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Did you hear the buzz? UAB is now a Bee Campus USA

Written by 
  • November 11, 2021

Bee Campus USA 2021   Widget 2
Bee Campus USA 2021   Widget 1

LEXI COON / University Relations

For its work to promote bee conservation and growth on campus, UAB has been named a Bee Campus USA by Bee City USA, which recognizes, supports and encourages pollinator conservation in towns, cities and counties across the country. UAB joins 126 Bee Campus USA affiliates across 44 states.

Research has shown up to 40% of pollinator species on Earth are at risk of extinction because of pesticide use or their habitats’ disappearing — it’s a great example of our UAB shared value of stewardship that the university is investing its resources to change that.”

This spring, UAB installed two small beehives in the UAB Gardens to increase pollination in the area, which helps sustain Alabama’s native ecosystem. The hives, situated in a fenced area across from the UAB Solar House, joined an adjacent monarch butterfly habitat, which was built in fall 2020 to house milkweed plants and other nectar plants for monarch butterflies, and a second monarch habitat at 10th Avenue South and 14th Street near Honors Hall, installed as part of a collaboration between UAB Sustainability and the Science and Technology Honors Program.

“Honeybees are a threatened population in the United States, and UAB has worked hard to become a safe place for them to thrive,” said Bambi Ingram, UAB Sustainability manager. “Bees pollinate many crops in Alabama and are essential to our state’s native ecosystem. Research has shown up to 40% of pollinator species on Earth are at risk of extinction because of pesticide use or their habitats’ disappearing — it’s a great example of our UAB shared value of stewardship that the university is investing its resources to change that.”

The bees in UAB Gardens were provided through a partnership between UAB Sustainability, University Events and Foxhound Bee Co., a local company that provides beekeeping supplies and instruction.

Click through the slideshow below to see the beehives installed in April.

  • Bee 1
  • Bee 2
  • Bee 4
  • Bee 5
  • Bee 3
  • Bee 11
  • Bee 10
  • Bee 7
  • Bee 13
  • Bee 12
  • Bee 16
  • Bee 17
  • A Foxhound Bee Co. employee stuffed pine needles into a smoker in order to open a beehive. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • A Foxhound Bee Co. employee stuffed pine needles into a smoker in order to open a beehive. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • Using the smoker, the beehive is opened. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • Using the smoker, the beehive is opened. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • The honeybees began to exit their carriers. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • A look inside the carriers. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • A beehive frame filled with honey bees. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • A beehive frame filled with honey bees. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • A beehive frame filled with honey bees. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • A beehive frame filled with honey bees. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • A beehive frame filled with honey bees. LEXI COON / University Relations

  • Bees and their honeycomb. LEXI COON / University Relations