Giant Hornets Could Decimate Raspberry Pollinators
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a community forum on government, environmental issues and media www.whatcomwatch.org Volume 30, Number 1 In print since 1992 January 2021 Giant Hornets Could Decimate Raspberry Pollinators by Nate Sanford be absolutely certain that the hornets are in hibernation. Here’s one bit of good news for the winter: murder hornets are taking a break from Giant Hornets murdering (at least for now). As days turn Decapitate Honeybees colder, the Asian giant hornets that besieged Asian giant hornets can be devastating to Whatcom County and parts of British Co- local honeybee populations. The giant hor- lumbia for much of 2020 are either dying nets need a massive amount of protein to off or entering winter hibernation, prompt- survive and beehives are their main source ing the Washington State Department of of sustenance. When a hornet locates a Agriculture (WSDA) to temporarily take honeybee hive, they will mark it with a down their traps. pheromone and bring other hornets from But it’s not just giant hornets that are their nest to finish the job. The hornet’s threatening bees; habitat loss, pollution, preferred method of attack is decapitation pesticides and other environmental factors — just 15 of them can destroy a beehive continue to cause alarming declines in bee in a matter of hours. populations. The city of Bellingham is hop- “There’s absolutely nothing you can do ing to help combat this by creating sustain- when they’re in the middle of the attack,” able habitats and pursuing designation as Danielsen said. “They will mark that hive an official Bee City, but the challenge is far and say, ‘it’s mine.’ Once they mark it and from over. And though scientists don’t yet they’re actively trying to kill it, it’s their know exactly when, come springtime, the hive now.” killer hornets will wake back up. The wet, temperate climate of the Pacific The Asian giant hornet Vespa( mandarin- Northwest is perfect for the Asian giant hor- ia) made headlines when it was spotted in illustrator: Hilary Cole net. A recent study by researchers at Wash- Whatcom County last winter. The hornet is hornets into the cultural ethos of a year about half a mile from her house — and ington State University and the WSDA an invasive species that preys on honeybees that already felt apocalyptic. But, while the her hives. found that, if the hornets aren’t eradicated and other pollinators. The insect’s half- hornets can be dangerous to humans, they “I was thrilled and then I was horrified,” soon, they could continue to multiply and centimeter-long stinger, thumb-sized body, pose a much bigger threat to local honeybee Danielsen said. spread down the West Coast — decimating and alarming “murder hornet” nickname populations. Danielsen’s beehives have so far been local honeybee populations and wreaking drew national attention and cemented the The first female worker hornet specimen spared from the Asian giant hornet’s wrath, havoc on the agricultural economy. in North America was captured by Ruthie but she’s not taking any chances. While the Beekeeping is already difficult, with hives Nate Sanford is a journalism student at Danielsen, a local beekeeper and member of WSDA has removed most of its traps for regularly experiencing losses around 40 per- Western Washington University. You can the Mount Baker Beekeeping association. the winter, Danielsen is leaving hers up follow his work on Twitter @sanford_nate. She caught the hornet in a homemade trap until the weather gets colder and she can Continued on page 6 Drinking Water Harmed by Invasive Species and Pollution by Karlee Deatherage We’re all acutely aware of the risks of travel- of full boat decontaminations — a require- offspring. While the mussels reproduce and ing during the pandemic. A big risk to our ment for boats that last visited waterbodies grow, they attach to hard surfaces like docks We all have a lot on our minds these days, drinking water, however, has slipped through infested with zebra or quagga mussels or and boats and clog water intakes. They also and the quality of our water might not be at the cracks as we adjusted to the year’s chal- can live up to 30 days when out of water. the top of the list. But Lake Whatcom, the lenges for travelers. One single mussel The coronavirus pandemic delayed the drinking water source for 100,000 Whatcom This year, many of us turned to spending from one boat start of the invasive species’ inspections for County residents, including Bellingham, time outside exploring parks, hiking, bik- Lake Whatcom. AIS staff had to rethink how faces an onslaught of threats — from logging ing, or boating. A record number of people could produce a to appropriately conduct boat inspections and development, to pesticides and invasive hauled their boats to visit Lake Whatcom this million offspring. with the public, understandably causing a mussels hitching rides on uninspected boats. spring through early fall as documented by delay from mid-April to the second week of the Lake Whatcom Aquatic Invasive Species other invasive species. May. As a