Iowa volunteers help track bumble bees as conservation effort grows
DES MOINES — More than 120 Iowans are now part of a growing citizen science effort to track bumble bees across the state, with volunteer surveys more than tripling in 2025 compared to the year before.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting three free field training events in July to recruit and train new volunteers for the Bumble Bee Atlas, a project that aims to assess bumble bee species distribution, population shifts, and habitat needs. The effort is part of a 20-state initiative led by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Why bumble bees matter for Iowa
Bumble bees are essential pollinators for many crops and wild plants, making their health critical to Iowa's $1