Bangor’s For The Bees: ‘No Mow May’ Ordinance Change To Be Considered By Council

Over the last decade or more, honey bees have made headlines for their declining numbers.

Why would a decline in the number of bees make headlines?

Well, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, bees are important because they pollinate a large variety of crops including vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes. And when they pollinate those crops, those crops yield more food.

"Beginning in 2006, experts noted significant yearly declines in honey bee colonies. These declines were attributed in part to a phenomena referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), an abnormal condition that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a honey bee colony disappears, leaving behind a queen, an abundant supply of food, and a few nurse bees to care for remaining immature bees. Years of research determined the decline was likely attributable to a wide range of stressors such as pests, diseases, pesticides, pollutants/toxins, nutritional deficits, habitat loss, effects of climate variability, agricultural production intensification, reduced species or genetic diversity, and pollinator or crop management practices."

As of late, there's been a concerted effort to try to find ways to save the bees we have left and help these colonies recover.

One way to help the bee population, according to Yale University, is to create spaces where they can rest and feed. And one way to do that is to not mow your lawn so much.

Other scientific publications say that foregoing a weekly more for a more infrequent cutting in a month can help the environment in other ways, too.

Locally, this information caught the attention of among others, Bangor's Director of Code Enforcement, Jeff Wallace.

Wallace started talking to some folks, and the idea of a "No Mow May", which other cities have already adopted, was floated around for Bangor.

"In Bangor, this 'movement' started at a Staff level with a few brief discussions during Staff Meetings over the last year. I did a very quick level of research...and it seemed like a no-brainer to me to allow property owners the choice to participate. At a more recent Staff Meeting, I said to my boss I would like to bring this forward so it was in effect on May 1. She was good with that, so off I went."

We've written articles before about what Bangor's lawn ordinance is currently, and in fact that others have suggested those laws might want to be revisited, for the sake of the bees. And that's exactly what Wallace is doing. And he's getting some help doing it.

"As far as an ordinance change, it’s a simple one. I propose to add 'Except for during the month of May' to the beginning of the mowing requirements in the property maintenance code.

"My only experience thus far with taking something from Code to Council was to obtain their permission to demolish a structure for whatever reason(s)... It involves having to go to two Council Meetings and other process stuff. Thankfully I have others more familiar with the process helping me out at this point. And with other ordinance changes, I want to bring forward soon, it’s good for me to learn the process...A colleague from the Planning Department, Anja Collette, has done a fabulous job this week with. some great research."

Some initial concerns were brought up about how not mowing might affect the tick population, or if May was the month that would have to most impact on the bee population. Collette's research led to several articles that pointed in favor of a "No Mow May" idea.

If the City does approve the change to the ordinance, Wallace says there may be other places within the City where the "No Mow May" could be applied.

"Lastly, we are working with Public Works and Parks and Rec on some City parcels that could participate. I was pleased to hear that we already have City parcels doing this, such as part of the Golf Course, the “hill” at the beginning of City Forest, and others."

Wallace says if the City Council does approve the ordinance change, he hopes it will be enacted in time for this May 1st.