Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – this means that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. As always, my opinions are my own and I write based on my experiences. Beekeeping is very location dependent, so what works for me may not necessarily work for you.
Does it make you a little nervous thinking about driving home from picking up your nuc or package… with thousands of bees in your car? Are the nights leading up to your first nuc or package pickup full of nightmares of bees loose in your car?
Although it’s certainly a bit nerve-wracking the first time you’re planning to do it, driving with bees in your car is actually no big deal. There may be a few stragglers that get outside of the nuc or package, but even if they do, they’ll probably just fly to the window because they’re drawn to the light. As long as you stay calm and don’t start swatting at them, there’s no reason they should attack you.
That said, I drove 4 hours across the state to pick up my first nuc, and I was certainly nervous about it ahead of time so I do understand the feeling! It didn’t help that when I mentioned my plan to some members of my bee club, they reacted like I was crazy. But, I survived the experience and am here to tell you it was totally fine! And I have a few tips both to put your mind at ease when driving with bees, as well as to keep the bees happy during a road trip.
1. Use Mosquito Netting
If you are at all nervous about loose bees in your car, a really simple fix is to pick up some mosquito netting from any fabric store or Amazon! This can act as a secondary containment should any bees escape their box, but still provide ventilation so they don’t overheat.
**DO NOT try to ease your fears by putting the bees in a big plastic tub with the lid on, or in the trunk – they need airflow!**
You just need enough netting to wrap around the nuc or package, so you can cut a large piece down to what you’d need. Spread it out, set the nuc/package on top of it, and then wrap the fabric up around it like the plastic around a gift basket and tie or clip it. You can even get netting bags from Dadant designed exactly for this that are the exact size of a nuc or package and just slip the bees in and zip it up.
2. Be Prepared at Pickup
When you go to pick up your bees, go prepared! Bring:
- Your bee suit (or at least a veil) – you probably won’t need it, but if you did need it for some reason and didn’t have it, you might be in a tough spot.
- A bee brush to brush off any stragglers before putting the nuc/package in your car.
- Again, you probably won’t need it, but your hive tool could come in handy for a variety of situations.
- Straps to secure the nuc or package to the vehicle.
3. Shelter the Bees from Wind and Excessive Movement
If at all possible, transport your nuc or package inside your vehicle, not in your trunk or in the bed of a truck. If you absolutely must put them in the bed of a truck, try putting them closer to the cab end so they can be protected from the wind a bit. To prevent excessive movement, strap them down to the floor of your car or truck bed.
4. Prevent Overheating
I can’t imagine much worse than getting home with your beautiful new package or nuc of bees… only to find they’ve all overheated and died. Not only is that a lot of money down the drain and a sad waste of bee-life, but now you might not be able to start your beekeeping journey for a whole other year! Be sure to give them plenty of ventilation by:
- Providing space all around the nuc or package.
- Keeping them out of the direct sun.
- Running the air conditioner to keep them at a comfortable temperature between 50-65 degrees – bring a jacket for yourself if you’ve got a long trip and will get chilly running the A/C the whole time.
5. Limit Stops
Drive straight home after picking up your bees; if you have a long trip and won’t have any choice but to stop for gas, make it quick and don’t linger and stop to eat lunch or go shopping. Plan your trip ahead of time so that anything you want to do in the area you’re in is done prior to picking up the bees.
And that’s it! It’s not hard or scary to drive with a bunch of bees in your car. Take the appropriate measures to make yourself comfortable with the situation and keep the bees alive and happy, and you’ll be home with your bees installed in their new home in no time.
Did I miss anything critical, or do you have other tips for people driving their first packages or nucs home? Please share your experiences in the comments below!
thank you!