How do you transport bees home safely inside a vehicle?

Curious question, how do you transport bees home safely inside a vehicle? I went to get my bees yesterday and they were apprehensive about me taking them inside my van. From what I’ve read it can be done safely inside a vehicle if they’re properly secured. I don’t know anyone with a truck and to rent one is going to be around 90 bucks plus the gas (66 miles round trip), considering I already drove there once and came home empty handed. I got some bungee cords to secure the lid and a mesh laundry bag to put the nuc inside. Would this be suffice?

Kelly Prchal: I only had a short drive of a few miles but I put mine in the back of my SUV with some large flowering plants that could distract any strays

Jacqueline Livingston: That’s a good idea! I’ll have to bring some along.

Tate Belden: Complete Hives: Shop towels in the entrances – duct tape to hold ’em in place – ratchet straps to hold the stack together. I’ve also used tufts of grass, paper towel and OR drapes. Nucs: Tape over the entrances and tape lids down (cardboard types)Packages: If onsie twosie, put ’em inside a mesh laundry bag.

Jacqueline Livingston: It’s a wooden nuc. Even after I suggested these options they weren’t happy. ? I wanted my bees so badly yesterday.

Tate Belden: It’s not their call – your car, your bees. You want to go for it – do it. They’ve sold them to you, once in your possession, out of their hands in every aspect.

Eric Zylman: Jacqueline, Tate is spot on. I transport wooden nucs in my car all the time. I have driven up to 2 hours with no issues. If a bee gets out, the laundry bag will suffice. Bring your bee jacket just in case, but I highly doubt you would need it.

Tammie Curtis: It’s YOUR risk not theirs, so I don’t know why they wouldn’t let you get your bees. How you get them home is your business.

Jacqueline Livingston: That’s what I thought! I was so disappointed. I woke up at 5am to get there and left feeling very discouraged and wronged.

Tammie Curtis: I would be more forceful and tell them that when you go back. Tell them unless they’d like to pay to rent a truck this is the only way you have to get them home. I would think putting them in a mesh bag after plugging all openings should be quite sufficient.

Jason Prophet: Cardboard box

Tate Belden: Yea, sounds like there’s something else going on here. They sold out and didn’t want to admit it?

Jacqueline Livingston: I put a deposit down back in January! I sure hope not. This was their first weekend for pickup. I will contact them on Monday and arrange for pick up ASAP. I don’t want my bees sold out from under me.

Chris Proctor: I agree. Something isn’t right. I could see giving you a warning, but not refusing to sell them to you.

James Slemp: Does that mean you didnt bring the bees home yet and there still there for the getting.

Jacqueline Livingston: I did not. I went home beeless.

Tate Belden: They owe you – that’s simply poor customer service.

James Slemp: Jacqueline Livingston the laundry bags are probably cheap enough to use then just fix them so they wont move should you have to hit the brakes.

Alayne Torretta: I was gonna suggest those large mesh laundry bags! Wrap ’em up and bring ’em home!

Chris Proctor: Nucs and packages inside mesh laundry bags. I’ve never had any get loose in a vehicle

Jennifer Kierbow: ☝?I just picked up my nuc yesterday and used a mesh laundry bag. It worked great. Get the large one. They’re $2 at Walmart. ?

Chris Proctor: Yep. That’s exactly what I use

Adam Wolfe Sr.: I move Bees in different vehicles all the time. Just block the entrances with stuff and go. I made my wooden nucs with 4 holes. 2 are covered with screen. That way I can plug the other 2 and still have air flow. I just travelled from California to Minnesota with one on the back of my load that way. 3 1/2 days. Made it just fine.

Jacqueline Livingston: Thanks for the tips. I’ll just go back with tools to bring them home and just put my foot down. That’s a long trip out to MN. Glad you and the girls arrived safely.

James Slemp: Jacqueline Livingston if there still nervous letting you take them tell them yop will sign siomething bnot holding them responsible once you leave there property

Jacqueline Livingston: James Slemp I thought this too. If it comes to that I’ll bring it up. Wonder if they’re so adamant about people using a truck to pick up the bees they should tell them this in advanced. ?

James Slemp: Jacqueline Livingston if you have his ph number call him telling him your plans for taking them before you make a wasted trip.

James Slemp: Jacqueline Livingston Do you have a mentor or belong to a bee club to help you get started.

Jacqueline Livingston: James Slemp not really. I’ve tried since last summer to find someone who would allow me to shadow them and it’s been hard to find anyone.

James Slemp: Jacqueline Livingston Im guessing you have done a lot of youtubing theres som e under getting started with honey bees also take a look at honey bee disease pictures and info by googling it then any Questions there are many here that will help you just read thru all the answers and see what will work for you as theresn many ways to do same job ion beekeeping.

James Slemp: Id duct tape lid down if they have one screen them in and use the laundry bags mentioned above for ins that none will get out.

