National Pollinator Month is observed every June. It is a month devoted to celebrating our pollinators such as butterflies, bees, birds, and other species that maintain our ecosystems. All pollinators have faced declines because of habitat loss, disease, pesticide and herbicide use.

This month is dedicated to raising awareness about pollinators, restoring their habitats, and taking local action in our own communities. Pollinators play a big role in our ecosystems by providing 35% of our world supply of food. They pollinate many flowering plants as well as many essential nutrient-rich crops such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts. We need pollinators to help with the health of our ecosystem and to have a sustainable food supply.

What can we do to help protect and support our pollinators? First, we can eliminate the use of herbicides and pesticides around our yards, open spaces and agriculture fields as the different pollinators travel everywhere and can easily be killed from these chemicals. Most importantly, we can help by planting native pollinator gardens, and native plants or native wildflowers. These habitats can be planted in our yards, in open spaces in our local communities, schools, libraries and alongside the roads of agriculture fields.

In 2006, the non-profit organization Pollinator Partnership spearheaded a campaign which created a week in the month of June designated as Pollinator Week. According to Pollinator Partnership, Pollinator Week highlights the importance of bees, butterflies, birds, bats, beetles and other animals that make plant reproduction possible.

This year’s National Pollinator Week is June 22-28, 2026. This is a week where education, activities, and advocacy occur for all these amazing creatures in our world. You can look for local activities or events in your communities.

Photo (c) Lori A Cash Conservation Photography