinators
  • Connecting People
    with Nature
    • Schoolyard Habitat

Pollinators

 

Why Pollinators are Important

 

Over 75 percent of all flowering plants are pollinated by animals! Pollinators- most bees, birds, bats and other insects, play a crucial role in flowering plant reproduction and in the production of most fruits and vegetables. Over 150 food crops in the United States depend on pollinators, including blueberries, apples, oranges, squash, tomatoes, and almonds. In the United States pollination by honey bees contributed to over $19 billion of crops in 2010. Pollination by other insect pollinators contributed to nearly $10 billion of crops in 2010.

 

A recent study of the status of pollinators in North America by the National Academy of Sciences found that populations of honey bees and other wild pollinators are declining. Declines in wild pollinators may be a result of habitat loss and degradation, while declines in managed bees is linked to disease (introduced parasites and pathogens).

 

Without the assistance of pollinators, most plants cannot produce fruits and seeds. The fruits and seeds of flowering plants are an important food source for people and wildlife.  Some of the seeds that are not eaten will eventually produce new plants, helping to maintain the plant population.

 

How You Can Help

 

There are some simple things you can do at home to encourage pollinator diversity and abundance:

  • Plant a Pollinator Garden
  • Build a Bee Block
  • Avoid or Limit Pesticide Use

For more Information, visit Pollinators or contact Katie Kain at our office at 802-662-5307.


 

Learn about the beautiful pollinator-friendly plants on display in the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Resources Office pollinator garden!

 

Butterflyweed

 

Butterflyweed

 

Cardinal flower

 

Cardinal Flower

Common Milkweed

 

Common Milkweed

Joe Pye Weed

 

Joe Pye Weed

New England Aster

 

New England Aster

 

Purple Giant Hyssop

 

Purple Giant Hyssop

 

Purple Coneflower

 

Purple Coneflower

 

Smooth Penstemon

 

Smooth Penstemon

 

Wild Colombine

 

Wild Colombine

 

Wild Bergamot

 

Wild Bergamot

 

Wild Lupine

 

Wild Lupine

 

Selecting plants

 

Selecting Plants

 

Contact Us

Chris Smith
Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Office
11 Lincoln Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452-3151
Office: (802) 662-5303
Cell: 802-735-5784
chris_e_smith@fws.gov

 

 

Last updated: June 26, 2017
    Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
    11 Lincoln Street
    Essex Junction, VT 05452-3151
    (802) 662-5300
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Northeast Region


Notices 
Accessibility 
Disclaimer 
Privacy 
FOIA
Department of the Interior


USA.gov