Raking leaves comes naturally at this time of year. But ecologists have been telling us for years that there’s an environmental cost to getting rid of all those leaves.

“When we’re getting rid of the leaves we are literally killing those insects, so anything that depends on the leaves, when you take it away they’re gone, they’re dead,” said Brittany Killingbeck with the Hamilton Naturalist Club.

Those insects include butterflies, bees and other creatures that live in the leaves during the winter and go on to pollinate the plants society depends on.

Environmentalists say the insects are vital.

“You might think, why do we care about insects? But insects are the lower level of many ecosystems so all of the birds that we love, the songbirds, they require insects when they’re young,” said Colleen Cirillo with the Suzuki Foundation.

But they’re in tough shape these days.

“Overall there is a global decline in insects. and that is something we see over and over and scientists around the world are ringing the alarm bells on that, and one of the things that we can do is garden for habitat,” said Cirillo.

Gardening for habitat includes pollinator gardens.

“It’s providing food and habitat and places for insects to nest. It’s providing a place for them to complete their entire life cycle,” said Killingbeck.

Gardening for habitat also includes leaving leaves behind for insects.

If you’re worried about your lawn they say you don’t have to leave all the leaves on your yard.

Be selective about raking.

“You can leave a few leaves on the ground. They will decompose into your soil, they’ll actually fertilize your lawn for free, amazing,” said Killingbeck.

They say it’s something that will help make a difference for the pollinators.