Why Does Help Save the Bees Foundation Say Bees Are in Danger?

Help Save the Bees Foundation (HSBF) points to four overlapping causes of pollinator decline: improper pesticide use, loss of habitat, parasites and diseases, and climate change. The organization frames the problem around both scale and consequence — it cites recent honey bee colony losses of 30–40% per year in the U.S., a record 60% loss in the 2024–25 season, and declining native bee populations worldwide alongside butterflies, moths, and bats. The reason this matters, in HSBF's framing, is that bees are a critical link in the environment and food chain.

The threats HSBF identifies

The foundation's home page groups the causes of decline into four categories:

• Improper pesticide use — pesticides that harm pollinators directly or degrade their habitat.
• Loss of habitat — reduced foraging and nesting areas for bees and other pollinators.
• Parasites and diseases — biological pressures on honey bee colonies and native species.
• Climate change — shifting conditions that affect pollinators and the plants they depend on.

HSBF presents these as combined pressures rather than a single cause, which is consistent with how pollinator decline is generally understood: no one factor explains the losses on its own.

The numbers HSBF cites

The foundation uses colony loss figures to show the scale of the problem:

The 30–40% figure is attributed to America's beekeepers in recent years. The 60% figure is described as a record for the 2024–25 season. HSBF also notes that native bee populations worldwide are dwindling, along with butterflies, moths, and bats — a reminder that the problem extends beyond managed honey bees.

Why HSBF says it matters

The foundation's core argument is about dependency: pollinators "help make our food supply possible," and bees represent a critical link in ecosystems and the food chain. That framing explains why HSBF treats pollinator decline as a food-security and environmental issue rather than only a beekeeping concern.

HSBF also highlights two social dimensions of beekeeping:

• In developing countries, beekeeping helps lift people out of poverty.
• Beekeeping has been used to aid veterans suffering from PTSD for over 100 years.

These points position bee protection as connected to human livelihoods and well-being, not just biodiversity.

What HSBF does about it

The site lists two main areas of work:

• Habitat protection
• Hands-on education

The organization describes itself as a nonprofit charitable organization working to help save bees in Nevada and across the globe, and its stated motivation is "For The Bees!" Visitors can find more detail through its About Us, Impact Report, Our Partners, and Calendar of Events pages, and can support the work through its Donate page.