Devastating.
The numbers just came in, and thanks to Bayer and Monsanto, nearly one quarter of America's bees died this winter.
In Maryland, the devastation was particularly historic. With almost half of all bee colonies lost, "It was about the worst winter we've had in the past 20 years," said state official Jerry Fischer.
Over 100,000 SierraRise supporters have contacted their representatives, demanding the House pass the "Saving America's Pollinators Act" and ban the toxic pesticides responsible for this. But we need both chambers to act.
Let's flood the Senate with 50,000 letters by Monday and demand protection for our bees -- not for Monsanto and Bayer's profits!
Sign the petition and tell your senators: Pass the "Saving America's Pollinators Act" to protect our bees and food supply!
Colony Collapse Disorder is a worldwide catastrophe, but what comes next will be far worse. Our food supply is in jeopardy -- a quarter of everything we eat, from apples to watermelon, depends on bees.
Acting like a nerve agent, Bayer and Monsanto's neonicotinoids compromise a bee's ability to feed and make its way back to the hive. Independent, unbiased studies have linked this group of chemicals, sometimes called "neonics", to colony collapse -- including brand new research from Harvard University.
It's no wonder that Europe has banned these toxic chemicals! So why hasn't our own Congress acted yet?
The mass die-off of bees that is plaguing the nation isn't just bad for our food; it's also destroying local businesses and threatening the economy. Tim Tucker, a Kansas beekeeper, once ferried his bees all the way to California to pollinate the highly-valuable almond crop, but with bee deaths mounting, the trip became unprofitable. "Our loss numbers are unsustainable," said Tim.
Send your message today and tell your senators: It's time to take a stand and protect our nation's threatened bees!
After you take action and write the Senate, click here to learn about the Sierra Club's Pollinator Protection Campaign.