Can you really save a drowning bee from a pool?

@TheHorse (218921)

Walnut Creek, California

July 22, 2018 12:55pm CST

I went swimming at our pool yesterday, and on two separate occasions, encountered bees in the water, struggling to survive. With the first one, I tried "swooping" her out, but failed, so I went a grabbed a flip flop, which she was able to climb into. I laid her on the side of the pool and went back to swimming. After about five minutes she was still struggling, and trying to find her feet. But after about ten, she simply flew away, over the pool, and into the distance. About a half an hour later, I found another bee struggling in the same spot. I pulled another flip flop rescue, and she survived as well. I wonder what it is that attracts bees to the pool. If you found a struggling bee, would you save it? It appeals to the "Buddhist" in me (for those few moments, my world is saving that bee, and nothing else matters), and I've also heard that the bee population is down for some reason. We need those hard working little guys!

22 people like this

22 responses

@Starmaiden (9311)

• Canada

22 Jul 18

That puts 2 major check marks on your Akashic Record.

I've saved slugs and worms struggling to find damp ground after being stuck on a hot concrete sidewalk. I've also saved a mouse from a sticky trap I set myself. I have an intense compassion for all living things...except when I catch them trapsing through my cupboards.

4 people like this

@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Jul 18

I've done the same with worms. To us, they're just good for our garden. But to the worm, it is its chance at life.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Jul 18

Do you read for pleasure. I actually wrote a short story years ago about a wood rat I saved from a trap and released. The whole thing was a metaphor for "letting go." I wonder if you'd like it. I wonder if I can find it! It's never been published.

1 person likes this

@Starmaiden (9311)

• Canada

23 Jul 18

@TheHorse I would love to read it if you can find it.

@Icydoll (36717)

• India

22 Jul 18

That's nice you saved those little bees..Im not sure why they are attracted to pool

2 people like this

@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Jul 18

I've read that bees see blue better than red, but a pool doesn't look much like a flower.

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@AKRao24 (27424)

• India

22 Jul 18

Yes, bees and hornets they come to have some water to the places where they find them! Yes we routinely save these things from water by using some sticks when they come and fall in the water buckets we keep on the farm. Similarly during this season the bog beetles come and fall in the water troughs of our dogs which ofcourse I remove with my hands every night!

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@AKRao24 (27424)

• India

22 Jul 18

@TheHorse , I am loading a picture I have taken from net! I will post actual picture once if I get it for you!

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

@AKRao24 That's big! I take it they don't bite. How would they taste breaded and baked in a rich garlic sauce?

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@AKRao24 (27424)

• India

23 Jul 18

@TheHorse , yes they are big and don't bite! Regarding cooking I never thought about it! Beetles eaten? This is for the first time I am learning to know!

@LadyDuck (471421)

• Switzerland

23 Jul 18

They want to drink of course, but they cannot calculate that the pool is too deep and they cannot swim.

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@LadyDuck (471421)

• Switzerland

24 Jul 18

@TheHorse May be they do not realize it is deep water. I see bees drinking water from the leaves many times. They also drink from the birds bath and they arrive to fly away. I have saved several lizards from our pond. Now I have put a few sticks and little ropes, so they can find something where to climb and get out.

@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

I'd think they'd be "programmed" with some sense of safe versus dangerous water sources. Natural selection, and all that.

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@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

22 Jul 18

Yes, I would certainly try to save a bee in trouble - they are about the only insects I like. Good for you for saving those two.

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@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

22 Jul 18

@TheHorse So true.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Jul 18

Thank you. I like bees, plus they are essential to plant life in general!

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

@jaboUK I'm heading to the pool now for an evening swim. We'll see what I find.

1 person likes this

@cintol (11261)

• United States

23 Jul 18

What a good guy you are to save those little bees, I find them around my bird bath outside, they like the water to drink I think but its not deep enough for them to drown in.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

@cintol Ah, but pools have 90 degree edges. Hmm.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

Do they tend to "escape" on their own?

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@cintol (11261)

• United States

23 Jul 18

@TheHorse They do in the bird bath, its like they float and when they get near the edge they climb out.

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@snowy22315 (180805)

• United States

23 Jul 18

Yes, I would as they are endangered and we need them.

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@snowy22315 (180805)

• United States

23 Jul 18

@TheHorse maybe you should fashion a tiny bee life preserver out of a lifes saber or something.

@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

Agreed. I'm about to take an evening swim. We'll see what's out there.

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@toniganzon (72281)

• Philippines

23 Jul 18

Maybe it's too hot they want to take a dip too!

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

I'd think their tiny bee brains would know that a large chlorinated pool is not the best option.

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@RasmaSandra (79892)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

23 Jul 18

I do not know what attracts the bees but I do know we saved a lot of bees back in Latvia during the summers when they fell into pails and puddles and such.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

Many are saying the same thing. Someone has to design a perfect "bee watering trough" so we can increase the bee population.

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@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

23 Jul 18

maybe they are thirsty?

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

That's what most are speculating.

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@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

22 Jul 18

I have saved a few exhausted bees in my garden with honey water on a spoon.

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@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

22 Jul 18

@TheHorse Yes, it takes a while but they perk up nicely.

@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Jul 18

Oh, does it work? Do they eventually fly off?

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@noni1959 (10095)

• United States

24 Aug 18

I do save them. They are important to our trees, fruits etc and they don't chase you (at least not the regular honey bees) so I leave them alone. If I see one on the ground and can't fly, I try to get it to grass, find water and if I have a sugar packet, put a drop. It usually revives them.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Aug 18

Yes, I look for grass and water. The have no intent to harm us.

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@andriaperry (116936)

• Anniston, Alabama

23 Jul 18

Water they just see water and want it. Yes the "Buddhist or gardener" in me will save them also, I usually wont kill any bees or wasp.

But the devil in me killed several spiders in the house last week.

I think I am well balanced

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

Balance is good. So say Carl Jung, Plato/Socrates, and others. An ugly spider in my house has about a 50/50 chance of surviving.

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@MrsPumpkins (466)

• Philippines

23 Jul 18

i like to save little insects from whatever they are struggling.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

I think we get "Karma points" for helping struggling living beings.

@amadeo (111938)

• United States

22 Jul 18

You got your answered below.This stinks

a little joke there. Yes we should saved them.I do .But we have very little here.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

Youdn't have a lot of bees there?

@garymarsh6 (23404)

• United Kingdom

22 Jul 18

Absolutely I would save it. Bees are so endangered we should do as much as we can to save them.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

I'm glad you agree with me.

Margaret Mwangi

@Missmwngi (12915)

• Nairobi, Kenya

22 Jul 18

I believe i would,great job you did

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

I'm going to head out there now. We'll see what I find.

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@JohnRoberts (109846)

• Los Angeles, California

22 Jul 18

Even insects need water in hot weather.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Jul 18

That must "be" what it is. Maybe I could do a little extra splashing so there will be tasty water outside the pool.

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@nela13 (58669)

• Portugal

23 Jul 18

I always try to save bees from the water and ants too

@dya80dya (36656)

•

22 Jul 18

I don't understand why bees are endangered.

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@TheHorse (218921)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Jul 18

I'm not sure if the best entomologists do either. I went to a Birthday picnic in Berkeley today and was glad to see a lot of bees among the blackberry blossoms.

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