Buzzing After the Burn: What Bees Think of Fire

Written by: Cass Arsenault, Lead Interpretive Naturalist

Did you know that some bees actually like hanging out in places that have been burned? It’s true!

In 2022, researchers from Oakland University, including Danielle Dorsen and the Jamieson Biodiversity Lab, studied the bees at Johnson Nature Center. They counted almost 100 bees in total—and more than half of them were found in spots where we had done a controlled fire (a safe fire used to help the land).

What kind of bees showed up in these burned areas? All kinds! Tiny bees, big bees, honeybees, bumblebees, and even carpenter bees. They were flying, buzzing, and busy checking out the flowers that grew back after the fire. Green bees didn’t seem to care one way or another—they were just as happy in both burned and unburned places.

One of the coolest parts? People who were out walking on the trails noticed way more bumblebees in the areas that had been burned. There were so many bees, it was like the field was throwing a buzzing bee party!

The researchers also learned that the number and kinds of flowers matter. More flowers = more bees! And different kinds of flowers mean different types of bees will come visit. Bees love variety just like we do.

The research isn’t finished yet—there’s still more to learn about bee diets, flower favorites, and where different bees like to build their nests. But so far, it looks like fire can actually help bring bees back to an area by giving flowers room to grow.

So next time you're on the trail and see a bee buzzing by a flower, think about how even a little fire can help nature bounce back—and help bees find their happy place.