The Honey Nut Cheerios Bee Mascot Has Gone Missing, But Their Solution To Saving Him May Create More Problems...
The Honey Nut Cheerios Bee Mascot Has Gone Missing, But Their Solution To Saving Him May Create More Problems...
Honey Nut Cheerios recently launched a campaign to bring awareness to decline in pollinator populations by taking their bee mascot off their box and including free bee-friendly seeds to plant with every purchase, but have they created more problems than they're trying to solve?
Honey Nut Cheerios recently launched a campaign to bring awareness to decline in pollinator populations by taking their bee mascot off their box and including free bee-friendly seeds to plant with every purchase, but have they created more problems than they're trying to solve?
Honey Nut Cheerios' beloved mascot, Buzz the bee, has disappeared from the box to raise awareness about the worldwide population decline in bees and other pollinators.
But they're not just raising awareness about the decline in pollinator populations. Honey Nut Cheerios has also included a packet of free bee-friendly wildflower seeds in every box for people to plant at their homes.
Unfortunately, most people may be unable to plant these seeds due to one thing Honey Nut Cheerios has overlooked: the problem of invasive species. Invasive species are non-native organisms, whether they be plants or animals, that are introduced to a new environment. With no natural predators, they can overpopulate, overtake, and destroy existing species native to the area. According to Kathryn Turner, an ecologist specializing in invasive plants:
Invasive species... can take up all the space and use up all the resources, they can spread disease, and cause other physical changes to their new homes, all of which can have detrimental effects on native species, and on humans.
Kathryn Turner
USA Today, March 20, 2017
And while the thought of fields of unstoppable wildflowers sweeping the world may not sound like the worst idea, invasive species still have the ability to wreak untold havoc in ecosystems. While Cheerios claims that the seeds in the mix are not considered invasive, they do include several plants that are not native to the U.S., as well as forget-me-nots, which are banned in several northeastern states and California poppies, which have been deemed an "invasive exotic pest plant" in the southeastern U.S. So, while it's a great idea to plant some new bee-friendly plants in your area, it's better for you, the bees, and the environment, if you select your seeds from a local source.