I’ve found a stranded bumblebee in bad weather, how can I help it?
If you find a bumblebee in bad weather, please do not take it into your home. Bumblebees need to be outside to feed, nest, and mate successfully. They may already have a nest which they are gathering food for, without the adult bumblebees the eggs and larvae will die.
Bumblebees can cope quite well with cold and wet weather. They have thick hairy coats, a relatively large body size (for an insect), can shiver their wing muscles to warm up, and reduce their energy needs by staying still through periods of bad weather.
If you find a bumblebee outdoors and it’s very exposed to wet weather or in danger of being squashed just gently move it to somewhere more sheltered, near to flowering plants if possible.
If you find a bumblebee in your home, gently put it outside in a sheltered place, even if the weather is bad. Bumblebees are adapted to live in the UK’s cool climate, and they need to be outside to complete their lifecycle.
