Tennessee Pollinators In the News
Tennessee Aquarium YouTube Channel
June 2023 | “Attracting Pollinators to Tennessee’s Highways and Byways” — Learn more about TDOT’s Pollinator Habitat Program with Mike McClanahan, Highway Beautification Manager, Tennessee Department Of Transportation.
Nov 22, 2022 | On this episode of MorningLine, Nick Beres is joined by Mike Studer, Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Apiarist and Mike McClanahan from TDOT to talk about the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Pollinator Habitat Program. Click here to watch the entire episode.
“The Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Pollinator Habitat Program is one of the nation’s best state efforts in building and maintaining pollinator habitats along all of its state-maintained roadways.”
“Over the years, we’ve come to expect unvaried green space to unfold beside us as we drive on interstate highways, but that expectation is changing. The Tennessee Transportation Department was an early adopter of pollinator-friendly practices.”
“From our backyard landscapes to public space initiatives, there are many solutions to help the pollinator problem… and Tennessee seems to be leading the way.”
“Planting milkweeds may help save monarch butterflies. Tennessee is offering free seeds.”
WPLN News Nashville | June 22, 2023
“Project Milkweed’: TDOT offering free native Milkweed seeds to support pollinator populations”
WBIT 10News Knoxville | June 21, 2023
“Multi-Agency Partnership Working in Support of Pollinators”
Tennessee Conservation | July-Aug 2023
“Tennessee Aquarium, TDOT working together to celebrate, protect pollinators”
Tennessee Aquarium | June 16, 2023
“TDOT’s Polli the Bee Teaches Students About the Importance of Pollinators”
Tennessee Home & Farm | Aug 1, 2022
“TDOT Celebrates Pollinator Week with Polli the Tennessee Bee”
TN Department of Transportation | June 20, 2022
APSU, TDOT work together at I-24’s Exit 1 pollinator project
Clarksville Online | Sept 1, 2021
“Austin Peay, TDOT partner on pollinator project at I-24’s Exit 1”
Austin Peay State University | Sept 1, 2021
Austin Peay, TDOT Video
August 31, 2021
“Tennessee Agencies Work Together To Support Pollinators”
AASHTO Journal (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) | June 25, 2021
“Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park plants pollinator garden in celebration of National Pollinator Week”
Northeast Tennessee | June 22, 2020
“Sycamore Shoals State Park plants pollinator garden”
Elizabethton Star | June 19, 2020

“Trending / Butterfly Highways: Congressional action to help Monarchs”
Curry Coastal Pilot | Nov 27, 2019
“Carper, Merkley, Alexander, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create Monarch and Pollinator Highways”
U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works | Nov 20, 2019
“Tennessee Makes Way for the Monarchs”
The New York Times | Sept 16, 2019
“Three Departments Partner on Pollinator Initiative in Tennessee State Parks”
TN Department of Transportation | June 18, 2019
“Departments partner on pollinator initiative in Tennessee State Parks”
Upper Cumberland Business Journal | June 18, 2019
“Benefits of Pollinator Plants”
TVA StemReady
© Tennessee Pollinators | Tennessee Deptartment of Transportation *(Pub. L. 114-94).