Bumble Bee Atlas Materials
Participant Handbook
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Bumble Bee Survey Data Sheet
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Habitat Assessment Form
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Volunteer Car Placard
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Bumble Bee ID Guide - Kansas
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Bumble Bee ID Guide - Dakotas
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Permits
Region-wide
The Atlas holds a Scientific Collecting Permit with Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, and Parks. While this project is catch-and-release, we are still handling organisms. After you adopt a grid cell, you will be sent an email with a copy of the permits and instructions for use. Your name and email address will be added as a sub-permittee on the Atlas permit.
The Atlas holds Scientific Collecting/Research Permits with North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota Parks and Recreation, and The Nature Conservancy. While this project is catch-and-release, we are still handling organisms. Please contact Jerry Reinisch, USFWS Fish & Wildlife Biologist and Atlas partner (Bismarck, ND), for further instruction if you would like to survey in State Parks, ND Game and Fish areas, or The Nature Conservancy's Cross Ranch.
The Atlas holds a Scientific Collecting Permit with South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks. While this project is catch-and-release, we are still handling organisms. After you adopt a grid cell, you will be sent an email with a copy of the permit and instructions for use. Please print the appropriate permit and bring it with you into the field if you survey in South Dakota State Parks or other Game Fish and Parks areas. Please contact the appropriate district Wildlife Conservation Officer prior to surveying and let them know when and where you'll be.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – If you want to survey on a wildlife refuge or a Waterfowl Production Area, please contact the state’s FWS Ecological Services office before surveying to coordinate survey details.
- National Parks – If you want to survey in a National Park, please stay tuned. We will contact everyone who has adopted a grid cell about surveying in Badlands NP, Wind Cave NP, Theodore Roosevelt NP, and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.
- U.S. Forest Service – You are welcome to survey USFS property without a permit, but please contact the appropriate District Ranger or District Biologist at least 1-2 days in advance prior to conducting surveys. Avoid active oil and gas locations and areas where cattle need access to water. Keep gates closed where applicable. Off-road travel would need a permit.
- Medora Ranger District (Little Missouri National Grassland), Phone: 701-227-7800
- McKenzie Ranger District (Little Missouri National Grassland), Phone: 701-842-8500
- Grand River Ranger District (Grand River National Grassland & Cedar River National Grassland), Phone: 605-374-3592
- Sheyenne Ranger District (Sheyenne National Grassland & Denbigh Experimental Forest), Phone: 701-404-8950
The Atlas holds a Scientific Collecting Permit with Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, and Parks. While this project is catch-and-release, we are still handling organisms. After you adopt a grid cell, you will be sent an email with a copy of the permits and instructions for use. Your name and email address will be added as a sub-permittee on the Atlas permit.
- Please print the permit and bring it with you into the field regardless of survey location. Contact the appropriate area manager before surveying on state managed lands.
- Kansas District Conservation Officers: https://ksoutdoors.com/Services/Law-Enforcement/Who-do-I-call
- Kansas State Parks Managers: https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations
- Kansas Wildlife Area Managers: https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWP-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas
- State Contact: Laura_Mendenhall@fws.gov
- The Nature Conservancy - Atlas volunteers are welcomed to survey on Cheyenne Bottoms (in grid KS_37) and Smoky Valley Ranch (in grid KS_20). Please contact the appropriate Area Manager 1-2 days beforehand to let them know your plans.
- Cheyenne Bottoms - Robert Penner, Avian Conservation Manager, rpenner@tnc.org
- Smoky Valley Ranch - Justin Roemer, Ranch Manager, Justin.roemer@tnc.org
The Atlas holds Scientific Collecting/Research Permits with North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota Parks and Recreation, and The Nature Conservancy. While this project is catch-and-release, we are still handling organisms. Please contact Jerry Reinisch, USFWS Fish & Wildlife Biologist and Atlas partner (Bismarck, ND), for further instruction if you would like to survey in State Parks, ND Game and Fish areas, or The Nature Conservancy's Cross Ranch.
- State Contact: Jerry_Reinisch@fws.gov
The Atlas holds a Scientific Collecting Permit with South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks. While this project is catch-and-release, we are still handling organisms. After you adopt a grid cell, you will be sent an email with a copy of the permit and instructions for use. Please print the appropriate permit and bring it with you into the field if you survey in South Dakota State Parks or other Game Fish and Parks areas. Please contact the appropriate district Wildlife Conservation Officer prior to surveying and let them know when and where you'll be.
