Guess what day it is?? It’s Wildlife Wednesday of course! Wildlife Wednesday is a place for photographers to display their own work. Share your Douglas/Elbert County wildlife photos with us today by posting them to our wall. Please share where the photo was taken. We will choose a winning photo to be featured over the weekend as DLC's Facebook cover photo. We love to feature your Douglas/Elbert County wildlife photos on the Douglas Land Conservancy Facebook page in an effort to demonstrate the importance of the protection of wildlife habitat in our region of Colorado. (fb)

Today is all about our pollinators- it’s World Bee Day! Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities such as habitat loss, unsustainable agricultural practices, climate change, and pollution. Pollination is an essential process for the survival of our natural ecosystems and food systems- nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend entirely or at least in part on animal pollination, along with over 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Almost 35% of invertebrate pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and about 17% of vertebrate pollinators, such as bats, face extinction globally. So what can you do to help? -Plant a diverse range of native plants that bloom at different times of the year. -Support local farmers by purchasing raw honey. -Select products from sustainable agricultural practices. -Avoid using pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides. -Create a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside. -Contribute to forest ecosystem sustainability. -Raise awareness by sharing the importance of pollinators within our communities and networks. -Beekeepers and farmers can diversify crops and create hedgerows. photo: Jody Walker (fb)