SALT LAKE CITY -- Backyard beehives could help revive dwindling bee colonies, experts say.
Recent reports show, bee populations have continued to decline for the past ten years.
At a lecture Wednesday, Salt Lake City's bee keeper, Frank Whitby, told University of Utah students the declining number of bees is likely due to pesticides, disease and a lack of diverse crops.
He said bees thrive in urban areas and could act as a buffer against those threats.
"The bees not only produce honey but they pollinate local gardens," Whitby said. "They beautify the city and increase the number of flowers available in the city. The bees are more suited to an urban environment then an agricultural one"
Although backyard hives are all the buzz right now, Whitby says a lot of people don't know you have to be licensed to keep bees. He suggests checking out your local ordinances before getting started.
