What?

The Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas is a collaborative project to track and conserve the bumble bees of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Our goal is to gain a better understanding of the distribution of bumble bees throughout the region. As we transition from phase one into phase two of the project, we hope to continue long-term monitoring for bumble bees throughout the region, while focusing on our Species of Greatest Conservation Need -- Franklin's bumble bee, the western bumble bee, Morrison's bumble bee, and the Suckley cuckoo bumble bee. This will help us to more effectively enact conservation measures that will benefit these important native pollinators. We've divided the area up into grid cells to ensure a broad distribution of sampling in all of the unique habitats of the region. This project will help the researchers gain a better understanding of where bumble bees are thriving in the Pacific Northwest, and glean information about what habitat features are contributing to productive bumble bee communities. Ultimately we will better understand how to manage lands throughout the region that will help to support a more healthy ecosystem.

Why?

​Bumble bees are essential pollinators in our natural landscapes, as well as in gardens and on farms. Idaho, Oregon and Washington are home to nearly 30 species of bumble bees, and several of them face an uncertain future. The western bumble bee has declined dramatically - especially in the western portion of its range, and species like Morrison’s bumble bee and the Suckley cuckoo bumble bee are in decline. Conservation partners in Oregon, Washington and Idaho have joined forces to support bumble bee conservation through a region-wide project to collect information on bumble bee species distribution. The missing partner is you - become a community scientist and join us!

How?

We aim to make this as fun and as inclusive as possible. As such, we've created opportunities so that you can get involved at many different levels. The first thing you will need to participate is a Bumble Bee Watch account. It’s easy to set up online and takes about 5 minutes. 

Once you've done that, here are the different levels at which you can get involved:

• Our primary ask is that you officially adopt a grid cell and participate in our more formal surveys: either Point Surveys or Roadside Surveys. This takes a commitment to contribute to the project. At a minimum you'll need to:
  • Familiarize yourself with project protocols and procedures. One of the best ways to do this is to attend one of our training events.
  • Visit a location within your grid cell two times (at a minimum – more sampling is very welcome if you are willing) during the bumble bee season and use our standardized protocol to sample for bumble bees as well as the surrounding habitat. To meet this requirement you can visit two different locations within the grid on the same day, or revisit the same location on two different days.
  • Agree to submit your data online using BumbleBeeWatch.org.
• At a very basic level you can submit observations of bumble bees to BumbleBeeWatch.org. You can share observations from your backyard, where you work, or on your travels around the region.
• Want more? If all of this sounds great, and you're ready to do all of this AND become a project ambassador, contact us!