Our fuzzy flying friends are disappearing. According to the Environmental Protection agency, honeybee loss skyrocketed for the first time in 2007. Beekeepers began reporting losses of up to 90 percent of their hives. These bees weren’t just disappearing, the answer wasn’t that simple. Bees are insects of routine. Their disappearance was found to be something much more horrid. It was Colony Collapse Disorder.
There are many reasons for bee death and disappearance, including environmental damage caused by humans. The EPA did multiple studies, and it was found that the overuse of pesticides can disrupt honeybee nervous systems. Climate change can also throw off pollination schedules because the weather determines where the flowers grow. These and other causes can push another bout of CCD into place.
College students can do a few things to help CCD from rearing its ugly head again. Living greener can help greatly. Reducing our carbon footprint by walking and biking can reduce the effects of climate change. Students can reach out to their families and ask them to eliminate the use of pesticides and chemicals in their lawns and gardens. They can also recycle more. Doing these little things can make a huge difference for the hives. The bees are our friends; let’s keep them alive.
by Baylee Walter
