Smoke Bees Everyday: Why Beekeepers Use A Smoker

May is like the bee new year—full of buzzing potential, spring chores, and optimism. It's a month of hustle, hope, and honey prep! In the fall, I talked about putting the bees to bed. Well, they’re up and buzzing for the season and it's time to roll up the sleeves and get the smoker going! I get a lot of questions about it. Some folks are concerned that it hurts the bees. So let me explain why using a smoker means fewer stings, less stress, and much smoother visits to the hive.

WHAT IS A BEE SMOKER AND WHY DO WE USE IT? 

It looks like a mini handheld metal chimney with a bellows. It can be filled with materials like wood shavings, pine needles, burlap, dried leaves or grass, or even cardboard if it's untreated. We use it to check in on the hives without disrupting the bees. The smoke helps keep the bees calm, making the whole process smoother and safer for both the bees and the beekeeper. 

BE CALM: HOW DOES A SMOKER WORK?

 Smoke helps keep the bees calm in a few important ways. First, the smoke interferes with the bees’ ability to release alarm pheromones, which are the signals they use to alert each other to danger. Without that warning system, they’re less likely to go into defense mode and sting me. The smoke also triggers a natural survival instinct—bees think they might need to evacuate the hive, so they start eating as much honey as they can. And just like us after a big meal, a full bee is a chill bee—less likely to sting, more likely to mind their own beeswax.

WHAT EFFECT DOES THE SMOKE HAVE ON THE BEES?

 It’s kind of like dimming the lights and playing soft music before walking into a room full of busy workers—it sets a calmer tone so everyone can get along.

• Disrupts alarm pheromones - bees can’t send out the “Danger! Intruder!” scent when there’s smoke.
• Encourages feeding response - bees go into “grab all the honey you can” mode, thinking they may have to evacuate.
• Keeps them busy - full bees = calmer bees = fewer stings and less stress.

DOES SMOKE HARM THE BEES? IS IT SAFE? 

We’re not trying to hotbox the hive, just keep things a little chill. It’s totally safe for bees and people when used properly. The smoke doesn’t harm the bees—it just gently disrupts their communication for a short time and encourages them to focus on gathering honey instead of defending the hive. We use cool, gentle puffs of smoke, not hot blasts, so it doesn’t burn or stress the bees out. It’s a tried-and-true method that helps keep both the bees and the beekeeper safe during hive checks.

WHEN DOES A BEEKEEPER NEED TO USE A SMOKER? 

Whenever we need to open up the hive and work with the bees for a quick inspection, doing maintenance, harvesting honey, or checking on the queen for example. We use the smoker all season long, any time we need to open up the hive to work with the bees, like for a quick inspection, any maintenance on the hive, checking on the queen, or harvesting honey. 

HAPPY SASKATCHEWAN BEES MAKE THE BEST HONEY!

Smoke has been used in beekeeping for thousands of years for a reason! It keeps the bees happy and keeps the beekeepe’s life peaceful. That’s why the smoker is an absolutely essential part of the honey production and harvest process! If you’re curious about how bees make honey and what they’re up to inside the hive, read How Do Bees Make Honey.

Now, I often feel like a sort of wizardly bee-whisperer when I’m using the smoker. Imagine if, when tensions got at a family gathering, someone could just puff a little “calm cloud” in the air and suddenly everyone forgets they were about to argue, grabs a snack, and chills out. No alarms, no drama—just a room full of people too full and relaxed to fight. Honestly, the bees might be onto something…

Ready to taste the results of a peaceful and productive hive? Check out Shop now!