News Summary
Researchers at Michigan State University’s Pollinator Performance Center are training dogs to identify American foulbrood, a bacterial disease threatening honey bee larvae. The initiative aims to utilize dogs’ keen sense of smell to identify the disease early, facilitating timely intervention to protect honey bee populations. Among the canine trainees is Maple, a retired detection dog now equipped to work safely in bee environments. This innovative approach highlights the increasing need for effective solutions to combat honey bee diseases and underscores their importance in agriculture and food supply.
East Lansing, Michigan – Researchers at Michigan State University’s Pollinator Performance Center are making strides in protecting honey bees by training dogs to detect the bacterial disease known as American foulbrood, which poses a significant threat to honey bee larvae. This initiative aims to utilize the dogs’ exceptional olfactory senses to identify the disease early, thereby aiding in the preservation of honey bee populations that are crucial for pollination.
Honey bee populations have been in decline due to various factors, including diseases, the use of insecticides, climate change, and limited access to diverse food sources. Bees play an essential role in pollinating a large portion of the plants that make up the human diet, highlighting their critical ecological importance. Therefore, efforts to combat diseases affecting bees are becoming increasingly vital.
The primary canine ambassador for this project is Maple, a 9-year-old English springer spaniel who previously worked as a detection dog for human remains with the St. Joseph County sheriff’s office. Maple’s transition to this new role allows her to continue working and contributing to her community, despite having to retire from her previous job due to an injury sustained in Ontario in 2024. With her keen sense of smell, Maple is being trained to identify the distinct scent associated with American foulbrood, enabling beekeepers to take immediate action against the disease.
To ensure Maple’s safety while she works in active bee yards, she is equipped with a custom yellow protective suit, complete with a veil to shield her face and booties to protect her paws from bee stings. Handler Sue Stejskal underscores the importance of personal protective equipment for dogs working in environments with bees, as it mirrors the gear humans typically wear for their own safety.
Meghan Milbrath, a professor at MSU focusing on honey bee health, has played a significant role in connecting Maple’s previous trainer with the MSU research team. This collaboration is part of a broader effort to train more dogs capable of detecting diseases in honey bee colonies effectively. The methodologies being developed build on similar canine detection methods successfully utilized by Maryland’s agriculture department for monitoring hive health.
As part of this research project, Milbrath is documenting Maple’s training process and plans to write a book in collaboration with Stejskal. This publication aims to share their findings and training techniques with other researchers and teams interested in utilizing dogs for pollinator health assessment.
During training demonstrations, Maple has shown proficiency in identifying the scent of American foulbrood, showcasing the effectiveness of her training and extensive skill set. The project signifies a dual benefit, enhancing honey bee protection while also providing Maple with meaningful engagement in her work after retirement from her previous career.
The need for innovative solutions to protect honey bees is pressing, given their integral role in sustaining agricultural ecosystems and food supplies. As research continues, the use of trained detection dogs like Maple may represent a crucial step towards safeguarding these essential pollinators from the threats they face.
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Additional Resources
- ABC News: Former K-9 Maple Busy as a Bee Sniffing Out Threats to Michigan
- Ottumwa Courier: Former K-9 Maple is Busy as a Bee
- Detroit Free Press: Honey Bee Mite Smell
- Detroit Free Press: Honey Bee Research
- Wikipedia: Honey Bee
- Google Search: Honey Bee Protection Methods
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