Pollinators
| Restoring functioning landscapes doesn't end with invasive plant control. Providing ample food and habitat sources for pollinators is imperative to a healthy environment. Native and non-native pollinators are of critical economic and environmental importance. Urban environments can often become havens for pollinators if managed properly. The Cowlitz County Noxious Weed Program has several resources for landowners wishing to get more involved in establishing a better environment for pollinators. Different flower mixes are a simple way to attract pollinators. Natives are a bonus, but not necessary. We now have a seed mix provided to us by the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. This mix includes a combination of early, mid and late season flowering plants that produce pollen and nectar for a wide range of pollinator species. We will have these seed packets available at the Cowlitz County Earth Day event, the Home and Garden Show, the Cowlitz County Fair and Castle Rock Fair. Honeybee Diseases & Pests Honeybee diseases and pests range from microbial diseases (bacterial, fungal, protozoan, viral) and parasitic mites to insects and vertebrates. Environmental stresses and poor nutrition can exacerbate these issues. Miticides used to treat honeybees can also impact hives' overall health. With raised awareness comes transitions to more pollinator-conscious practices with pest control and initiative to provide diverse and nutritious food sources for pollinators. How-to Guides  How-to: Harvest mason bee cocoons  How-to: Wood mason bee blocks | Varroa mites Bee louse (Braula coeca) Information on Pollinators Ways to Protect Bees from Pesticides The Xerces Society For Invertebrate Conservation Bumble Bees of the Western United States Monarch Joint Venture NRCS Plant List for Pollinators Native Bees |