Rusty Patched Bumble bee

Last year I did a brief blog about the rusty patched bumble bee with a video you can see here.

It is an American bee and its population has reduced by 90% since the mid 1990's.
Attempts to protect the bee started in 2007 and in 2013 an application was made to the  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the bee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Finally, after failing to meet its statutory obligations in dealing with this request, protection was granted yesterday.
This is the first American continental bee granted this status although seven species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bee, decimated by invasive species and habitat loss, were given the same protection in October last year.

Listing the rusty patched bumble bee under the ESA will require that its needs be considered when federal actions—like the registration of new pesticides—are taken.
However this does not mean the future of the bee is secure not least due to uncertainty over Drumpf's view of conservancy issues.
After all this is the man who thinks climate change is a hoax and something made up by the Chinese and who apparently was considering appointing Sarah Palin, one of the stupidest people to walk this planet, to be Interior Secretary, of which U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are part.