So I kind of have a problem with a lot of these “save the bees” places that push honeybees. Honeybees are not native to North America, they are also not really at risk because they are so commercialized. What ARE at risk are native bees, which honeybees compete with and push out.
Unfortunately people at large don’t feel as ‘rewarded’ for keeping native bees since they don’t produce honey, or like you said don’t even realize honeybees aren’t native.
So I kind of have a problem with a lot of these “save the bees” places that push honeybees. Honeybees are not native to North America, they are also not really at risk because they are so commercialized. What ARE at risk are native bees, which honeybees compete with and push out.
https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2021/June-July/Gardening/Honey-Bees
The best thing you can do to help bees is plant bee friendly gardens.
Unfortunately people at large don’t feel as ‘rewarded’ for keeping native bees since they don’t produce honey, or like you said don’t even realize honeybees aren’t native.
If you don’t have a green thumb you can also hang a solitary bee house in your lawn/patio. Basically a bird house without a front stuffed with bored wood https://www.almanac.com/bee-houses-native-solitary-bees
That’s fascinating, thank you for spreading the word.