Study Finds 20 Percent of North America’s Pollinators at Risk of Extinction
Research indicates that more than 20% of native pollinator species in Canada and the United States are facing a risk of extinction.
According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, nearly 23% of vertebrate and insect pollinators in mainland North America are at an “elevated” risk of extinction.
The factors contributing to this risk include changes in land use, invasive plant species, pesticide exposure, climate change, diseases, and alterations in hydrological and fire regimes.
The study emphasizes the importance of pollinators in sustaining terrestrial ecosystem function and global food supply, highlighting the decline many species are facing.
A total of 1,579 species from various pollinator groups were evaluated in the study, with 15 field experts, including Canadian zoologist John Klymko, co-authoring the report.
The study identifies bees as the most at-risk insect group, with nearly 35% of species facing threats. Additionally, around 20% of butterfly species and 16% of moth species are also in danger.
Further assessment classified 10 bee, 11 butterfly, and two moth species as “critically imperiled.”
While leafcutter and digger bees are identified as the most at-risk bee species, they face fewer risks compared to other non-pollinator animals.
The study highlights the crucial role of pollinating insects, nectar-feeding bats, and hummingbirds in sustaining ecosystems and mentions their significant contribution to North American agriculture.
Threats to pollinators vary by region, with agriculture and climate change being major concerns in certain areas. The study, spanning from 2013 to 2025, is described as the most comprehensive evaluation of pollinators in the region to date.
