Research goals

Nest Quest has two primary goals:

• Create recommendations to help land managers identify and protect bumble bee nesting habitat.

• Compile species specific natural history information of nesting bumble bees, and record large and fine scale habitat associations. 

Nest Quest was created to locate bumble bee nests and collect habitat information across Minnesota via participatory science. This information will be shared with people who create, manage, and protect identified bumble bee nesting habitat. 

Why is it important to search for bumble bee nests? 

Bumble bees are important pollinators. Yet relatively little is known about their nesting habitat because nests are difficult to find. Identifying and protecting all aspects of their habitat, including nesting, is vital to their longevity. 

Nest Quest Past and Present 

Nest Quest was established in 2024 and focused in the Twin Cities Metro area. In 2024 and 2025, volunteers searched for nests at 4 sites in the metro area to find and document bumble bee nests. Overall, the project was a success and a community of nest searchers was created.

Nest Quest 2026 is the first year the project is expanding statewide.