Press Release from Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation:
A new statewide community science project is recruiting volunteers to help save New Mexico’s bumble bees. The New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas aims to better understand and protect these important pollinators, several of which are in decline. The program is seeking volunteers across the state to collaborate with local researchers and gather critical data on bumble bee distribution and habitat needs. Volunteers are trained to conduct catch-photograph-release surveys and submit data online.
“Bumble bees are beautiful and fascinating animals. They’re also really important pollinators. I love introducing people to them and sharing how we can all make a difference,” said Amy Dolan, a conservation biologist for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and coordinator of the New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas.
New Mexico is home to at least 22 species of bumble bees, six of which are of conservation concern. All bumble bee species face a variety of threats, including habitat loss, disease, pesticide use, competition from commercial bees, extreme heat waves, and drought. To help populations recover, scientists need better information about where they are and the habitats they rely on.
2026 is the first year of the New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas, and Dolan said volunteers are needed from all parts of the state.
“The key to the Bumble Bee Atlas project’s success is volunteers,” Dolan said. “There is so much to learn and a lot of ground to cover. It would take me decades to survey for bumble bees across the region by myself, but with the help of an amazing volunteer network, we can make great progress.” New Mexico is especially challenging for gathering bumble bee data since so much of the land is remote, rugged, and challenging to access. Extremely dry conditions also make it difficult to find flowers and bumble bees. This is why Dolan says local volunteers are so important.
Online training resources are available for anyone who wants to become a volunteer. Additionally, interested community members are invited to a hands-on field training event at Percha Dam State Park on Thursday, May 14, from 9am until noon. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the Bumble Bee Atlas with other community members, practice survey protocols, and get your questions answered by Bumble Bee Atlas staff. All necessary equipment will be provided for use during the training. Interested volunteers can learn more by visiting the project’s website at BumbleBeeAtlas.org/pages/nmbba and registering on the Bumble Bee Atlas Events Page (BumbleBeeAtlas.org/pages/events).
The New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas is run by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and supported by the Carroll Petrie Foundation. The project will gather important data on at-risk bumble bee populations, helping land management agencies and conservation partners make informed decisions that improve the survival of these essential pollinators and promote healthy ecosystems overall. Additionally, the data will serve as an important baseline for measuring the success of future conservation efforts.
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For more information about the New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas project, please visit BumbleBeeAtlas.org/pages/nmbba.
For more information about bumble bee conservation, please visit xerces.org/bumble-bees
About the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is a donor-supported nonprofit organization that protects our world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Xerces works throughout North America to conserve pollinators and other invertebrates, protect endangered species, and reduce pesticide use and impacts. Our staff use applied research, policy advocacy, public education and on-the-ground habitat improvement to advance meaningful, long-term conservation. Xerces is the largest invertebrate conservation organization in the world. For over 50 years, we have been champions of Earth’s most biodiverse and overlooked animals, protecting the life that sustains us. Learn more at xerces.org.
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Contact:
Amy Dolan (she/her/hers),
970-579-5059 | amy.dolan@xerces.org.