Bees in the woods: Promoting pollinator habitat at the High Desert Museum

(bright music)

- Hi, my name is Hayley Brazier

and I am the Curator of Natural History

at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon.

And you are joining us on
our Ponderosa Pine Forest.

We manage 135 acres here at the museum.

We're at a little bit over
4,000 feet in elevation

and receive about 10 to 12 inches

of precipitation every year.

So although this is a very dry forest,

we still support a lot of native species

that attract many types of pollinators

that range from dozens
of types of native bees

to hummingbird, to even moths,

who do the important work
of nocturnal pollination.

So here at the High Desert Museum,

we manage our forest for
educational purposes,

but also because we want a healthy forest

that can support a variety of wildlife,

including pollinators.

There are four main methods we use here

at the High Desert Museum

that you could also use on your property

when wanting to foster a
healthier pollinator habitat.

One is prescribed burns.

We also use a newer type of
method called solarization

where you put plastic onto the ground

to kill invasive species.

We also have a riparian habitat

that supports a lot of native species

that require more water resources.

And finally, we also
actively seed and plant

many parts of our property

to encourage native plants

that'll attract not only more pollinators,

but a variety of species of pollinators.

(bright music continues)