- State Contact: Daniel_Kim@fws.gov
Survey Location Resources
Region-wide
Latitude and Longitude: To record latitude and longitude when conducting a survey, ensure your smart device's location services are turned on, open Google Maps or other mapping service, zoom in as close as you can to your current location, and "drop a pin" by pressing and holding on the map. Coordinates of your location will then appear on the smart device, with an option to save or not. Coordinates need to be submitted as Decimal Degrees, but there are online conversion tools if your coordinates are in a different format.
- Google Map of Grid Cells
- Avenza Maps app (download Motor Vehicle Use Map – “MVUM”) to find public access roads. This is especially helpful if you are surveying on US Forest Service property. This app will show you which roads are legal to drive on within the forest, you are free to walk anywhere. 4WD is needed for most USFS roads.
- Forest Service Maps: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/dpg/maps-pubs
- State Parks/Rec Areas: https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks
- Trails: https://www.getoutdoorskansas.org/trails
- State Parks/Rec Areas: https://www.parkrec.nd.gov/hiking
- Avenza Maps: https://www.avenzamaps.com/vendor/3507/north-dakota-parks-and-recreation-department?sort_by=stat&direction=desc
- State Parks/Rec Areas: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/
- Trails: https://gfp.sd.gov/hiking/
Latitude and Longitude: To record latitude and longitude when conducting a survey, ensure your smart device's location services are turned on, open Google Maps or other mapping service, zoom in as close as you can to your current location, and "drop a pin" by pressing and holding on the map. Coordinates of your location will then appear on the smart device, with an option to save or not. Coordinates need to be submitted as Decimal Degrees, but there are online conversion tools if your coordinates are in a different format.
Collecting Supplies
1. Nets: Home Science Tools, or search the internet for "aerial insect net"
2. Vials: We like to use 50ml plastic vials, because they are light weight, small, and chill relatively quickly, making them ideal for survey trips. However, many items that are easily found around the house can work for this purpose, such as empty jars or containers, just make sure they are thoroughly washed.
3. Camera: The best type of camera for surveys are digital cameras that have a macro setting, and there are many to choose from! We like to use the Olympic TG-6 mainly because it has an amazing macro setting, GPS capabilities, and has immense durability for use in the field. Smartphones work well if your camera remains focused as you zoom, and if desired, you can easily enhance your smartphone photos by purchasing a macro lens attachment. These lens attachments are relatively easy to find on the internet, be sure it is a macro lens that fits your phone model.
2. Vials: We like to use 50ml plastic vials, because they are light weight, small, and chill relatively quickly, making them ideal for survey trips. However, many items that are easily found around the house can work for this purpose, such as empty jars or containers, just make sure they are thoroughly washed.
3. Camera: The best type of camera for surveys are digital cameras that have a macro setting, and there are many to choose from! We like to use the Olympic TG-6 mainly because it has an amazing macro setting, GPS capabilities, and has immense durability for use in the field. Smartphones work well if your camera remains focused as you zoom, and if desired, you can easily enhance your smartphone photos by purchasing a macro lens attachment. These lens attachments are relatively easy to find on the internet, be sure it is a macro lens that fits your phone model.
Get Connected with Other Volunteers
Join the other Atlas volunteers in the regional Bumble Bee Atlas Facebook group to collaborate and interact with volunteers from the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, share photos or experiences, and ask questions.
