Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Today’s mission was a literal “rescue” in every sense of the word. We were called out to a plot in the middle of nowhere after a homeowner spotted a plastic tub that had been dumped on the side of the road.

It turns out, a colony had built a hive inside the tub while it was sitting upside down. Whoever tossed the bin clearly didn’t want the “extra passengers” and just left them stranded. Since today is the 1st of September—Spring Day—it felt like the perfect time to give these girls a fresh start.

The Setup: Trash to Treasure

When we arrived, the site was a bit of a mess. The tub was surrounded by debris, and the bees had been through a lot. Because it was dark and the activity was picking up, we switched over to our red lights to keep the bees calm while we worked.

The Strategy:

• Cleaning the “Cavity”: We spent the first few minutes clearing away the trash and opening up the space so we could reach the comb.
• The Inspection: We found some very dark comb, a sign that the colony had been there for a while. Since we’re just coming out of winter, they didn’t have many resources left, but we did find some healthy patches of brood.

The Prize: A Majestic Queen

In a roadside rescue like this, there’s always a worry that the Queen might have been injured when the tub was tossed. We moved slowly, sifting through the clusters with our “milk carton” scoop.

The Result:

• Queen Spotted: We found her! She was a beautiful, healthy Queen with a notably long abdomen.
• The Clip: We safely secured her in a Queen Clip immediately. This is the best way to ensure she doesn’t get lost, dropped, or left behind during the transition. Once she is “in the bag,” the survival rate of the colony jumps significantly.

The Transfer: The Frame Mount

Even though the comb was dark and a bit messy, we salvaged the best pieces of brood and resources. We mounted them into our frames using our standard elastic band method to give the colony a “home away from home” feeling inside their new hive box.

The Release: “Just Another Day Saving the Bees”

Once the box was prepped and the entrance was sealed with breathable steel wool for the drive, it was time for the best part: releasing the Queen.

• The Final March: We opened the clip over the frames, and she ran straight down into the dark safety of her new hive. As soon as she touched the frame, you could feel the energy of the colony change—they knew they were home.

Mission Accomplished

From a piece of roadside trash to a professional hive box, this colony is now heading to our apiary to start the Spring season in peace. It was a quick, easy, and incredibly rewarding night.

Want to see how this “Roadside Tub” colony thrives now that it’s Spring?

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Quick Question: If you saw a tub of bees on the side of the road, would you have known who to call? Let’s talk about community awareness in the comments!