Researchers at a Michigan State University complex dedicated to protecting honey bees are enlisting a four-legged ally to sniff out danger to the prized pollinators.

The Pollinator Performance Center's wide range of projects includes developing a training program for dogs to use their sensitive noses to uncover a bacterial disease called American foulbrood that threatens honey bee larvae.

The endeavor’s queen bee is Maple, a 9-year-old English springer spaniel who once served as a human remains detection dog for the St. Joseph County sheriff’s office.

A panting Maple stood patiently on a recent weekday as Sue Stejskal (STAYS’-kehl), her longtime owner/trainer/handler, slowly placed the retired K-9 in a yellow protective suit, complete with a veil for her head and four booties that were slipped over her paws in case Maple steps on a bee.

“Much like with humans, we recognize that if a dog is going to be in an active bee yard, they need to wear the same personal protective equipment as people do,” said Stejskal, a Michigan State grad who has been training dogs over a quarter-century for law enforcement and other uses. “You can’t buy them on Amazon for dogs. So, there’s been some altering and testing.”

Maple suffered an injury while on a case in Ontario, forcing her to retire as a detection K-9 in 2024. But fate intervened.

Meghan Milbrath, an MSU professor whose lab studies risk factors that affect honey bees’ health, was working to establish diagnostic and screening tools for honey bee diseases and training honey bee veterinarians. One of the vets put her in touch with Stejskal. They met, and the dog detection plan was born.

Stejskal then set about teaching an old dog a new trick. New to Maple, anyway. Maryland’s agriculture department previously has used canine detection methods in beehives.

Michigan State’s objective is to teach others how to do it.

“Our goal is to work with Maple, have her trained up, but really to video and document the whole process and working with Sue to write it up into a book,” Milbrath said. “So that other people can use our journey with Maple to train their own dogs to do American foulbrood detection or other honey bee disease detection so that dogs can be used as screening tools for honey bee diseases.”

Maple, clad in her yellow suit, raced between hive boxes during a recent demonstration, ultimately choosing the correct one, stopping in front of it and coolly looking up at Stejskal.

“Good girl,” Stejskal enthusiastically said, before removing Maple’s veil and tossing a green, Michigan State-branded toy her way.

Stejskal recognizes the work they’re doing is important.

Bees and other pollinators have been on the decline for years, thanks to disease, insecticides, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply. A significant portion of the human diet comes from plants pollinated by bees.

“It's a cool project,” Stejskal said. “But I was over-the-moon excited, because my dog would still have joy in her life and would still be able to work.”