Don’t Step on a Bee Day

Every year on July 10, Don’t Step on a Bee Day serves as an important reminder of the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. In recent years, bee populations have declined significantly for reasons not yet fully understood. This holiday highlights the urgent need to protect these crucial pollinators.

History

The practice of beekeeping dates back to Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. Bees have long held a place in folklore and mythology. Don’t Step on a Bee Day was founded by Thomas and Ruth Roy in both the UK and the US. While the name may sound like a warning for barefoot walkers, the holiday is much more than that.

Don’t Step on a Bee Day is about raising awareness of the environmental threats facing bees. Over the past decade, populations have sharply declined. Although the exact causes remain unclear, factors may include neonicotinoid pesticides, pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change.

Interesting Facts

• In the 18th century, Europeans developed mobile beehives that allowed honey collection without harming the colony.
• In the 1940s, Nobel Prize-winning ethologist Karl von Frisch discovered that bees communicate the location of food through a “waggle dance.”
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature formed the Bumblebee Specialist Group in 2011 to study and protect bumblebee species globally.

How to Take Part

Support local beekeepers by purchasing their honey and bee products or donating to help them continue their work. Plant bee-friendly flowers like lavender, sunflowers, or wildflowers in your garden or balcony to give bees easy access to nectar and pollen. You can also share educational posts on social media to help raise awareness.

When is Don’t Step on a Bee Day in 2025?

Don’t Step on a Bee Day is observed on July 10 each year.

Observations