Mueller Lake Park Outdoor Amphitheater
Bees Under Attack
RECEIVED Wed., July 10, 2019
Dear Editor,
We all know a few simple truths about bees. They’re yellow, they make honey, and sometimes they sting us. But when someone sees a beehive in their backyard, they take a glimpse into the hard work bees do for us all. Whether it’s our morning cup of coffee or the juicy watermelons we enjoy during hot Texas summers, these fuzzy little creatures pollinate so many of our essential foods. And right now, they’re under attack.
Bee-killing pesticides called neonicotinoids, one of the leading causes of bee death, contribute to widespread colony collapse – a phenomenon claiming at least 30% of our honeybee colonies every winter, or twice the sustainable rate.
Fortunately, it’s not too late to act. Just last week, thanks to the hard work of Environment Texas volunteers and canvassers, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department agreed to cease using these chemicals in state parks. This is a great victory, but we still have a long way to go. We can have a healthy future for generations to come, but that means a major effort by all of us to move away from these harmful chemicals, and shift to more sustainable farming practices.
We all know a few simple truths about bees. They’re yellow, they make honey, and sometimes they sting us. But when someone sees a beehive in their backyard, they take a glimpse into the hard work bees do for us all. Whether it’s our morning cup of coffee or the juicy watermelons we enjoy during hot Texas summers, these fuzzy little creatures pollinate so many of our essential foods. And right now, they’re under attack.
Bee-killing pesticides called neonicotinoids, one of the leading causes of bee death, contribute to widespread colony collapse – a phenomenon claiming at least 30% of our honeybee colonies every winter, or twice the sustainable rate.
Fortunately, it’s not too late to act. Just last week, thanks to the hard work of Environment Texas volunteers and canvassers, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department agreed to cease using these chemicals in state parks. This is a great victory, but we still have a long way to go. We can have a healthy future for generations to come, but that means a major effort by all of us to move away from these harmful chemicals, and shift to more sustainable farming practices.
Trent Hyatt
