Outdoor Idaho has linked up with Bitner, academics, farmers (including our friends at McIntyre Farms and Peaceful Belly), and others to produce Beyond the Buzz (airing Thursday, October 17 at 8 PM and Sunday, October 20 at 7 PM) to highlight the status of Idaho's bee population. Beyond the Buzz will be available for on-line viewing on Idaho Public Television after October 17 (for a limited time).
There are 20,000 native species of bees in the world, 4,000 in the U.S., and around 700 in the state of Idaho. The majority are ground nesters. Rapid human growth threatens their habitat as earthmovers scoop them up to make way for new businesses and subdivisions.
Dr. Ron Bitner is a renowned bee expert who has traveled the world studying bees. Now he’s working with the University of Idaho, Oregon State University and the USDA bee lab in Logan, Utah, to document bees in Idaho to see what can be done to keep them healthy.
Mark your calendar and view Beyond the Bees to learn how to help sustain bee populations. It's an exciting and beautiful tribute to our Treasure Valley agriculture, farmers, and bees.