Bee-killing pesticides are harming more than just bees

In 2019, bees had their worst summer on record. In a season in which bees are supposed to regenerate their numbers, beekeepers reported losing a third of their hives.

Bee population declines have been linked to neonicotinoid pesticides -- a class of pesticides that recent studies have linked to defects and health problems in birds, fish and mammals, too. The implications are concerning: The most widely used class of pesticides could be wreaking havoc on the natural world.

The EPA should follow the precautionary principle, and the lead of the European Union and multiple states, by banning the worst uses of neonicotinoid pesticides nationwide, including the consumer sale of neonics and the use of pre-treated seeds in agriculture. I urge you to take action today.