Bee City USA- Salem, Ohio

04/13/2026

𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵!
Citizen science is scientific research conducted voluntarily by members of the public in collaboration with professional scientists. Anyone can participate in most citizen science projects regardless of age or background. That means that there are real scientific research projects that you and your kids can contribute to!

Check out the link in the comments to find out more about the projects listed on this graphic or visit the SciStarter website to find projects that match your interests.

03/31/2026

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260327000518.htm

Scientists have developed a breakthrough “superfood” for honeybees by engineering yeast to produce the essential nutrients normally found in pollen. In controlled trials, colonies fed this specially designed diet produced up to 15 times more young, showing a dramatic boost in reproduction and ov...

03/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18AK1igACd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🌻 Already thinking about warm weather and gardening? 🌿 Join us at our next Low Power Happy Hour for a conversation with experts from three northeast Ohio native plant nurseries!

🌱 Native Roots, Inc., Natives in Harmony, and Meadow City Native Plant Nursery will discuss their nurseries and take questions from the audience about restoring native habitats in our backyards (e.g. invasive plant control, site preparation, native plant selection, and more).

🪴 You'll also have the opportunity to shop a small selection of native plants to take home from each of the vendors. Bring information about your yard conditions (sun/moisture) and walk away with some plants or ideas!

🕔 Tuesday, April 14 | 5 pm to 7:30 pm
📍 Happy Days Lodge

🎟️ Tickets: https://ow.ly/A9K950YtOvz
Conservancy members & students: Free!
General admission: $10

02/28/2026

01/31/2026

🌱 On January 19, regional partners announced the Free Native Seed Library program, a community resource offering free, locally sourced native seeds at 10 locations across Northeast Ohio to support pollinators and more resilient landscapes.

The Native Seed Library is made possible through collaboration among West Creek Conservancy, Holden Forests & Gardens, Ohio EPA, Cox Charities East Region, and the Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center. The program was launched in 2023 by West Creek Conservancy and has expanded through these strong regional partnerships.

What to know:

• 12 seed varieties available (11 straight native species + 1 pollinator mix)
• Seeds are 100% sourced from Northeast Ohio, including wild populations and restoration sites such as Mentor Marsh
• Each location will offer 1,200 seed packets
• Visitors may take up to three packets per person
• Holden Forests & Gardens produced approximately 70–80% of the seed for the program

By making native seeds free and easy to access, the Native Seed Library empowers residents to support pollinators, restore habitat, and strengthen local ecosystems, right in their own backyards.

Participating locations include the Cleveland Public Library (West Side Market Book Nook), Cleveland Botanical Garden, Holden Arboretum, Lake Metroparks sites, the Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center, and three branches of the Cuyahoga County Public Library system.

Together, we’re meeting people where they are — and helping grow healthier, more resilient landscapes across our region.

🌿 Curious how it works, what seeds are available, where you can get them and why native plants matter? Read the full story on our blog: https://holdenfg.org/blog/native-seed-libraries-now-open-to-the-public/

01/23/2026

The 2026 proposal windows have been announced for EIGHT of the Xerces Society’s Habitat Kits! Xerces provide plants and resources to folks with the interest, experience, and land to make it happen. Plants are carefully selected, native, and regionally appropriate and given directly to our partners for shovel-ready projects.

Bee Cities and Bee Campuses have received kits in the past and are *highly encouraged* to apply. Please feel free to share with anyone you think might qualify.

Proposal windows:
🌻 Mid-Atlantic Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Kits (now - Feb 17)
🌻Detroit, MI Pollinator Habitat Kits (Feb 9 – Mar 19)
🌻 California Monarch and Pollinator Kits (Feb 9 - April 10)
🌻 SW Oregon Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Kits (Feb 23 - April 10)
🌻 New Mexico Pollinator Kits (May 1 – June 30)
🌻 Southern California Residential Habitat Kits (June 1 – June 30)
🌻 Washington Bumble Bee Habitat Kits (Feb 23 - April 17)
🌻 Wisconsin Pollinator Habitat Kits: open submission

Learn more about qualifying projects and submit a proposal at https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/habitat-kits

01/23/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AY8rL8WJH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

There is now a brand-new conservation program that will provide financial incentives for private landowners who would like to improve the wildlife habitat on their property, focusing on supporting habitat for grassland birds, pollinators, and other native wildlife. The Wildlife Habitat Initiative (WHI) is being led by the National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative (NBGI), along with the support of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the ODNR Division of Wildlife (DOW).

The WHI brochure (downloadable from the Columbiana SWCD website under the Wildlife/Forestry then the programs we offer tab) provides a brief description of the program and a listing of the conservation practices that are being made available to the landowner. Here are some of the important highlights of the WHI that a landowner would need to be aware of in order to consider moving forward:

The minimum amount of acreage for a project is 5 acres! It would not necessarily need to be contiguous acres, however the accumulative acres on that property or farm tract would need to total a minimum of 5 acres.

Each application will be scored/ranked based on various habitat-related factors and location. There is a maximum of 60 points, with a score of 30 points or more guaranteeing acceptance into the program.

If Forest Stand Improvement is one of the conservation practices selected, a minimum of 75% “open canopy” is a requirement!

Incentive payments (95% of the pre-established scenario rate) are paid to the landowner for completing a conservation practice(s).

Contracts with landowners will be executed by the NBGI and will be 2-5 years in length.
Landowners enrolling in the Wildlife Habitat Initiative will be provided with technical assistance/resources, along with a conservation plan they would need to follow.
For more information about this innovative program or to start the application process, contact the Columbiana SWCD Wildlife and Forestry Specialist John Beilhart at 330-277-2977.

01/17/2026

Just because it's the winter season doesn't mean the fight against spotted lanternflies stops! Their egg masses are appearing on trees all throughout Perrysburg, but it's not the only insect that leaves behind egg masses during this time of year.

The City's Natural Resources Manager recently took a photo of a tree that has both lanternfly and wheel bug eggs. Wheel bugs are a type of insect that actually attack and feed on spotted lanternflies, so it's important to identify which egg masses are the correct ones to scrape.

Use the graphic below to memorize the difference between lanternfly and wheel bug egg masses. For tips on how to properly scrape spotted lanternfly eggs off trees, watch our instructional video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HwiLXUvF6Gc

01/13/2026

Some of the lessons from our past

From the recovery of the bald eagle to the "thorny" lessons of the multiflora rose, Ohio’s wildlife management history is full of trials and triumphs.

In his latest column, Jim Abrams examines the hits (like the steelhead fishery) and the misses (looking at you, autumn olive!) that have shaped the outdoors we enjoy today. It’s a fascinating look at the "law of unintended consequences" in our own backyard.

Read the full story at the link in our comments 🔗⬇️

01/06/2026

12/28/2025

Hello all, we’ve been sharing some resources in our online Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan Toolkit, including some new ones now available thanks to Xerces’ pesticide reduction team!

For our third feature, we’re highlighting the newest page of our IPM Plan toolkit: “Non-Chemical Management Tools for Outdoor Landscapes.” You likely know that insecticides, herbicides, & fungicides can harm pollinators, but what are your other options to control unwanted insects, weeds, or plant disease? We’ve compiled a variety of techniques to help you avoid turning to chemicals to manage habitat broken into 5 categories: 1) Prevention & Cultural Care, 2) Barriers & Mechanical Control, 3) Biological Control, 4) W**d Control, & 5) Mosquito Control. For each method, we’ve including links for further reading. Check it out!

Learn more at ➡
beecityusa.org/pesticides/ipm-non-chemical-mgmt-tools/