American Burying Beetle Recovery: A Conservation Success Story

Providence, RI (Oct. 23, 2026) The Roger Williams Park Zoo (RWPZ) continues to make a significant impact through its participation in the American burying beetle recovery program.

For the fifth year in a row, beetles bred as part of the Zoo’s breeding program were reintroduced to Nantucket Island and monitoring efforts are showing record breaking numbers.

Alongside reintroduction efforts, new research is being conducted to better understand carrion availability and the effects of climate change on beetle survival and reproduction. This work aims to better understand the conditions necessary to support a self-sustaining population to ensure the long-term recovery of the species.

2026 ABB Recovery Efforts

320 Beetles Provisioned: With beetles bred as part of the Zoo’s breeding program and wild caught beetles captured during trapping efforts, 320 beetles in total were provisioned with carrion to set them up for breeding success to continue to bolster the island population.

Successful Breeding: Returning after release efforts to excavate 30% of provisioned pairs, the team counted 1,274 larvae across the release site indicating another successful release effort.

Indicator of a Success: The team returned to monitor for ABB in late summer in hopes of trapping the newly eclosed teneral beetles produced by the release efforts earlier in the summer. Over 4 nights, 490 new beetles and 191 recaptured beetles were processed making this year a record-breaking year.

Collaborative Efforts Make a Difference

This achievement is a testament to the dedication of partners like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nantucket Conservation Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy, Block Island Office who continues to supplement the Zoo’s breeding program with wild founders from the Block Island population. The program also extends its deepest gratitude to the many volunteers who provided invaluable support, including those from the Nantucket Land Bank, the Maria Mitchell Association, and the Linda Loring Nature Foundation.

The Importance of the American Burying Beetle  

These collaborative efforts are making a real difference for the American burying beetle, a federally protected, critically endangered species. When a species is lost, the fragile balance of a habitat is disrupted, sometimes permanently. The American burying beetle, like all species, has an important role in the ecosystem.

Known as nature’s most efficient and fascinating recyclers, these burying beetles are important scavengers that recycle decaying animals back into the ecosystem. These nutrients stimulate foliage’s growth. By removing carcasses from the ecosystem, the American burying beetle also helps keep fly and ant numbers from reaching epidemic proportions. This beetle and other invertebrate species act as “indicator species,” alerting scientists about the health of the environment. If this insect cannot survive, it is a sign that the habitat has changed in an unhealthy way.

Roger Williams Park Zoo is Rhode Island’s number one outdoor family and tourist attraction, and a leader in conservation efforts undertaken by a zoo of its size. As leaders in conservation and animal care – we create engaging experiences that empower guests to join us in conserving wildlife and wild places. The Rhode Island Zoological Society operates and funds Roger Williams Park Zoo as a partner of the City of Providence, which provides ongoing support. The Zoo is one of many features in historic Roger Williams Park.

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