Nick Ohan: go back same van.. if they refuse insist they return your cash immediately and move on

Ann Ruggiero: we just picked up ours today. two nucs, entrance blocked, air holes in box. We drove about 15 minutes with them in the trunk of our SUV. Had them secured so they wouldn’t tip, but that was it. Got home, moved them to the area the hives will be and opened the entrance. I’m sorry they wouldn’t let you take them, not sure how else they expect you to move the bees.

Will Pedersen: You should be fine We always do it that way.

Linda Littrell: We put ours in the back of our suv and put a blanket over them. 5 frame nuc boxes. Have never had any trouble. 2 1/2 drive home.

Bob Kosicki: They rode 600 miles in my truck

Jacqueline Livingston: Is that loud? Lol. Do they like your road trip music?

Bob Kosicki: Jacqueline Livingston I had it cranked up lol

Chas Beam: Seatbelt

Bob Kosicki: Never had an issue

Chris Proctor: I don’t have enough room for 10,000 seatbelts.

Jacqueline Livingston: Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. As a new (soon, I hope) beekeeper I felt very discouraged yesterday. I was looking forward to that day since August. I didn’t think that it was uncommon for inside of the vehicle transport. I’ll make arrangements this week to get them and take my van with me.

Dana Saunders Gore: I brought two nucs home on the back seat of my car. I ain’t skeered. ? Brought along a roll of duct tape and mesh laundry bags just Incase. The guy I bought the bees from said I wouldn’t need those. Needless to say I drove like Mommom all the way home.

Stephen Page: My first nucs came home in the backseat of a Jetta

Diane Willis: Mine came home in the back seat of my camry. I taped it shut, brought some pieces of wood so the nuc would sit level and then seat belted it in. No problem. Like Dana Saunders Gore said, I ain’t skeered. I slid the passenger seat back so it held tight and just kept on truckin’?

Adrienne Smith: I bought myself a zippable mesh laundry bag from walmart!! Cause the nuc will be in my car for transport as well!

Neal Armagost: Drove 150 miles last night with 2 nucs in my CRV , used mesh laundry bags from WalMart . About 2$ each .a few got out of the box the bag worked great . Don’t put the entrance in first , i think it’s better

Adrienne Smith: Hahaha that’s what I just posted too!

Adrienne Smith: So tell me more about how to put it into the bag?

Neal Armagost: Adrienne Smith saw yours after I sent mine . I put one in front first and it was harder to get the bees out . i opened the entrance for a day inside because it was so cold when I got home probably wasn’t necessary but I did it .

Greg Miller: My first two packages came home in a taxi in nyc to brooklyn….they liked the brooklyn bridge

Krysta McQueen: In my trunk lol

Cecilia Cisneros: I had a hive I put in my Car and when we do bee removals and I’m not in my truck I put them in my jeep

Brian Latraille: Put them in a pillowcase

Kevin Wild: At night, tape over the entrance. Place box in vehicle and drive.

Dana Saunders Gore: And I drove all the way home with the AC on high. ☃️❄️?

Rick Spinks: Lol there is always that one bee that screws everything up.

Steve Turner: Use a large bed sheet to contain them.

Rita Bunn Westfall: Put them in trunk

Jason Martinez: How weird, I always insisted that Beekeepers transported them inside the vehicle if it was cold or cool. If the broodnest needs to be 98 Fahrenheit then wind blasting them for 30 minutes would chill the brood. Guess I was on bees’ side wanting them to hit the ground running when they got home.Saturday, we drove 6 miles to home with bees in the cab like this without any protective veil or suit and received no stings. Used a blower to blow them out when we got home.

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Jacqueline Livingston: How do you get them to go back into the hive?

Jason Martinez: Jacqueline Livingston we blew them out of truck and they joined the rest of the swarm in the nuc box sitting on tailgate as we ate lunch

Nola Ducote: I transport bees in the back of my Chev Equinox all the time. Catch swarms so they are not always all in the box. Wear my suit home. With hood on. Got beekeeper signs in my car. Get funny looks. Never been stopped. ?

Rita Bunn Westfall: They would be afraid to stop you

Traci Sumner: Just brought home 4 nucs and was worried about it. I wore my jacket and veil home, because I didn’t want the couple to bother me, but I was surprised at how contained they were.

Veronique LS: .

Kyle Kutach: We use the mesh laundry bags around the “bee bus” packages that we get just for the occasional girl that doesn’t want to ride the “bus”.

Barry Wilson: Laundry bags are awesome! I’ve shaken swarms into the cheapo ones from Walmart with folding legs! They work perfectly. Bag’em up and dump em in the box!

Neal Armagost: Barry Wilson I got to buy one of them with legs to carry in my Blazer .

Barry Wilson: They work great!

Ben Stiles: Do it all the time put in back and crack the back windows

Jacqueline Livingston: Update. I called today and told them I’ll bring my van, duct tape, and my laundry bag. Still weren’t happy. As per the advice of James Slemp I asked if they would sign a paper releasing liability and that was the deciding factor for him. So, tomorrow, 6am!