result, people were launching their Karlee Deatherage is the Land & Water (AIS) Inspection Program. Invasive zebra and quagga mussels will boats without inspections during some of the Policy Manager for RE Sources. Founded in This was quite surprising, since many Ca- cause irreparable harm to Lake Whatcom nice spring days in April, putting the lake at 1982, RE Sources is a nonprofit organization nadians own property or visit vacation homes and cost hundreds of millions of dollars in greater risk of a mussel infestation. We were working to protect the health of northwest near Lake Whatcom, and, as anyone who has damage to taxpayer-funded drinking water lucky … this time. Washington’s people and ecosystems through visited Bellingham’s Costco or Trader Joe’s infrastructure. One single mussel from one the application of science, education, advocacy, knows, the U.S.-Canadian border is closed. boat is able to produce up to one million Continued on page 10 and action. Despite this, AIS staff noted record numbers In This Issue Washington Reporters Get Free Legal Help ........ 2 Nooksack River Salmon Habitat Restored ..........9 Birding in the New Year ...................................... 3 Time for Fish-Killing Dam to Go ........................10 Providing a Safe Haven for the Homeless ...........4 General Election Results ..............................11-15 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE CHANGE poetrywatch ........................................................ 5 Watch on Government Permit No. 25 No. Permit Bellingham, WA Bellingham, WWU Emerges as a Leader in Car Design ........... 7 Bellingham City Council ................................18 Bellingham, WA 98227-1441 WA Bellingham, U.S. Postage Paid Postage U.S. PO Box 1441 Box PO Lummi Fishes Whatcom Creek .............................8 Whatcom County Council ..............................20 PRSRT STD PRSRT Whatcom Watch Whatcom Salmon Now Free to Swim Upstream .................8 Port of Bellingham Commission .................... 22 Whatcom Watch January 2021 Volume 30, Issue 1 Watch on Media Editorial Policy: Whatcom Watch is a volunteer print and online newspaper that covers issues of environment, media and government primarily in Whatcom Washington Reporters Get Free Legal Help County. It is supported by individual contributions and local advertising. While the paper presents views not often covered by other publications, it Microsoft and Davis produce more content with less resources in any of the three areas of the program: 1) nevertheless endeavors to be as fair as possible Wright Tremaine — including legal advice, and there’s an pre-publication review, 2) FOI assistance, or in selecting a presentation of challenging ideas. increase in libel threats, subpoena requests, 3) quashing a subpoena, can contact The Re- It can only achieve this with the active involve- Protect Journalists ment of its readership, and reader response is and physical assaults on reporters while porters Committee for Freedom of the Press encouraged. covering demonstrations. Since 2017, at (RCFP), the First Amendment Coalition Toward this end Whatcom Watch serves as by Jennifer Karchmer least 82 journalists have been subpoenaed (FAC) and the Washington Coalition for a community forum. Editors reserve the right to edit all submissions, including letters, for ac- or had their records seized, and some have Open Government (WCOG). Go to their curacy, length and clarity of expression. While Freelance journalists and small newsrooms received multiple subpoenas, according to websites and locate their reporter’s hotline. opinions expressed in articles need not reflect that lack funds to hire lawyers can get pro the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, maintained Washington, D.C.-based RCFP, for exam- the views of editors, the newspaper strives to present material that is of value and concern to bono legal representation from Microsoft by the Committee to Protect Journalists. ple, has a 24/7 reporter’s hotline, which has the community. When Whatcom Watch editors and Seattle law firm Davis Wright Tremaine. The tracker monitors arrests, physical at- experienced an increase in requests the past spend time editing a submission, it constitutes The two companies joined forces in 2020 tacks, border stops, equipment damage, few years, according to staff attorney Sarah our commitment to publish the submission and Matthews, who spoke via phone interview the author’s tacit agreement with us that the to launch the Protecting Journalists Pro subpoenas, legal orders and other violations submission will be published in the newspaper. If Bono Program. Attorneys from Microsoft against reporters. on Nov. 19. The RCFP hotline has been in an article is accepted for publication in Whatcom and DWT with media law training are For a local case of a journalist subpoena, existence since the 1970s, she said, and calls Watch, it must not appear in another publication offering pro bono assistance in three areas we can look to last summer when The Seattle and email requests have increased by about (print or Internet) before the Watch has appeared on newsstands.