Leave the Leaves this Fall

September 8, 2026 | View as Webpage

closeup of fallen yellow and brown maple leaves

Where do insects and other invertebrates go in the winter? The vast majority spend the winter right where they spent all summer — just less active and more hidden.

Think twice before you rake, mow, and blow this year. Invertebrates rely on fallen leaves and other organic debris to cover and insulate them from the elements. Whatever your landscape, you can ensure that resources for nests and overwintering habitat are available.

Leave the Leaves for Winter Habitat Protection

If you’ve provided native and diverse habitat for invertebrates and pollinators during the growing season, helping those invertebrates in the winter is almost as simple as doing nothing.

Show your friends and neighbors that you plan to leave the leaves this fall with a beautiful yard sign produced by the Xerces Society.

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How to Tell Apart Bumble Bee Males, Workers, and Queens

In mid-summer, bumble bee colonies reach their peak. Once you learn how to recognize a bumble bee, you may wonder whether you are encountering a queen, worker, or a male bumble bee. With a little practice, you can learn to tell them apart!

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Oregon’s New Pollinator Conservation Strategy Prioritizes Actions Across the State

The Xerces Society has released the Oregon Pollinator Conservation Strategy, a new resource designed to guide pollinator conservation efforts across the state. The strategy includes an interactive online dashboard where users can explore maps, learn about priority species, and identify conservation opportunities across Oregon.

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