The COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress — both personal and financial — across the globe. Governors in Washington, New York, and a number of other states have made shelter-in-place a requirement for a majority of the population. While humans are trapped indoors, animals and insects are still active and thriving. But how are pollinators like bees affected by a lack of humans on the landscape?
As a research scientist who studies pollinators in an urban setting, I was initially more concerned about not having access to my field sites than whether the bees will survive the pandemic without human interference. But there are a number of ways the shut downs may affect the bees.
Wildlife take advantage of human isolation
Many people have taken to documenting wildlife roaming the streets without the presence of humans — both real and fake. Pictures of peacocks roaming Spain, bobcats entering cities in Chile, and coyotes in San Francisco paint a picture of animals flourishing…
