Don't Buy Baby Bees
A few bees from the internet aren’t likely to help your garden. In fact, there is a chance that box of bees could harm the wild, native bees that already inhabit your neighborhood. VCE bee biologist Spencer Hardy weighs in on this trend.
Uniting People and Science for Conservation
The Vermont Center for Ecostudies advances wildlife conservation across the Americas through research, monitoring, and community engagement. We envision a society that sustains healthy ecosystems through science-based decision making.
Latest from the Blog
Know Your 5: Wild Bees That Pollinate Strawberries
By identifying and understanding the natural history of these bees, you can provide the specific habitat that will help to ensure resilient and abundant pollination services and the tasty treats that result.
LoonWeb Is Ready for Your Lake Adventures
We’ve been excited to hear from volunteers on how much fun they’ve had testing out LoonWeb’s survey function. Now it’s your turn to try it out!
Field Guide to May 2026
May is filled with winged delights. Bobolinks will begin to grace Vermont’s larger hayfields, busy ground-nesting bees can be found in the bare sunny spots of our yards, and early spring butterflies are getting first dibs on the earliest spring flowers. It’s a great time to get outside and explore.
Explore Our Impact
Scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals
34Years that VCE has led the charge to research, monitor, and conserve Bicknell's Thrush
55Vermont wild bee species targeted for urgent conservation in 9 “Important Bee Areas” identified by the Vermont Wild Bee Survey
147Territorial loon pairs recorded in Vermont by LoonWatch
900+Community scientists participating in VCE-led field studies
1 millionResearch-grade biodiversity records confirmed on iNaturalist Vermont
What We Do
With the help of hundreds of volunteers and partners, we lead monitoring and research projects focused on the status and ecology of birds, amphibians, insects, and other species. We then publish and share our findings with policymakers, land stewards, gardeners, and wildlife lovers so everyone can take science-backed action to protect biodiversity—from backyards to mountain peaks. Read about some of our current projects below.
Vermont Vernal Pool Monitoring and Atlas
Vernal pools are one of the Northeast’s most dramatic seasonal ecosystems, bursting with life as frogs and salamanders gather to breed. While vernal pools provide critical breeding habitat for charismatic species and serve as hidden powerhouses within forest ecosystems, they face an uncertain future in Vermont.
Learn more and join »
Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas
The Vermont Butterfly Atlas is a five-year survey that is completed every 20 years with the help of volunteer community scientists, who document the abundance and distribution of butterflies across Vermont.
Learn more and join »
Vermont Loon Conservation Project
Four decades ago, Vermont had only seven pairs of Common Loons left in the state. Now 115 nesting pairs call our lakes and ponds home, and the number continues to increase. This conservation triumph is the result of many organizations and people—including regular folks like you—working together.
Learn more and join »Events
Workshops, Webinars, Field Trips, and More
Attending an event with VCE staff members is a phenomenal way to expand your knowledge about our region’s natural wonders and get the latest research updates.
