A University of Bristol-led study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, argues that sheep grazing may pose a greater threat to Scotland's wild pollinators than honey bees do. The research focuses on moorland ecosystems, where spring grazing can strip away much of the plant material that pollinators depend on for food and habitat.
While honey bees often receive attention for their potential competition with wild pollinators, the findings suggest that on Scottish moorlands, livestock grazing is the more significant factor. By removing vegetation early in the season, sheep may sharply reduce the availability of flowers and nesting resources before pollinators have a chance to forage and reproduce.
The authors frame this as a management issue: if the goal is to protect wild pollinator populations, controlling the timing and intensity of grazing may matter more than limiting honey bee presence. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that land-use practices, rather than interspecies competition, can be the dominant stressor for native pollinators.