After Mr. Connery discovers that one of his bee colonies has established a new hive in a rickety, drafty garage where they may not be able to survive the cold winter, he calls Mr. Nelson, a bee relocation specialist. Using his specially designed “Honeybee Sucker-Upper,” Mr. Nelson takes several hours to carefully vacuum the 35,000 bees from their barn rafter into the device’s collection chamber, while Mr. Connery cuts down the now bee-free sheets of honeycomb to fit into hive frames. Once the bees are all vacuumed and the new hive frames are hanging in hive boxes, the bees are re-deposited. Over the course of the next two weeks, Mr. Connery moves the new hive a few feet each day, until it’s in his garden next to the bees’ original hive. Double-page spreads explaining swarming, hive structure, and the bee-vac device are interspersed throughout this intriguing account. Large photographs illustrate the engaging, accessible text, and final pages include a glossary and further reading, as well as a fascinating interview with Mr. Nelson. Among the vital questions he answers: How is it he rarely gets stung, even without protective gear?  (Ages 5-9)

Fans of the Scientists in the Field series will love discovering ways to save and protect bees through the eyes of a honeybee rescuer.


Follow honeybee rescuer Mr. Nelson as he expertly removes a colony of bees from Mr. Connery's barn (with a vacuum!) and helps it relocate back to a hive. Photographs of Mr.Nelson’s relocation of the colony help bring the honeybee rescue to life.

Nature lovers and scientists-to-be will be abuzz as they learn all the ways to keep honeybees (and our ecosystem) safe.