John,

Bees have been dying off at an alarming rate ever since the introduction of a deadly strain of bee-killing pesticides called neonicotinoids in the 1990s.1

But this year, beekeepers are reporting the biggest bee die-off in history.2

Some are warning that it could send bees into a long-term "death spiral."3

We must take action to get rid of the worst bee-killing pesticides. That's why we've launched a major nationwide effort calling on Amazon to stop selling bee-killing pesticides.

To power this urgent effort, we're aiming to raise $30,000 by midnight on September 30. Will you rush a donation today to help meet our Fall 2025 Drive goal and save the bees?

Before neonicotinoids, beekeepers would typically lose a small fraction of their hives. Then the average bee die-off rose to 30%. But this year, beekeepers have lost an average of more than 60% -- with some reporting losses up to 75%.4

Meanwhile, wild bee species like the American bumblebee and the rusty patched bumblebee have been pushed to the brink of extinction.5

Losing this many bees all at once is a huge blow. Will you join our hive to save the bees and donate to our Fall 2025 Drive?

Several culprits are contributing to the mass nationwide bee die-off, including climate change, habitat loss, and diseases spread by mites, which have become increasingly resistant to the chemicals used to control them.

Neonicotinoid pesticides can weaken a bee's immune system, and make it harder for them to survive all of the other threats being thrown their way.6

These bee-killing chemicals are 1,000 times more deadly to bees than DDT, attacking the bee's nervous system, causing uncontrolled shaking, paralysis and death, as well as reproductive problems.7,8,9

The good news is that nearly 30% of all Americans now live in states that have restricted the use of bee-killing pesticides, including Coloradans.10 But for everyone else, it can still be delivered right to their door from Amazon with the click of a mouse.

That's why we're calling on Amazon to help lead the way by taking bee-killing pesticides off its virtual store shelves. We've set a goal to raise $30,000 by midnight on September 30 to help power our efforts to save the bees.

Will you make a donation to our Fall 2025 Drive and help save the bees before it's too late?

Thank you,

Ellen Montgomery

1. Sophie Lewis, "25% of wild bee species have gone missing since the 1990s, study finds," CBS News, January 22, 2021.
2. Oliver Milman, "US honeybee deaths hit record high as scientists scramble to find main cause," The Guardian, March 25, 2025.
3. Phoebe Weston, "'Could become a death spiral': scientists discover what's driving record die-offs of US honeybees," The Guardian, March 25, 2025.
4. Phoebe Weston, "'Could become a death spiral': scientists discover what's driving record die-offs of US honeybees," The Guardian, March 25, 2025.
5. Elizabeth Gamillo, "The American Bumblebee Has Nearly Vanished From Eight States," Smithsonian Magazine, October 6, 2021.
6. Hesham R El-Seedi, et. al., "Bee Stressors from an Immunological Perspective and Strategies to Improve Bee Health," Veterinary Sciences, April 21, 2022.
7. Stephen Leahy, "Insect 'apocalypse' in U.S. driven by 50x increase in toxic pesticides," National Geographic, August 6, 2019.
8. Oliver Milman, "Fears for bees as US set to extend use of toxic pesticides that paralyse insects," The Guardian, March 8, 2022.
9. Douglas Main, "Insecticides can reduce bee fertility, causing lasting harm across generations," National Geographic, November 22, 2021.
10. Wendy Wendlandt and Steve Blackledge, "What's being done to save the bees," Environment America, August 21, 2024.

Your donation will be used to support all of our campaigns to protect the environment, from saving the bees and protecting public lands, to standing up for clean water and fighting climate change. None of our work would be possible without supporters like you. Environment Colorado may transfer up to $50 per dues-paying member per year into the Environment Colorado Small Donor Committee.