Beekeeping Safety: Preventing Bee Encounters at Your Campsite

- Don't leave food or sugary drinks outside. This will attract bees and other pests. Store all food and drinks inside your tent or camper, and clean up any spills immediately.

- Keep an eye on your garbage. Bees are attracted to the sweet smells of garbage. Make sure to keep your trash securely sealed in a covered bin, and dispose of it as often as possible.

- Wear light-colored clothing. Dark colors tend to attract bees, so wear light-colored clothing when you're outdoors.

- Don't wear fragrances or use scented products. Bees are attracted to sweet scents, so avoid using fragranced lotions, perfumes, or hair products when you're camping.

- Cover up any exposed food. If you're eating outdoors, cover up any food you're not eating to keep bees away. This includes things like sandwiches, chips, and fruit.

- Avoid walking barefoot. Bees can be found on the ground, so wear shoes when you're outdoors to avoid getting stung.

- Be careful around beehives. If you see a beehive, don't approach it or disturb it. Give bees a wide berth and they will usually leave you alone.

- Use a fly swatter. If a bee does come near you, use a fly swatter to shoo it away. Be careful not to swat at bees as this could make them more aggressive.

- Use a citronella candle. Citronella candles are effective in repelling bees. Place the candles around your campsite to help keep bees away.

- Move to another location. If you're experiencing a lot of problems with bees, you may want to consider moving to a different campsite. Look for a campsite that is located away from flowering plants and trees, and that has plenty of open space.