So why bees and pollinators?
I’ve worked with many different types of animals throughout the years, from horses, to fish, small animals, and exotic wildlife. I’ve known I wanted to work with animals for as long as I can remember. I can find something cool and amazing about basically anything put in front of me, but that quality also made it difficult to decide on a career path. I felt I could be happy doing any and all of it. So what is it about bees that made me finally “settle down”?
There are SO many reasons why pollinators light me up so much, but the biggest of all is how they give us such a deep and obvious look at how connected we are with the Earth. Nature isn't some separate entity, it's all around us.
Insects have opened my eyes to so much of the natural world and how delicate and amazing the plant and pollinator interactions are. How much we rely on them, and they on us.
They’re the most accessible wildlife in many ways. You don’t need to travel the globe or visit a zoo to see them. You can find a patch of flowers nearly anywhere, and just pause and be still, and soon enough you’ll spot one and get a peak into their tiny world. It’s a part nature anyone can enjoy, and you don’t need to be a beekeeper to be a part of it. A simple pot of flowering herbs or wildflowers will start bringing visitors (but don’t worry they won’t bother you if you let them bee!), but if even that is daunting to you, try taking a walk around your neighborhood or local parks and taking a closer look.
There are so many species, each with different characteristics and plant preferences, it’s better than Pokémon go trying to collect sightings of them all. Don’t blame me if you get hooked though!