Dear NRDC Activist,

The endangered rusty patched bumblebee has vanished from nearly 90% of its historical range — and right now is our best chance to protect the vital habitat they have left.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently proposed designating critical habitat for the bee, meaning many of the areas this species calls home would have long-overdue protections.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments on this lifesaving proposal, but only for 10 more days — submit a comment NOW to protect rusty patched bumblebees and their habitat.

Rusty patched bumblebees were once common throughout the northeastern and midwestern United States, ranging northwards into Canada. Now the bee survives almost exclusively in isolated pockets in the upper Midwest. In addition to habitat loss and climate change, they are threatened by toxic pesticides like neonics.

And it’s not just bees that are threatened, but the whole future of our food supply — one out of every three bites of food we eat depends on pollinators like the rusty patched bumblebee and other wild bees.

Make your voice heard today to help save our highly productive pollinators and our food system.

This important proposal comes after NRDC and our partners sued the agency in 2021 for not designating critical habitat for the rusty patched bumblebee — and won.

After years of delay, we need as many people as possible to make their voices heard to defend that key courtroom win and ensure the grasslands and woodlands that are essential for species’ survival aren’t damaged or destroyed.

Make no mistake: The new Trump administration has plans to repeal crucial endangered species protections and gut safeguards that protect essential pollinators like bees and their habitat.

That’s why it’s so important that people like you and me — people who care deeply about the future of pollinators and our food supply — take action to protect these endangered bees before it’s too late.

The FWS needs to hear from YOU — please submit your public comment before the January 27 deadline.