Pollinator Friendly Campus
Colorado State University is committed to creating and supporting healthy pollinator habitat through campus planning, education, research, engagement, and sustainable landscape practices.
Annual Colorado Pollinator Summit
More information will be shared as the event date approaches.
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Pollinator Committee Overview
The Pollinator Friendly Campus Committee supports pollinator-friendly initiatives, habitat, education, and engagement across Colorado State University.
The Pollinator Friendly Campus Committee (PFCC) formed in May 2017 to discuss pollinator-friendly initiatives on campus. In July 2017, the committee was approved as an official subcommittee of the President’s Sustainability Commission.
The Pollinator Committee includes participation from CSU students, academic and research experts, Facilities Management, Environmental Health Services, Extension, and others across the university community.
Pollinator-Friendly Objectives
Our objectives in promoting pollinators align with Bee Campus USA goals, including:
- Create and implement a pollinator-friendly habitat plan.
- Plan and develop pollinator-friendly gardens across campus.
- Offer pollinator education and engagement opportunities.
- Post educational stories and signage about the benefits of supporting local pollinators.
Active Members
- Program Director, Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry, TILT – Louise Allen
- Horticulturist, Outdoor Services Facilities Management – Bella Bogdanski
- University Landscape Architect, Facilities Management – Jenny Burkhalter
- Assistant Professor, Horticulture & Landscape Architecture – Jennifer Bousselot
- Director of Environmental Affairs, ASCSU – Cate Collins
- CSU Extension, Boulder Extension – Deryn Davidson
- Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology; Faculty Advisor, Honey Bee Vet Med Club – Colleen Duncan
- Operations Manager, Outdoor Services Facilities Management – Rodney Gillespie
- Program Assistant, Facilities Management; PFCC Co-Chair – Julia Innes
- Assistant Professor, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship; PFCC Co-Chair – John Mola
- Public Health Administrator, Environmental Health Services – Jeannine Riess
- Graduate Students in Ecology, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship – Kyle Ruszkowski, Laura Lukens, Sophia Gulutzo, and Hannah Burke
- Director of Sustainability, College of Business; Co-Chair, President’s Sustainability Commission – Grace Wright
Bee Campus USA
CSU’s Bee Campus USA designation reflects an ongoing commitment to pollinator conservation, habitat, education, and campus engagement.
CSU has been Bee Campus USA certified since January 2018. (9NEWS – CSU Bee Campus USA – April 2018).
During the spring semester in 2018, the President’s Sustainability Commission recognized the Pollinator Friendly Campus Committee for its outstanding sustainability leadership that resulted in CSU becoming the first certified Bee Campus USA institution in Colorado.
CSU’s Bee Campus USA designation is part of a larger campus-wide initiative to transform the physical campus into a learning laboratory for the campus community and visitors.
Bee Campus USA Commitments
Supporting Pollinator Conservation
Through association with our Bee Campus USA status, we have also gained an international partner to support our goals of creating more beneficial habitat on CSU’s campus. Over the summer of 2018, Bee City USA became an official initiative of the Xerces Society.
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Bee City USA Joins Xerces Society (June 2018)
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Pollinator Friendly Gardens
CSU intentionally designs and manages campus landscapes to provide food, habitat, nesting opportunities, and education that support pollinators.
Native pollinator populations throughout the world have been experiencing critical threats to their survival, with issues ranging from food insecurity to habitat loss. Considering the critical role pollinators play in the surrounding ecosystem, CSU has made a commitment to make campus more welcoming to these essential creatures.
In fall 2017, CSU started an initiative to become more bee-friendly to pollinators, and began planting more intentional spaces on campus designed to support pollinators by providing consistent food sources and safe spaces for nesting.
Flowerbeds include pollinator-attracting plants such as catmint, agastache blue boa, lavender, primrose, spirea, and beebalm. Educational signage is also installed in certain locations to help the campus community learn more about pollinators.
Pollinator-Friendly Campus Locations
Pollinator Resources
Find campus response information, educational resources, research, articles, webinars, and organizations supporting pollinator conservation.
Swarm Response
In addition to enhancing pollinator activity on campus, the university has a response plan for swarming or nuisance insects.
Anyone concerned about bee swarms, which are more common starting in February through spring, or nuisance bees, wasps, or hornets should contact Environmental Health Services (EHS).
Environmental Health Services will manage next steps, including contacting beekeepers for assistance in removing a swarm.
Environmental Health Services970-491-6745
Sting Response
Remove the stinger as soon as possible. Localized swelling, pain, and itching are normal reactions. Cool lotions or compresses can help relieve pain and swelling.
If you have a prescription for an Epinephrine autoinjector due to allergic reactions, administer it immediately after you are stung.
If you have hypersensitivity reactions to either bee or wasp venom, contact your physician immediately.
CSU Health and Medical Center970-491-7121
Reading Recommendations
- Attracting Native Bees to Your Landscape
H.S. Arathi, D. Davidson and L. Mason — CSU Extension - Attracting Butterflies to the Garden
P.A. Opler and W.S. Cranshaw — CSU Extension - Bee Health Community & Management Practices
Cooperative Extension USDA - Creating Pollinator Habitat
H.S. Arathi, D. Davidson and L. Mason - 100 Plants to Feed the Bees
The Xerces Society - Your Pollinator Book List: Ideas to Read this Winter and in 2021
Lisa Mason