The sweet taste of survival: An un-BEE-lievable story

It was a sunny July morning in the Gulf of Mexico. The Sulphur Enterprise had departed from Galveston, Texas, the previous evening. While making the normal rounds, the crew discovered a surprise — a few (thousand) stowaways had joined them on their journey to Tampa, Florida. Attached to the vessel’s anchor chain was a large mass of bees.

The crew took great care not to disturb their passengers while tending to vessel maintenance. SMM Director John Morganti immediately called ahead to SH&E Manager Bob Bennington in Tampa to inform the team of the stowaways.

“I’ve been in this industry for more than 40 years and have never heard of such a thing,” says Bob. “It’s amazing they survived the two-day, 600-mile journey across the Gulf of Mexico.”

Finding a better way

The team could have easily disposed of the bees, but instead, they found a better way. They called a local bee rescue, Bee Rescue Foundation of Florida, to help the crew save the bees.

The beekeeper showed up at the dock dressed in his bee suit, armed with all the necessary tools of his trade. After inspecting the area and intently staring at the swarm of bees attached to the anchor chain, the beekeeper calmed the hive and scooped the queen bee up from among the mammoth swarm of bees. He then put her into his portable hive.

“One by one the bees began walking right into the portable hive — just like walking through a front door!” Bob recalls.

With the bees safely removed from the anchor chain, the beekeeper took them to the rescue.

Nothing’s sweeter than Savage honey

Six months later, the 30,000 bees — who are now part of the Savage family — have made Florida their home. The hive has even produced its first batch of honey, which has been aptly named Anchor Chain Honey.

“This first batch is dark because the nectar is from the Brazilian Peppertrees in Texas,” shares Bob. “But the next batch of honey in the springtime will likely be a bit different because of the nectar the bees will pick up here in Florida.”

Not many companies can boast of having their own beehive, but Savage isn’t like most companies. Finding a better way has never been sweeter.