As smoke lingers, bees slow down

MEDFORD, Ore. — Heavy smoke from southern Oregon's wildfires isn't just impacting people. Pollinators, like bees, birds and bats are also affected.

Sharon Schmidt is the founder of Cascade Girl, a local organization focused on beekeeping education, said she's noticed less activity from her bees this wildfire season.

"There's almost no activity from the younger bees on the front of the hive," she said. "And then there is some good foraging activity going on, but not much,"

Foraging refers to the bees going out in search of nectar, which will eventually be turned into honey and stored as a food source for the winter.

But Schmidt said if bees continue to be lethargic due to the smoke, they may not collect enough food.

"As we open hives periodically, we'll see whether they're using up their honey source," she said. "And if they're using up their honey stores, we're going to have to feed them during the winter, which is not something that is probably best for them. "

While beekeepers can feed the bees in their care, it's a different story for wild bees.

Schmidt said there are over 500 different breeds of bees in Oregon, and most of them live in ground hives.

They can only stand a certain amount of heat, so current wildfires are threatening bee habitats close to the flames.

Schmidt said the best thing the public can do to help bees survive the coming months is plant a pollinator friendly garden, including plants that grow in the fall such as aster, echinacea and chicory.