Pollinator Habitat

A pollinator is anything that helps flowering plants reproduce, such as bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, birds, flies, and small mammals. They are responsible for the pollination and reproduction of over 75% of all flowering plants (such as fruits and vegetables). Scientists warn that pollinators, especially insect pollinators, are declining rapidly in numbers over the past few decades. Habitat loss is considered a main contributing factor to this decline, so every backyard counts to help combat this issue that has cascading impacts on our food supply and ecosystem.

Free Pollinator Garden Sign

Any pocket of greenspace can serve as vital habitat for wildlife. Free yard signs are available at Village Hall (1225 Cedar Lane) on the second floor in the Department of Development and Planning Services. Sign recipients must register their garden by contacting the Village Sustainability Coordinator at 847 664 4134 or by email. Sign recipients must to commit to the following for their pollinator garden:

  1. Contain native plants - at least three different wildflower species, such as Coneflower, Milkweed, or Black-eyed Susans. Refer to this webpage for Village native plant recommendations.
  2. Leave fallen tree leaves and dried-up vegetation for nesting insects.
  3. Exclude exposure to inorganic pesticides such as weed-killers or mosquito barrier treatments.
Pollinator Sig

Rusty Patch Bumblebee

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Monarch Butterfly

Monarch species recovery
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Village President Sandy Frum first made a Village Monarch proclamation in 2015 and signed the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge in 2017. The Village continues to sustain pollinator conservation and education: see program updates at Northbrook's Monarch Pledge Community Page.

On December 10th, 2024 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its proposal to list the North American monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  Where Western monarch numbers once reached the millions in the 1990s, surveys now count just 233,394 butterflies across more than 200 sites. In the last year, the presence of Eastern monarch butterflies in their Mexico wintering grounds dropped from 2.2 hectares to 0.9 hectares, the second-worst year ever recorded. These declines reflect habitat loss and fragmentation, excessive pesticide use, and impacts of climate change, which threaten biodiversity and the health of many natural ecosystems. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) will improve the outlook for this iconic species by bringing increased resources, consistency, coordination, and awareness to the work to recover this species. This landmark legislation has proven to be an essential tool in safeguarding our nation's biodiversity, preventing the disappearance of 99 percent species under its protection, and improving the chance of recovery for many. Find more information from the National Wildlife Federation.