John,

Rusty patched bumblebees are in steep decline and desperately need habitat protection.

Once common across the U.S. Northeast and Midwest, these bees now survive mostly in isolated populations and mostly in the upper Midwest — and all their populations are threatened by habitat loss, pesticides, parasites, and disease.

It doesn’t help that when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protected rusty patched bumblebees under the Endangered Species Act in 2017, it refused to designate protected critical habitat.

Critical habitat designation is a crucial part of the Act. When a species’ habitat is protected, federal agencies must make sure their actions don’t destroy or damage areas essential for the species’ survival. Species without designated critical habitat are only half as likely to be moving toward recovery as species with it.

After a multiyear battle with the Center and allies, the Service has finally proposed to designate 1.6 million acres of critical habitat for these bees. But its rule won't be finalized until the next administration — and we know from experience that Trump will do everything he can to thwart protection.

That’s why the Service needs to hear from you.

Urge the agency to finalize a critical habitat designation that allows these beautiful native bumblebees to continue to survive and — we hope — eventually thrive.