Pollinators
The County is dedicated to fostering healthy habitats for pollinators and promoting healthy and sustainable horticulture practices. Join us as we cultivate growth, nurture biodiversity and create a welcoming environment for all living things, big and small, who call the County of Brant their home.
On this page:
About our Pollinators
Our pollinators play a crucial role in our food production and biodiversity, facing challenges like habitat loss.
| Bees |
| Most native bees are solitary and don’t live in hives, they're the unsung heroes of pollination. With over 800 species in Canada alone, these little pollinators are crucial for ecosystems and agriculture. From the fuzzy bumblebee to the metallic sweat bee, native bees often specialize in pollinating specific plants, making them irreplaceable. Plus, they’re generally gentle and rarely sting. A tiny workforce with a massive impact! |
| Butterflies |
| Not just beautiful, butterflies are important pollinators, especially for many flowers, thanks to their unique anatomy. |
| Hummingbirds |
| These birds are unique in their ability to hover, making them perfect for reaching deep into flowers to pollinate. |
| Beetles |
| As some of the first pollinators, beetles have been vital to the pollination of ancient plants for millions of years. |
| Special Relationships |
| Some plants and pollinators, like yucca plants with yucca moths, have evolved together, depending on each other for survival. |
| Food Production |
| With one-third of our food relying on pollinators, their role is crucial in global agriculture and our diet. |
Why are Pollinators threatened?
Pollinators face several threats, largely due to human activities:
- Habitat loss: Transforming natural areas into farms, cities, and other developments reduces and fragments the spaces where pollinators can live, feed, and reproduce.
- Pesticide use: Insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides can kill or harm pollinators directly, or indirectly by contaminating their food and disrupting their life cycles.
- Climate change: Shifts in weather and seasons can upset the timing and relationships between plants and pollinators and alter where pollinators can live.
- Disease and parasites: Illnesses and pests, like colony collapse disorder in bees or Varroa mites, weaken pollinators' health and reduce their numbers.
- Invasive species: Non-native plants can take over, pushing out the native plants that pollinators depend on for food and shelter.
5 Ways to Help Pollinators
Plant variety: Create bee-friendly habitats by growing native flowers, herbs, and plants in your garden or on your balcony, ensuring blooms throughout all seasons to provide continuous food for bees.
Avoid pesticides and herbicides: Avoid pesticides and herbicides; they harm pollinators. Instead, opt for organic gardening practices instead to keep bees safe.
Provide nesting sites: Offer a range of nesting options, like bare soil, bee hotels, and natural habitats, to accommodate different pollinator species.
Leave the leaves: Allow fallen leaves to stay in your garden. They offer shelter and food to pollinators, enriching your garden's ecosystem.
Advocate for bees: Support policies and initiatives that protect pollinators. Engage in community gardening projects and educate others on the importance of pollinators.
Get involved in community efforts to create pollinator-friendly gardens, educate others about the importance of pollinators, and raise awareness about threats facing bee populations. These actions can significantly support pollinator health and contribute to the preservation of these vital creatures.