Critters Just Want to Have Fun

Feb 13, 2023

As I write this on Superbowl Sunday, y’all are noshing on your seven-layer dip and watching grown-ass men chase each other around a big field. Neither the playing nor the watching of American football particularly appeals to me (sorry, Chiefs and Eagles fans!). But I get the concept of sports as a pleasurable activity, both for the participants and the spectators. When you strip away the money and pageantry…and ok, the weirdly ritualized violence…football is a form of play. And humans of all ages love to play.

Know who else loves to play? Non-human animals. The cavorting habits of puppies and kittens of course need no introduction. And you may have seen elephants frolicking in videos like this one:

It’s not just mammals. Crows and ravens – stern though they may appear – have a well-documented silly side.

Believe it or not, that urge to goof off seems to apply even to bumble bees. In a study published in Animal Behaviour in 2022, researchers concluded that bumbles enjoy rolling around with wooden balls for the pure pleasure of it. They set up an experiment where bees were in an enclosure with an unobstructed path leading to food. En route to the buffet, though, were detours to spaces with wooden balls. Many of the bees repeatedly chose to hang out and tumble with the balls. They approached and manipulated the toys over and over again.

The researchers determined this behavior met the definition of play: an activity that’s voluntary, spontaneous, or rewarding in and of itself. Put another way, it doesn’t have any immediately obvious functionality, such as obtaining food, mating, or finding and maintaining shelter. In the experiment, the ball-rolling bees showed no signs of seeking munchies, flirting, or trying to declutter the space (bumble bees apparently have Kondo-izing tendencies in other contexts). They were just having fun!

There doesn’t seem to be scientific consensus yet on the evolutionary purpose of play. Theories include honing physical skills, developing problem-solving abilities, and building trust. Or maybe it’s D) all of the above.

All I can say is, knowing bumble bees like to play only adds to my already long list of reasons to love them. They’re native! They’re pollinating powerhouses! They have cute butts!

A charming bumble bee behind. Photo credit: Sad and Useless.

And now this. They like recess just as much as the rest of us!

If your life would be improved by having some gamboling bumble bees around (pro tip: it would), here are a few things you can do:

Plant native trees, shrubs and perennials that provide a variety of flower colors and forms and that bloom in succession throughout the spring, summer and autumn.
Avoid insecticides and other pesticides. Those mosquito sprays and neonicotinoids will wipe out bumble bees along with whatever else you’re trying to target.
Create and protect bumble bee nesting habitats by leaving leaves on the ground, letting dormant stalks stay standing and keeping logs and snags on your property.
Avoid introducing honey bees, which will compete for resources.

Maybe also scatter a few wooden balls about to see what happens….?!

The Bees' Knees

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