@dupageforest: The wonderful canines from @conservationdogs are looking for federally endangered rusty patched bumble bee nests. Finders Ernie, Betty White, and Holly are trained to seek out smells. In this case, they were exposed to a sample of the waxy nests the bees make in the ground. Positive reinforcement for the dogs could come in the form of a treat or a ball - whatever is their favorite. When they detect an area of interest in the preserves, a marker is added to the spot and its coordinates are entered into a GPS for later inspection.   What is the reason for the rusty patch bumble bee's decline in recent decades? That's what this research aims to identify. We want to know more about the nesting biology of the species. Are nests being made in certain habitats? What is leading to their loss in range? Could it be pesticides, pathogens, habitat loss, or a combination? Hopefully, these dogs will add to the body of research about the species and give scientists some answers. #dogs #dogsoftiktok #doglover #dogswithjobs

DuPage County Forest Preserve

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Thursday 20 July 2023 20:02:49 GMT