Wild bee populations have declined dramatically, affecting ecosystem health and wildlife welfare broadly. Individual and collective actions can meaningfully support bee populations.
Wild bee welfare is affected by pesticide exposure, habitat fragmentation, loss of nesting sites, and disease. Sublethal pesticide exposure impairs navigation, learning, and reproduction even when not immediately lethal. Habitat loss reduces forage availability causing malnutrition particularly during late season and in early spring. Nesting habitat loss for ground-nesting and cavity-nesting species prevents reproduction. The broader ecosystem welfare implications of bee decline are significant as pollinators underpin the food webs and plant communities that support diverse wildlife. Individual bees that require rehabilitation can be supported with sugar water and appropriate warmth while ensuring pesticide-contaminated bees are not artificially revived.