Bees in Montana in August

Yes, August is one of the best months to see bees in Montana. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 1,713 of the 8,723 sightings logged across the year (19.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Morrison's Bumble Bee photographed in MontanaIndiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee photographed in MontanaWestern Bumble Bee photographed in Montana
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bees in Montana

19.6%

of yearly sightings

1,713

records in August

#3

busiest month of 12

8,723

verified records a year

July 27.4%, August 19.6%, September 8.7%. Busiest month is July at 27.4%.

Best months: July, June, AugustPeak season right now

8,723 verified observations of bees in Montana, recorded across 11 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bees are recorded in Montana

Peak month

July

2,394 records (27.4% of the year)

Quietest month

January

No verified records

MonthObservationsShare
January00%
February10%
March260.3%
April4705.4%
May1,10912.7%
Junepeak2,16924.9%
Julypeak2,39427.4%
Augustpeak1,71319.6%
September7558.7%
October790.9%
November50.1%
December20%

Bees you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Vancouver Bumble Bee752
Hunt's Bumble Bee706
Western Honey Bee609
Nevada Bumble Bee278
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee263
Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee258
Great Basin Bumble Bee251
Half-black Bumble Bee223

In Montana, August carries 19.6% of the year's bees sightings, about 11.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 11 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from July (27.4%) into August, and it heads toward September (8.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so August is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The bees most often recorded in Montana are Vancouver Bumble Bee, Hunt's Bumble Bee and Western Honey Bee. Those counts are annual totals rather than a August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August itself.

Which bees you are most likely to see

  • Vancouver Bumble Bee752 records
  • Hunt's Bumble Bee706 records
  • Western Honey Bee609 records
  • Nevada Bumble Bee278 records
  • Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee263 records
  • Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee258 records
Plan your tripBig Hole National Battlefield

Plan your bee trip in Montana

Start with live tours near Big Hole National Battlefield, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bees in Montana in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 1,713 of the 8,723 verified bees sightings logged in Montana across the year, which is 19.6% of the annual total.

Is August a good time to see bees in Montana?+

August is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, June and August.

What month is best for bees in Montana?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, June and August, based on 8,723 verified observations.

Which bees are you most likely to see in Montana?+

The most-recorded species in Montana are Vancouver Bumble Bee, Hunt's Bumble Bee and Western Honey Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.