Bees at Notre Dame

Early this year a fire broke out at one of the most historical monuments in the world, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, located in Paris, France. In short time this devastating fire would gather attention from all around the world, but it wasn’t just the fire everyone was worried about. It was what was living on the roof.

There lived three hives filled with Honey Bees which were installed in 2013. In an effort to help with the environment and the honey bee decline they had been installed on the sacristy roof about 100 feet below the main roof. Shortly after the fire had been suspended, there were signs of survival when the picture below was taken of some activity on a gargoyle.

Nos abeilles de la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris sont toujours en vie !! Confirmation de la part des responsables du site !! ❤🐝❤ Notre-Dame's bees are still alive !! #Beeopic #apiculture #abeilles #ruches #NotreDame #Notredamedeparis #cathedrale #ambroise #saintambroise #stambroise #miracle

Since then they have successfully checked the hives and have even shared a video of them flying, shown below, showing they have not been harmed and they have lived through all the smoke that may or may not have entered into their hives! Which is fantastic news! Believe it or not, for centuries to work with the bees, beekeepers have used bee smokers. By using bee smokers and puffing the smoke on and around the bees, it makes them a little confused and allows them not to smell each others warning pheromones. It also triggers them that there might be a fire nearby and to start eating their own honey they have produced in an effort to save their own hive and swarm to another location. By doing this, they are so busy they don’t realize there is a beekeeper going through their hive and makes them less likely to sting in defense.

Premières images de nos abeilles à @notredamedeparis après l'incendie! 🐝 Sneak peak of @notredamedeparis 's bees after the fire 🍯 #beeopic #notredamedeparis #urbanbees #paris #saintambroise

This tragic fire left billions of people all around the world mourning the loss of the structural damage from the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, but in turn, it has made some people more aware of honey bees and urban beekeeping. Many people did not know before this fire broke out that honey bees can actually be kept on rooftops and in urban and city environments.

I would like to think that out there in the world someone has seen the news about the Honey Bees surviving from this fire and has taken it upon themselves to learn more about honey bees and how they can help the honey bee decline.