MOOSE, Wyo. — The last full week in June marks National Pollinator Week, and Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) is honoring pollinators who play a critical role in the ecosystem by helping plants reproduce.
According to the National Park Service, pollinators can intentionally collect pollen, like many bee species, or move pollen accidentally, like many butterflies, birds and bats. More than 75 percent of flowering plants, including more than 1,200 food crops and 180,000 different types of plants critical to stabilizing soils, cleaning air, supplying oxygen and supporting wildlife, depend on pollinators.
The primary threats facing pollinators are habitat loss, non-native species, pesticides and climate change.
The NPS confirms habitat loss is caused by agriculture, mining and human development, while native plants and wildflowers needed by pollinators may be out-competed by invasive species. Pesticides can remain in an environment for an extended amount of time and have negative impacts on multiple generations of pollinators.
Local earlier bloom times are also threatening to disrupt the relationship between plants and pollinators.
GTNP is asking visitors to consider photo-documenting pollinators using the iNaturalist app to contribute to the Pollinator Tracker project. Visitors can also help identify pollinators observed in parks by using the Identify tool in iNaturalist.
National Pollinator Week was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership, the largest nonprofit in the world dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems. Fourteen years ago, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved and designated this week in June as National Pollinator Week.
Today, Jackson Hole residents can join a volunteer native plant restoration day at the National Museum of Wildlife Art from 1 to 3 p.m. Find out more about the event and other ways to help plants and pollinators in the community and national park here.
