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Bees and Thanksgiving: The Pollinator Connection You're Missing
- Pete Rizzo
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Every fall when we're out checking hives, we notice the shift. The bees aren't as frantic. They're not building like crazy or hauling in loads of nectar. They're just... tightening up.
Sealing cracks with propolis, clustering tighter, being more protective of their stores. It's a different energy than summer, and honestly, it always hits around the same time we're thinking about Thanksgiving.
What Bees Actually Do in Fall
By late fall here in the desert, the hives are basically buttoning up for winter. The queen slows down her laying. The workers aren't raising as much brood. They're not trying to expand anymore - they're trying to make it through.
You'll see them kicking out drones (the males) because they're just extra mouths to feed at this point. It's harsh, but it's practical.
They're also checking their honey stores constantly and sealing up any gaps in the hive. Propolis, that sticky resin they collect from plants, gets slathered over every crack. It's like when you finally get around to weatherstripping your doors and windows before winter. Same idea, just bee-sized.
The Division of Labor Thing
People love to romanticize how bees work together, and sure, it's impressive. But it's not like they're having meetings about it.
A bee's job is pretty much determined by her age. Young bees clean cells. Middle-aged bees feed larvae and tend the queen. Older bees go out and forage. It's efficient, but it's also just... what they do. There's no choice involved.
That said, when you watch a hive function, it does make you think about how much gets done when everyone just handles their part.
I won't lie - when we're prepping for Thanksgiving dinner and everyone in the family is actually helping instead of standing around asking what they can do, it feels pretty good. Maybe the bees are onto something.
The Pollination Reality
Here's something most people don't realize: a lot of what's on a Thanksgiving table came from bee pollination.
Pumpkins? Bees. Cranberries? Bees. Apples in the pie? Bees. Almonds in the green beans? Definitely bees. Even some of the spices and herbs trace back to pollinated plants.
It's easy to forget that connection when you're buying everything at the grocery store. But if you've ever grown a garden or visited a farm, you see it firsthand. No pollinators, no food. It's that simple.
Winter Clustering Is Actually Wild
When it gets cold, bees form this tight ball around the queen. The ones on the outside vibrate their flight muscles to generate heat, and they rotate positions so nobody freezes.
The core of the cluster stays around 90°F even when it's freezing outside. They literally keep each other alive through body heat and constant movement.
It's one of those things that sounds almost made up, but you can actually check it with a thermal camera. We do it all through the colder months.
There's this bright warm center in the middle of a cold hive, and it's all just thousands of bees working together to not die. It's pretty incredible when you think about it.
Does it remind us of family gathering inside for the holidays? Sure. But mostly it just reminds us that bees are tougher than they look.
Why Local Honey Matters
If you're going to use honey for Thanksgiving - and you should, it's great in glazes, on rolls, in tea - please get it from a local beekeeper. Not because it's trendy, but because that money goes directly to someone who's dealing with all the challenges of keeping bees alive right now.
Varroa mites, pesticides, habitat loss, weird weather patterns - beekeeping isn't very easy anymore. When you buy local honey, you're supporting someone who's doing the actual work of maintaining colonies that pollinate your area. It matters more than people think.
What You Can Actually Do
Plant stuff that blooms. Native wildflowers are best, but even herbs like lavender, rosemary, and thyme help. Bees need forage from early spring through late fall, and a lot of neighborhoods can be food deserts for pollinators.
Try not to use pesticides. If you have to use them, do it in the evening when bees aren't out, and skip anything with neonicotinoids.
Support local beekeepers when you can. Buy their honey. Ask questions. Most beekeepers will talk your ear off if you let them. We sure will.
The Thanksgiving Connection
We're not going to pretend bees are sitting around feeling grateful or celebrating harvests. They're insects following instinct.
But when we're working with them this time of year - making sure they have enough stores, checking that they're healthy going into winter, it does make us think about what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about.
Gratitude for the harvest. Preparing for harder times. Taking care of your family. Working together because that's how you make it through.
Bees do that every day without thinking about it. Maybe that's worth paying attention to. We see it enough to know that it works for all involved.
Betsy & Pete
🐝Las Vegas’s All-Natural Live Bee Removal Team
About Us: The Authors
We’re Betsy and Pete - Beekeepers on a Mission in Las Vegas
We aren't just in the bee business; we’re in the bee-saving business. Trained by a master beekeeper and backed by years of successful rescues, we specialize in relocating honey bees with precision, safety, and care.
At our Joshua Tree Preserve in Arizona, we care for dozens of thriving hives. Some wild, some honey-bearing, and all are part of our commitment to ethical, sustainable beekeeping.
Why Vegas Bees? Because We Never Stop Learning or Caring
Beekeeping is always evolving, and so are we. We stay on the cutting edge by continuing our education, connecting with fellow beekeepers, and refining our beekeeping practices and techniques to ensure the best outcomes for both bees and people.
Whether it’s advanced bee removal strategies or the latest natural methods, we’re always one step ahead.
We’re also proud to support the beekeeping community with high-quality beekeeping supplies for everyone. If you’re ready to suit up and start your journey, we’ve got what you need.
