BEE CAVE, Texas — The City of Bee Cave took a buzzingly large step to protecting their namesake on Tuesday at a city council meeting.
On March 28, the Bee Cave City Council declared all bees within city limits "honored residents" of the City! Councilmembers unanimously passed a proclamation Tuesday night, just four days ahead of the second annual "Books and Bees Festival" on April 1.
“We are a Bee City USA Affiliate; we host events like Books and Bees, which spreads bee education; and, we are even a city is named for this vital insect,” Mayor Kara King, a former science teacher at Bee Cave Middle School, said. “This is another way we can encourage the community and visitors to think about ways we can value bees and protect them.”
When cities become a Bee City USA Affiliate, they reduce the usage of pesticides, increase education on the insects and create habitats that encourage a thriving population. Since 2019, over one million people have engaged in pollinator conservation due to a city or college campus partaking in the affiliation, according to the website.
The Books and Bees Festival is a way for the City to teach residents and community members about bees, including bee-themed activities, composting demonstrations and free wildflower seeds for everyone that attends. The event will take place from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., with over 20 authors expected to participate.
Bee Cave is now the first city in the U.S. to protect bees with resident status. The idea was presented to the council by Peter Keilty, Bees-For-All founder, to emphasize how important the pollinators are to the environment and the local ecosystem.
“Everything we do that helps ensure the bee’s survival, helps ensure our survival,” Keilty said. “I hope other cities will follow suit and encourage residents to celebrate and protect our pollinators.”
The official declaration stated that bees "now have the right to exist and flourish free of harm" as a way to applaud them for the work they do to help local wildlife bloom!