'It's awesome to see': Wisconsin communities, organizations to participate in 'No Mow May'

SHOREWOOD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The snow has melted and it looks like it's finally safe to put the snowblowers away for the season. Before you break out the lawnmowers, local bee experts and supporters are hopeful you might consider participating in "No Mow May."

"No Mow May is an initiative to support pollinators in our backyards," explained Auriana Donaldson, conversation programs coordinator with the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. "Especially in the month of May, which is a critical time for a lot of overwintering pollinators."

Pollinators including bumblebees, birds, butterflies, moths and others are a critical part of our ecosystem. According to Donaldson, those pollinators account for one out of every three bites of food that we eat.

"Our ultimate goal with 'No Mow May' is to really shift folks' perceptions in how their yards can benefit wildlife, biodiversity and pollinators," Donaldson explained. "Unmowed lawns and pollinator-friendly patches, there's a huge abundance of bees in those areas."

New this year, the Zoological Society of Milwaukee is offering people the chance to sponsor a bee for $50. By doing so, you'll receive a bee plush, seeds to help with pollination efforts and other information and tips.

"Support for bees has just kind of flooded our organization," Donaldson said. "We have honeybee hives here at the zoo, we support bumblebee surveys and workshops here at the zoo; it's our turn to kind of have fun and support that work we do."

Word is spreading across southeastern Wisconsin. In Cedarburg, where the community recently agreed to temporarily suspend the city's lawn mowing policy for people to participate in 'No Mow May', students at Webster Middle School worked together with the city and White Rice Advertising to create a 'Give Bees a Chance' music video encouraging people to skip mowing their lawns.

The city of Milwaukee is joining 'No Mow May' efforts this year along with Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Glendale, Wauwatosa, Greenfield, Greendale and Cudahy.

"Besides the communities around Milwaukee, there's about 20 others around the state of Wisconsin all encouraging their residents to not cut the grass in May," said Joe Shaffer, a member of the Shorewood Conservation Committee and one of the people leading the 'No Mow May' charge. "My lawn is not just a pretty place, it's a vital habitat. It [No Mow May] is a way to introduce to the community that lawns are more than just a pretty place."

While the initiative has only been in the United States for a few years, Donaldson says she's happy to see so many communities taking notice and hopes others will follow.

"It's wild. It's awesome to see," Donaldson exclaimed. "We don't need one perfect yard for pollinators, we need thousands of imperfect yards."

Those interested in sponsoring a bee can learn more about the process HERE.

Those participating in No Mow May are encouraged to register with their local municipality. Not doing so could result in a fine.