Is pool salt safe for your bees?

Yes, pool salt is an attractant for honey bees.  Salt water is safe for your honey bees.

Most backyard beekeepers have a swimming pool in the vicinity their bee hives.  Your honey bees will travel to the nearest water source whether it be a pond, stream, bird bath, or pool.  If a swimming pool is close by the honey bees will be visiting the pool.  As a good neighbor you will want to talk with your neighbor so there are no arguments.  A suggestion would be to have your neighbor call you the night before they look to use their pool.  That way you can go out and get your hive mesh bag and trap all of your bees in the hive.  It is important to understand that you will need to do this trapping when it is dark outside, so that all foraging bees are in the hive.  Then when your neighbor is finished swimming you can take the hive mesh bag off the hive.  This will keep your neighbors happy!

If your beekeeping supplies do not have a mesh hive bag, I would highly recommend purchasing one today.

You may be surprised at Ray’s answer!  You must have certain beekeeping supplies to make this work.