Bee Positive Missoula

Sophia Mahoney et al.
Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:40:00 PDT

Bees are an essential species that support the growth of plant communities and enhance human agricultural success. Urbanization is associated with increased impermeable surfaces, large-scale land-use change, and changes in plant and animal community assemblages. Urban expansion exacerbates habitat fragmentation and loss, which has a particularly negative impact on specialist wild or native bee pollinators and the plant species they pollinate. Global and local research indicate the widespread nature of these negative trends; however, there are abundant opportunities to mitigate the impacts on bee pollinators by restoring wild bee habitat in urban areas. This study aims to investigate mechanisms that facilitate habitat fragmentation in urban areas, examine the consequential decline in native bee diversity, and explore how community engagement in bee conservation can mitigate this decline. The literature review informed a community conservation project in Missoula, Montana, where three workshops drew a total of 107 community members and resulted in 75 constructed bee hotels. High engagement and positive comments from attendees facilitated the establishment of bee hotels and the promotion of planting native vegetation to increase wild bee abundance and diversity throughout urban green spaces.