Follow along on Instagram: @bumblebeeatlas
Follow along on Twitter: @bumblebeeatlas
Bumble Bee Identification
Bumble Bees of North America Book
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Bumble Bees of the Western United States
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Bumble Bees of the Eastern United States
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Western Bumble Bee Pocket ID Card
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Plant Identification
Region-wide
Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie (2010)
by Haddock; University Press of Kansas
Book: https://www.uipress.uiowa.edu/books/9781587297960/wildflowers-of-the-tallgrass-prairie
Weeds of the Great Plains (2003)
by Stubbendieck; Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Book: https://nda.nebraska.gov/forms/nw11.pdf
Plant Identification Terminology: an Illustrated Glossary (1994)
by Harris & Harris; Spring Lake Publishing
Book: https://springlakepublishing.com/books
iNaturalist Mobile App for Android or Apple
Kansas
Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses
by Haddock; K-State Libraries
Online: https://www.kswildflower.org/index.php
Wildflowers and Grasses of Kansas (2005)
by Haddock; University Press of Kansas
Book: https://kansaspress.ku.edu/978-0-7006-1370-0.html
Kansas Wildflowers and Weeds (2015)
by Haddock; University Press of Kansas
Book: https://kansaspress.ku.edu/978-0-7006-2081-4.html/
Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses (2015); Red Hills Wildflowers (2013)
By Great Plains Nature Center
Pocket Guide downloads: https://gpnc.org/gift-shop/publications/
North Dakota
Wildflowers of North Dakota (2000)
by Kannowski; University of North Dakota Press
Book: https://www.abebooks.com/9780960870035/Wildflowers-North-Dakota-Kannowski-Paul-0960870032/plp
Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses of North Dakota
by North Dakota Game and Fish Department
PDF Download: https://gf.nd.gov/publications/493
South Dakota
Grassland Plants of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains (2016)
by Johnson & Larson; South Dakota State University College of Agr
Book: https://www.plainstrading.com/book/9780979718212
Plants of the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains (2007)
by Johnson & Larson; South Dakota State University
Book: https://blackhillsparks.org/shop/books-media-maps/books/plants-of-the-black-hills-and-bear-lodge-mountains/
Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie (2010)
by Haddock; University Press of Kansas
Book: https://www.uipress.uiowa.edu/books/9781587297960/wildflowers-of-the-tallgrass-prairie
Weeds of the Great Plains (2003)
by Stubbendieck; Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Book: https://nda.nebraska.gov/forms/nw11.pdf
Plant Identification Terminology: an Illustrated Glossary (1994)
by Harris & Harris; Spring Lake Publishing
Book: https://springlakepublishing.com/books
iNaturalist Mobile App for Android or Apple
Kansas
Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses
by Haddock; K-State Libraries
Online: https://www.kswildflower.org/index.php
Wildflowers and Grasses of Kansas (2005)
by Haddock; University Press of Kansas
Book: https://kansaspress.ku.edu/978-0-7006-1370-0.html
Kansas Wildflowers and Weeds (2015)
by Haddock; University Press of Kansas
Book: https://kansaspress.ku.edu/978-0-7006-2081-4.html/
Flint Hills Wildflowers and Grasses (2015); Red Hills Wildflowers (2013)
By Great Plains Nature Center
Pocket Guide downloads: https://gpnc.org/gift-shop/publications/
North Dakota
Wildflowers of North Dakota (2000)
by Kannowski; University of North Dakota Press
Book: https://www.abebooks.com/9780960870035/Wildflowers-North-Dakota-Kannowski-Paul-0960870032/plp
Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses of North Dakota
by North Dakota Game and Fish Department
PDF Download: https://gf.nd.gov/publications/493
South Dakota
Grassland Plants of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains (2016)
by Johnson & Larson; South Dakota State University College of Agr
Book: https://www.plainstrading.com/book/9780979718212
Plants of the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains (2007)
by Johnson & Larson; South Dakota State University
Book: https://blackhillsparks.org/shop/books-media-maps/books/plants-of-the-black-hills-and-bear-lodge-mountains/
Bumble Bee Conservation Resources
Conserving Bumble Bees: Guidelines for Creating and Managing Habitat
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Bumble Bee Conservation Brochure
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General Pollinator Habitat Resources
Attracting Native Pollinators
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100 Plants to Feed the Bees
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Farming with Native Beneficial Insects
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Pollinator Plant List: Northern Plains Region
Establishing Pollinator Meadows from Seed
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Protecting Pollinators at Home
Maintaining Diverse Stands of Wildflowers Planted for Pollinators
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Bring Back the Pollinators
Rangeland Management and Pollinators: A Guide for Producers in the Great Plains
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Become a Xerces Society Member
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The Xerces Society is a science-based conservation organization that promotes pollinator health, endangered species conservation, and pesticide-free habitat. Your gift will help us to protect the life that sustains us.
Member benefits include an annual subscription to Wings: Essays on Invertebrate Conservation, access to popular books and publications in our online gift center, updates on the latest news on invertebrate conservation, and our deepest gratitude for believing in our mission. Support the Xerces Society Thank you! The Xerces Society is a 501 (c)3 non-profit. Your gifts are tax-deductible. |