Creating a Sustainable Space for Bees through Science

The CU Denver Bee Story

The CU Denver Bee Project began in May 2016 with a 20-hive apiary located on a farm in Wheat Ridge, CO. In March 2017, the honey bees were relocated to the CU Downtown campus to shift the focus of research to the urban environment. They are now housed on the rooftops of the CU Student Commons and City Heights buildings, located near Speer and Larimer Streets. Additional research apiaries are maintained in Littleton and Centennial, CO.

​

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are generally docile and will not harm humans unless provoked. Many native bees, which are often mistaken for flies, hornets, or wasps, do not sting at all. Unlike native bees, honey bees are domesticated animals, similar to chickens, and can be managed in urban backyards to help people connect with the environment. However, honey bees are not native to North America. Fossil evidence shows Apis species existed in Nevada 15 million years ago, but the honey bees we know today were introduced to the U.S. in the 1620s. Because many agricultural crops (most of which originated in Europe and Asia) require honey bee pollination, a large number of colonies are needed to support agriculture. When the bee industry experiences significant losses, as it has in recent years, the impact extends to food supply.

​

In the mid-2000s, the term Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) emerged to describe the suite of diseases and environmental stressors affecting honey bee colonies. These factors have doubled the average colony mortality rate in the U.S., giving rise to the “Save the Bees” campaign. However, this movement often misconstrues what needs to be saved and why. For instance, maintaining honey bees in urban areas for non-agricultural purposes is a hobbyist activity, not a conservation effort, and it can sometimes harm native ecosystems. In cities like Denver, where resources for pollinators are scarce, improperly managed honey bee colonies can exacerbate bee diseases and negatively impact local ecosystems.

​

Colorado is home to approximately 950 native bee species—nearly 25% of all bee species in North America! These native bees are vital pollinators of the region’s flora and are often more effective than honey bees. Most native bees are solitary, nesting in the ground or small cavities. Creating habitats such as bee houses and planting native pollinator-friendly plants can help these species thrive in resource-limited urban environments. In contrast, honey bees are social insects that live in colonies of up to 100,000 individuals and can easily outcompete native bees and other pollinators if not carefully managed. Even in Europe, where honey bees are native, they can overpopulate and deplete resources. Poorly managed honey bee colonies in Colorado can contribute to the decline of native pollinators, which are already facing threats from environmental changes and human activities.

​

The CU Denver Bee Project aims to balance the needs of honey bees and native pollinators through education, research, and sustainable practices.

​

Project Goals:

1. Research: Study beekeeper practices, bee health, and foraging patterns in urban and suburban environments.

2. Pollinator Dynamics: Investigate interactions between native pollinators and honey bees to better understand their ecological balance.

3. Education: Teach CU students, staff, and the broader community about the interdependence of pollinators and human food systems. Model best practices for managing honey bee hives in populated areas along Colorado’s Front Range.

4. Collaboration: Partner with university, public, and private organizations to promote sustainable honey bee management and food production.

5. Environmental Monitoring: Utilize honey bees as bioindicators to measure environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals and chemicals.
    

Through these efforts, the CU Denver Bee Project strives to promote sustainable urban beekeeping while safeguarding native pollinators and their habitats.

​

Disclaimer: The project is not a club or student organization, we do not do rooftop tours for liability reasons, and we do not sell honey. There are typically work study positions available each year to help with the bees and get involved in the project. You need to be a CU Denver student.  There are no volunteer opportunities due to liability.  There is a class run through CU Denver on bees called Beeography (GEOG/ENVS 4750/5750) . We hold bee informational booths in the warmer months of the academic year where we give away honey for donations to the project.  If you want to keep up-to-date on our events, subscribe below and/or join us on Instagram.

Di​​​