Bees & butterflies are dying. Let’s rescue them.
Bees and butterflies are crucial for our ecosystem and food supply. They are vital pollinators, but they are dying at a catastrophic rate due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. Without them, many plants can't reproduce, impacting both wild plants and the food we eat. The Redwood Shores community can help.
Why are pollinators dying?
Habitat fragmentation
Our community is beautiful, but it's dominated by manicured lawns, concrete paths, and non-native ornamental plants. While these look nice, they offer little to no food or shelter for our local, native pollinators like the Western Bumble Bee, Mason Bees, and various local butterflies.
Pesticides
Insecticides can directly kill pollinators through poisoning or exposure to toxic residues, and can also reduce their ability to reproduce and pollinate effectively. This is due to direct contact during application, contaminated pollen and nectar, or pesticide drift onto non-target plants.
Climate change
Environmental change is causing disruptions to migration patterns and increasing susceptibility to diseases. Changing climate is altering the timing of plant flowering and pollinator emergence, creating mismatches where pollinators may not find food when they need it.
One-third of the food we eat is at risk
“One out of every three bites of food that we eat” is directly connected to a pollinator, Ron Magill, the communications director and a wildlife expert at Zoo Miami, told CNN. Around 30% of the food that ends up on our tables gets there because of things like butterflies, bees and bats. Losing those critical populations could also mean losing some of our favorite foods.
- CNN, August 15, 2022
Get Involved
Every plant counts
Join the RWS community in building pollinator-friendly habitats by creating a small, native-plant patch in your yard, patio or balcony to reconnect our fragmented landscape. By planting native flowers that attract pollinators, we can build a "Pollinator Highway" that supports local bees and butterflies with drought-resistant native plants - one plant at a time.
Step 1
Sign up for a free pollinator rescue kit. Offer limited to residents of Redwood Shores.
Step 3
Look out for bees and butterflies as your flowers bloom!
Track the Pollinator Highway!
We'll add a pin for every Pollinator Rescue Kit delivered in Redwood Shores. Check here to track our Pollinator Highway.
About
I'm an 8th grader interested in the environment and climate change. As a member of my school's Green Team, and the San Mateo County Youth Commission, I'm focused on addressing environmental issues affecting my community.
After discovering a colony of bees struggling to find shelter in a furniture crate in our backyard, I was inspired to do something. So I created the Pollinator Rescue Project for Redwood Shores.