James Slemp: good luck

James Slemp: Dont remember if you have a mentor but consider feeding them till you get two boxes of drawn comb giving them a good start then do mite counts in the summer and stay on top of hive beetles if there a problem in your area.

Jacqueline Livingston: James Slemp thanks for all your help and advice. I brought my ladies home this morning! I’m officially a beekeeper!

Jacqueline Livingston: How many holes in the lid? I’m using a mason jar.

Madhab Kc:

Veronique LS: Sooooo. Did you get them?

Jacqueline Livingston: Yep! I got them this morning. They are bringing in pollen into their nuc. The beekeeper told me to leave them in there a few days. I’m worried they’re out of space.

Veronique LS: I am a new Beek as well and so excited for you! Enjoy them.

Jacqueline Livingston: Veronique LS thank you for inquiring. I’m so tickled pink, it’s not even funny lol. ❤️

Veronique LS: Jacqueline Livingston LOVE your attitude. You go girl!

Jacqueline Livingston: Veronique LS thanks! I’ve been waiting since July to get bees lol. I’m so happy. Do you have bees yet?

James Slemp: The person you got the nuc from probably left plenty of room for them to stay there a week so when you get ready to transfer them to a 8 or 10 frame single story put the frames in the same order you take them out of nuc in the single story then I woul…See more

Jacqueline Livingston: James Slemp you’re so helpful. I appreciate your detailed, throughout replies. I put some feed on them today, they’re in a wooden nuc, should I remove it? I have 10 frame equipment. Do I use 9 or 10 frames? Thank you for your time. How long have you been a beekeeper for?

Veronique LS: Jacqueline. I do not. Learning now. I bought the Flow 2 hive and it’s being shipped this month and from what I have learned it’ll be late to get started. So next year this time I’ll be like you!!

James Slemp: beekeeping since 1978 have over 300 hives with son now doing the physical work of moving them around .I would put them in a ten frame hive keeping frames tight together helps prevent them from building cross comb between frames.

James Slemp: Veronique LS what state you in and have the trees all leafed out now.

Veronique LS: James Slemp I’m in Northern VA, 2 miles from WV and a mile from MD. The first wave of blooming trees is over with (cherry, tulip). My crepe myrtles haven’t yet.

James Slemp: Veronique LS when they sold you flow hive besides the flow super used to extract honey did they give you one or two brood boxes and if one I would consider two so they have a place to store winter food as the flow super may not be able to be used till second yr depending how they build up and what they have to forage on in your area.

Veronique LS: James. Yes. I was thinking that’d be the way to go. I almost gave up waiting for the Flow hive and started with 2 normal 10 frames but with the long winter this year that seemed it just would never end I got behind with everything and felt I should wai…See more

James Slemp: NJ here but travel down below richmond to visit daughter and her family so I know you are a few weeks ahead of nj in springt starting . Have you looked at your states beekeepers Association and seeing if theres a branch near you that you could attend there meetings or take a bee course that some put on in spring

Veronique LS: James. I did contact the local beekeeper association. They only offer a class in February and it was full. And the director of programs was not helpful at all: How dare I wait to the last minute to register? So I have to wait until next February. I’m looking for something on line, I may be luckier. There’s a beekeeper around the corner from here, I saw the hives the other day. I may knock on their door… 🙂

James Slemp: hopfully nyou can find a beekeeper that will share some time and give you some hands on experience.

James Slemp: Veronique LS You may have but if not google honey bee disease pictures lot of info there on bee problems.

Keith L Hovious: i brought mine home in the bed of my truck..uhm..no prob..a van is ok

James Slemp: Iv moved 100s with a little smoke in entrance and a bent piece of window screen in entrance keeping most of them in going from one farm to anothert for polination of crops.

Billie Smith: The first one my Hubby got, was a 3 hr one way from our place. The man told him to bring his coat as he would have to travel back with the AC on. We have a crew cab and they put the hive in the back seat and strapped them in. Stopped up the entrance and any holes they could see. Turned on the AC and headed home. Got about half way and couple bees found an escape. Stopped and found the hole and stuffed with a Kleenex and made it home fine.

Eugene Eugene: Curious where you got your bees from, so I can avoid the vendor.

Jacqueline Livingston: I live in Northern California and there’s a lot of beekeeping companies around.

Sarah Lynn Blackmer: To my understanding, if you haven’t driven a car with a few bees flying around, your probably not a beekeeper. The bigger thing to worry about is keeping them at a good temperature. Keep them in the shade and make sure they have air flow. If someone says you can’t take them challenge them. They are your bees and you can transport them how ever you like. 60 miles in the back of a truck would be bad.

Annette Bak: Wear your bee gear. Put the bees in the backseat. Turn on the ac. Drive.

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