08/11/2026
When thick wildfire smoke lingers and temperatures spike, nature hits a pause button:
Flower Nectar Dries Up: Heat and low humidity cause plants to produce significantly less nectar, forcing bees to fly farther and work harder for smaller rewards.
Bees Switch to "Air Conditioning" Mode: When hive temperatures rise above 35°C (95°F), bees stop foraging for food entirely. Instead, they collect water and bring it back to the hive, fanning their wings rapidly to cool the colony through evaporative cooling.
Smoke Disrupts Navigation: Heavy smoke blocks out the sun and polarized light cues that bees use to navigate, leaving them disoriented or stuck indoors.
You don't need to be a beekeeper to make a difference! Here are three easy, high-impact ways to support foraging honey bees and native pollinators in your yard during hazy, hot stretches:
1. Set Up a "Bee Oasis" (Water Station)
Bees need water desperately during hot and smoky weather—both to drink and to cool their hives—but deep water features like pools or birdbaths are dangerous drowning hazards.
How to make one: Fill a shallow dish, plant saucer, or birdbath with clean water.
Add landing pads: Fill the dish with landing rocks, river pebbles, smooth marbles, or wooden w**e corks. Bees need a dry surface to land on so they can safely sip without falling in!
2. Avoid Trimming Late-Summer "Weeds"
Late summer is a critical window for bees to gather reserves before autumn.
Hold off on deadheading or cutting back late-blooming flowers like Goldenrod, Coneflowers, Asters, Sedum, and Black-Eyed Susans.
Even blooms often considered "weeds"—like clover, dandelion, and chicory—provide high-density pollen and nectar right when wild food sources are scarce.
3. Provide Morning & Evening Shade
If you have potted flowering plants or pollinator containers on a sun-baked deck or patio, move them into partial shade during peak afternoon heat. Cooler blossoms retain their moisture and nectar far longer, giving bees a reliable feeding station during the hottest hours of the day.
Please share this to let others know how they can help!