Maine Needs Help Counting Bumble Bees in Aroostook County

HOULTON, Maine (AP) — Maine is looking for people to help count one of its most important critters: bumble bees.

The state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is searching for volunteers from Downeast and northern Maine to assist in the Maine Bumble Bee Atlas. The state held a training session at Houlton High School on Saturday.

Maine is looking for volunteers from all over the state, but is especially looking to fill survey gaps in Aroostook, Washington, Hancock and northern Penobscot counties.

The atlas is a five-year, statewide survey that looks to document different species of bumble bees in Maine as well as their range and abundance. Bumble bees are very important in Maine because they pollinate key crops such as blueberries.