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Cheerios will give away 100 million wildflower seeds to people who help save the bees

KVUE-TV, Austin

Cheerios is sending free wildflower seeds to anyone who signs up on their website to help save the bees.

Bees, which play a critical role in our food supply, are dying globally at an alarming rate. The cereal brand pledged to send out 100 million wildflower seeds in partnership with Veseys Seeds as part of a campaign called #BringBacktheBees, inspired by Honey Nut Cheerios' bee mascot, Buzz.

"People need bees. And now bees need people," the campaign's site says.

The campaign asks that once you receive your wildflower seeds, you plant them in a "bee-friendly" area.

Several species of bees have experienced dramatic declines in recent decades, with a bumblebee becoming endangered this year for the first time. The declines are thought to stem from habitat loss, disease, pesticide use, climate change and an extremely small population size.

You can sign up for receive the seeds at Cheerios' site.

Doyle Rice contributed to this report.

► Related: Bumblebee listed as endangered species for first time