Bees in Washington in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see bees in Washington. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 17,839 of the 82,015 sightings logged across the year (21.8%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Peak month for bees in Washington
21.8%
of yearly sightings
17,839
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
82,015
verified records a year
April 9.8%, May 21.8%, June 21.4%. Busiest month is May at 21.8%.
82,015 verified observations of bees in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bees are recorded in Washington
Peak month
May
17,839 records (21.8% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 103 | 0.1% |
| February | 397 | 0.5% |
| March | 2,971 | 3.6% |
| April | 8,011 | 9.8% |
| Maypeak | 17,839 | 21.8% |
| Junepeak | 17,557 | 21.4% |
| Julypeak | 16,722 | 20.4% |
| August | 11,619 | 14.2% |
| September | 5,152 | 6.3% |
| October | 1,413 | 1.7% |
| November | 166 | 0.2% |
| December | 65 | 0.1% |
Bees you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Western Honey Bee | 6,996 |
| Yellow-faced Bumble Bee | 5,277 |
| Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee | 4,749 |
| Black-tailed Bumble Bee | 4,534 |
| Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee | 2,936 |
| Orange-legged Furrow Bee | 1,633 |
| California Bumble Bee | 1,096 |
| Hunt's Bumble Bee | 996 |
In Washington, May carries 21.8% of the year's bees sightings, about 13.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from April (9.8%) into May, and it heads toward June (21.4%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The bees most often recorded in Washington are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which bees you are most likely to see
- Western Honey Bee6,996 records
- Yellow-faced Bumble Bee5,277 records
- Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee4,749 records
- Black-tailed Bumble Bee4,534 records
- Yellow-fronted Bumble Bee2,936 records
- Orange-legged Furrow Bee1,633 records
Plan your bee trip in Washington
Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bee viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bee viewing area in Washington.
Viator
Broader backupBook a bee tour in Washington
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see bees in Washington in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 17,839 of the 82,015 verified bees sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 21.8% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see bees in Washington?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and July.
What month is best for bees in Washington?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and July, based on 82,015 verified observations.
Which bees are you most likely to see in Washington?+
The most-recorded species in Washington are Western Honey Bee, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bees in Washington in other months
More wildlife in Washington