Being a beekeeper can put you in a weird position. Or juxtaposition really. The general population views you as someone who is saving the bees, and is thereby saving the environment. I definitely get more “thanks for your service” comments for being a beekeeper than I do for being a veteran. And that’s a good thing—I like that there are people who hold service to the environment in high regard. But then there are those folks who are a bit more passionate about environmental conservation—they tend not to see beekeepers in such a positive light, and can frankly be a bit hostile toward us. I admire the work these people do, and to be honest it doesn’t feel good to be criticized by groups that I respect so much. But are they right to throw shade at beekeepers? Like so many things in beekeeping, there’s not a simple black-or-white answer to that question.
My pasture is full of pollinator-friendly plants like this tall green milkweed
I concede that the arguments against beekeeping are real. But those arguments, including increased competition and disease pressures to native species, are—in my view—heavily dependent on the type of beekeeping. Commercial operations that manage thousands of hives probably warrant criticism. One-thousand hives, which is a low number compared to big commercial outfits, could flood an area with 50 million honey bees in the summertime. That puts a lot of stress on other pollinators in that same area. But most of us aren’t keeping a thousand hives. In fact, all but a tiny percentage of beekeepers manage less than 25 hives, and I suspect small operations like these can be good for local pollinators.
One of multiple catalpa trees I’ve got planted, which will provide nectar to honey bees but is also the only tree that can support the native catalpa sphinx moth
First of all, most beekeepers are initially attracted to the hobby by the promise of honey. To get honey, the bees need flowers. It doesn’t take a new beekeeper long to realize the importance of flower diversity, because if everything bloomed at the same time, honey bees would be starving for most of the year. So a new beekeeper inevitably starts browsing seed magazines and visiting her local nurseries, looking for plants that will give her bees a boost during the spring or fill a critical gap during the August dearth. As she learns more about different flowers, she’ll get at least some education on native versus non-native versus invasive plants. Over a couple years, the beekeeper will watch her new flowers like a hawk, hoping to see foraging honey bees. But what she’ll mostly see are tiny bees and colorful wasps she’s never seen before. So even her narrow focus on honey bees has provided benefit to other pollinators. But often it doesn’t end there, which brings me to my next point.
Beekeeping is a gateway into nature conservation. While we all started out with the goal of providing nectar to our honey bees, we inadvertently provided sustenance to untold numbers of native bees, beetles, wasps, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and bats that are living around us. After a couple years of seeing these pollinators, being curious about them, learning about their status in the world, I personally have shifted my planting efforts from honey bees to native pollinators. I’m under no illusion that my honey bees won’t also benefit, but I focus now on native flowers that can provide food for all pollinators. Over the last 10 years, I’ve spent a lot of money and effort trying to create a healthy environment for these creatures. Before I started beekeeping, I would’ve scoffed at the idea of spending thousands of dollars on the well-being of insects, but now it’s a passion that extends to nurturing and protecting all natural spaces. I believe this happens to a lot of hobby beekeepers. Over time we become more and more sensitive to environmental issues, and not just those affecting our honey bees.
Seeded goldenrod that now provides an important source of food to a healthy population of native double-banded scoliid wasps
So from a conservation standpoint it’s hard to defend having thousands of hives in one area (in defense of commercial beekeepers, it becomes much easier to defend from an agricultural standpoint). But 99% of beekeepers in the US don’t fall into that category, and I believe we are providing a net-positive impact on pollinators. So if you’re a beekeeper who’s been told you’re doing harm, just use it as an chance to reflect on your beekeeping practices. If you’re working to manage and minimize disease and pests in your hives, and if you’re making an effort to plant pollinator-friendly flowers, then I don’t think you should feel any guilt. In fact, you should probably be thanked for your service.