Bees in Wisconsin in August

Yes, August is one of the best months to see bees in Wisconsin. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 15,949 of the 60,277 sightings logged across the year (26.5%), 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.

Common Eastern Bumble Bee photographed in WisconsinRusty-patched Bumble Bee photographed in WisconsinRusty-patched Bumble Bee photographed in Wisconsin
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bees in Wisconsin

26.5%

of yearly sightings

15,949

records in August

#1

busiest month of 12

60,277

verified records a year

July 25.1%, August 26.5%, September 12.7%. Busiest month is August at 26.5%.

Best months: August, July, JunePeak season right now

60,277 verified observations of bees in Wisconsin, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bees are recorded in Wisconsin

Peak month

August

15,949 records (26.5% of the year)

Quietest month

January

3 records

MonthObservationsShare
January30%
February110%
March820.1%
April2,6794.4%
May6,64611%
Junepeak10,04616.7%
Julypeak15,11825.1%
Augustpeak15,94926.5%
September7,67912.7%
October1,9763.3%
November830.1%
December50%

Bees you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee12,195
Brown-belted Bumble Bee5,145
Two-spotted Bumble Bee3,891
Western Honey Bee3,651
Red-belted Bumble Bee2,832
Black-and-gold Bumble Bee1,644
Rusty-patched Bumble Bee1,319
Half-black Bumble Bee1,313

In Wisconsin, August carries 26.5% of the year's bees sightings, about 18.2 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 July (25.1%) into August, and it heads toward September (12.7%) 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 Wisconsin are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee and Two-spotted Bumble 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

  • Common Eastern Bumble Bee12,195 records
  • Brown-belted Bumble Bee5,145 records
  • Two-spotted Bumble Bee3,891 records
  • Western Honey Bee3,651 records
  • Red-belted Bumble Bee2,832 records
  • Black-and-gold Bumble Bee1,644 records
Plan your tripApostle Islands National Lakeshore

Plan your bee trip in Wisconsin

Start with live tours near Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bees in Wisconsin in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 15,949 of the 60,277 verified bees sightings logged in Wisconsin across the year, which is 26.5% of the annual total.

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

August is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of August, July and June.

What month is best for bees in Wisconsin?+

August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, July and June, based on 60,277 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Wisconsin are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee and Two-spotted Bumble Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.