One environmental group is hoping Vancouverites will help track local bees.

Friends of the Earth is looking for volunteers for its second Great Canadian Bee Count and is offering downloadable “census cards” to help identify bees.

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“We know from our recent poll that Canadians care deeply about saving the bees but they know very few of them by name,” said Beatrice Olivastri, CEO of Friends of the Earth Canada.

The group surveyed Canadians across the country and found that seven out of 10 were either “concerned” or “very concerned” over the health of bumble bees.

The campaign, which runs until Sept. 15, asks people to look for and take photos of bumble bees and to then upload the photos with their observations so that scientists can better track the bees.

“We hope people will volunteer to go out with our census cards and take photos of the bumble bees wherever they are — cottages, national parks or their own garden,” Olivastri said. “By sending Friends of the Earth their photos and observations, they’ll be helping us learn more about what needs to be done to protect bumble bees.”

Canada has more than 40 species of bumble bees, but many are in trouble and populations are dwindling. The rusty-patched bumble bee, which was once abundant in southern Ontario, is now almost extinct and officially designated as endangered.

“Bees are up against big stresses like habitat loss, climate change, pesticides and diseases,” said John Bennett, senior policy analyst with Friends of the Earth Canada.

“Photos and observations about bumble bees from the Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count could signal changes in how bumble bees are dealing with the same issues you and I face — from heat waves to fires and floods,” he said. “This is critical information and we really need help from concerned citizens.”

For more information about the Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count, or to download a census card, visit foecanada.org/en/issues/bumble-bee-count/.

@JessicaEKerr

jkerr@vancourier.com