Helping Bees Thrive This Spring
As of early 2026, according to iNaturalist, the number of bee species observed in Muskoka stands at 57 (there are approximately 400 species in Ontario, and 16 are bumble bees). Several native bee species are listed as at-risk in Ontario due to habitat loss, pesticides, and disease, with bumble bees being the most impacted 😭
As with all pollinators, bumble bees play a significant role in ecosystem health, food security and human health. Their longer tongue makes them more efficient at pollinating some native plant species.
As with all pollinators, bumble bees play a significant role in ecosystem health, food security and human health. Their longer tongue makes them more efficient at pollinating some native plant species.
Because these animals are so widely distributed, we can do our part to help track their populations and trends by reporting sightings. All you have to do is take a picture and submit your observation(s) online or via app: Bumble bees of Ontario - iNaturalist or Bumble Bee Watch. Observations can be made without photos - it just means it won't be eligible for 'research grade.' NOTE: Bumble Bee Watch does not have a standalone app but you can save their website as a shortcut on your home screen.
By early April, you might spot mining bees, mason bees, carpenter bees and bumblebees buzzing around, while others, like sweat bees, wait for the warmer days of May.
Helping emerging bees is crucial for supporting pollinators. Many of the tips below are attainable for everyone to do and will have a lasting impact for our pollinator friends. Here’s how you can make a difference this spring!
Give them something to eat
Bumblebees are some of our first pollinators to emerge from overwintering in the spring. Bees and other pollinators rely on native plants that they have coevolved with for adequate nutrition so, where possible, add more regionally native plants to your gardens and shrink your lawns as much as you can with these:
Early Blooming Flowers
- Dandelions (they might not be native, but they still help bees in early spring so leave them in your yard!)
- Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
- Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
- Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)
- Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
- Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
- Spotted Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
- Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
- Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
- Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)
Early blooming trees
- Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria)
- Oregon Crabapple (Malus fusca)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
- Peach Leaf Willow (Salix amygdaloides)
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp)
Give them a place to nest
Don’t rush into spring cleaning! Bare ground cover, pile of leaves and dead stems? Leave it be. Many bees like bumblebees and ground nesting bees actually nest in the soil while other bees like mason bees often nest in hollow plant stems. Please leave the soil, leaves and stems undisturbed until the weather warms up for our dear pollinator friends.
Give them a place to rest
Let bees be your guest! Bee hotels are a great addition to your yard to help increase the chances of local bees surviving and attracting pollinators to your yard like like mason bees, leafcutter bees and resin bees. Here is a quick guide to get you started.
Fun fact! Leafcutting bees are used to pollinate alfalfa seed fields in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba – a crop that is valued at $40 million!
Fun fact! Leafcutting bees are used to pollinate alfalfa seed fields in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba – a crop that is valued at $40 million!
Give them a drink of water
Bees, like all living creatures, need water. Leave out a bees-friendly water source such as a small dish with rocks and other items for bees to perch on. This will help bees cool the hive temperature, feed their young and more.
Give them a chance at survival
Stop spraying pesticides and herbicides, it harms bees and other pollinators by contaminating their food sources and kills them. Did you know? One out of every three bites of food (fruits, vegetables, coffee, buts and spices) is created with the help of pollinators. We need pollinators more than they need us.
SOURCE: https://www.bumblebeewatch.org
Bumble Bee Watch is a collaborative effort to track and conserve North America’s bumble bees. This community science project allows for individuals to: Upload photos of bumble bees to start a virtual bumble bee collection; Identify the bumble bees in your photos and have your identifications verified by experts; Help researchers determine the status and conservation needs of bumble bees; Help locate rare or endangered populations of bumble bees; Learn about bumble bees, their ecology, and ongoing conservation efforts; and Connect with other community scientists.