Pollinators are animals that help carry pollen from flower to flower, fertilizing the plants and resulting in the formation of seeds, fruit and young plants.

Pollinators include honey bees, wild bees, flies, moths and butterflies, among others. Minnesota alone is home to over 450 wild bee species, including both solitary bees and 18 bumblebee species.

Over the last several years, there has been a dramatic decline in pollinator species. Wild and managed pollinators face numerous stressors, including exposure to parasites and pesticides and loss of floral abundance and diversity due to increased land use. Habitat destruction also limits nesting sites for wild pollinators.

These pollinators fit a unique and vital link in our food chain and natural ecosystems; without them our food production would cease to exist as we know it and wildlife ecosystems would crash.

Bee-friendly resolution 

The St. Louis Park City Council passed a resolution declaring St. Louis Park a "bee-friendly" city. This resolution defines eight parks where no pesticides are sprayed, and where dandelions and white clover are promoted.

Creating pollinator habitats

The city promotes the creation of pollinator habitats throughout the city on public and private property. The city has already created pollinator habitats in several areas of the city, including:

• Wolfe Lake
• Bass Lake Preserve
• Lamplighter Lake
• Texa-Tonka Park
• Wolfe Park
• Municipal Service Center and Isaak Walton Creekside Park
• Shelard Park
• City open space at 42nd Street and Ottawa Avenue

View a map of the bee-safe parks and pollinator habitats in the city.

Current pollinator programs

Below is a list of current pollinator programs in the city:

• Native plant sale (annually in the summer)
• Mayor’s Monarch Pledge
• Rainwater Rewards Program
• Westwood Hills Nature Center programing
• Conversion of public land into native prairie pollinator areas
• Native vegetation permit (Ord. Sec. 34-118)
• Continued contracted maintenance of public lands that have been previously converted to native prairie
• Continued conversion of traditional exotic annual flowerbeds in parks to strategic native plant perennial beds
• Partnership with local elementary school students to convert turf grass areas in some parks to native prairie habitat, with educational signage. 

Below are some ways you can help the declining pollinator populations.

Plant pollinator-friendly landscaping

The city encourages the use of native and alternative landscapes that use native plants over turf grass. Native plants require less fertilizers and pesticides and promote native ecosystems where bees and other pollinators can thrive. Learn more about pollinator-friendly lawns.

View the city's vegetation maintenance ordinance to learn more about the rules surrounding vegetation maintenance. If you are interested in planting alternative landscape on your property, complete the native vegetation permit application.

Eliminate or minimize pesticide use

If possible, limit the use of pesticides and always follow application instructions. Applying pesticides at night when bees and other pollinators are inactive can reduce their exposure risk.

Plant a variety of flowering plants

Ensure that different types of pollinators visit your yard by planting flowers of different shapes, sizes and colors. View a list of pollinator-friendly plants.

If you would like technical assistance converting your lawn to pollinator habitat, contact the natural resources division at 952.924.2562 or naturalresources@stlouisparkmn.gov.

• University of Minnesota Bee Lab
• Best management practices for pollinators — Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Landscaping with native plants
• Xerces Society — nonprofit organization
• Lawns to Legumes: Your Yard Can BEE the Change