Save A Grounded Bee In No Time With Two Simple Steps

To save a grounded bee, you can just create a simple sugar syrup at home using granulated sugar and tap water. Mix one part water with two parts granulated white sugar to create a sugar solution ideal for saving grounded bees that need a quick energy boost.

Should I feed a grounded bee sugar water?

Yes, sugar water is perfect for reviving tired, thirsty bees, and it’s so easy to make at home.

It’s really important to remove the sugar solution and sugar crystals after you have helped your grounded bee.

Leaving a sugar solution out for long periods will encourage bees to forgo nearby bee-friendly flowers in favour of the readily available sugar.

White sugar does not provide the same nutritional benefits as bees’ natural food sources and should only be used in situations where nectar-rich flowers are not readily available.

Be Ready to Help a Tired Bee When It Matters Most

Carry a simple bee revival kit keyring so when you spot an exhausted bee, you can give it a quick, bee-safe energy boost and help it recover. Handmade in the UK with eco-friendly packaging, it’s a small action that makes a real difference.

Shop Bee Revival Kits

Can I save a bee with honey?

No. You should never use honey to feed a grounded bee.

Honey is a fantastic product, and honeybees and honeybee colonies are essential to global crop production and play a huge role in the pollination industry.

Honey contains bacteria that can pose a threat to nests and hives in any given area, and for this reason, we recommend not feeding honey to bees.

Urban rescue: the 60-second pavement checklist (before you feed)

If you’ve found a bee on the pavement, the goal is simple: get it to safety and give it the best chance to fly off under its own power.

Step 1: Move it out of dangerIf it’s near feet, tyres, puddles, or direct sun, gently coax it onto a leaf, a piece of card, or a spoon, and place it somewhere safer.

Step 2: Offer warmth and shelterBees often struggle when they’re cold, wet, or wind-chilled. Put it in a sheltered spot (near a hedge, wall, or planter) and give it a minute.

Step 3: Check for flowers firstIf there are flowers nearby, the best help is simply to place the bee nearby so it can feed naturally.

Step 4: Only consider feeding if there are no flowersIf you’re in a concrete-heavy area with no flowers around and the bee is too weak to move, a tiny amount of bee-safe syrup can help as an emergency measure. Keep it minimal, you’re aiming for “enough energy to reach safety”, not a full meal.

No flowers nearby? A small keyring-style rescue option can help in emergencies. Grab one of our Revive a Bee keyrings here.

Save a grounded bee FAQ

Should I feed bees sugar water?

Yes, but only if you find a tired bee in an area with no nectar-rich flowers around. A small amount of a sugar-water solution will give it the energy boost it needs to get back to the nest or hive. Make sure you remove any remnants of your sugar solution.

What kind of sugar should I use?

Always use white granulated sugar. The process used in the production of white sugar means it is completely sterile, therefore posing no biological risk to a tired bee or its colonies’ occupants.

Is my grounded bee dying or tired?

If your bee is in an area with lots of flowers, pollen, and nectar and it’s immobile, your best course of action is to let it be. If it is in a large built-up urban area, you could be saving its life.

What are some other ways I can help bees?

All bees need our help, but in particular, solitary bees. The best and quickest way is to transform your garden into an insect-friendly haven full of pollen and nectar-rich flowers.