Woman Saves Injured Bee Queen, She Recovers

Gilly McArthur rescued an injured queen bee named Phoebee from a roadside in July, after the insect was found lying in the blistering sun with a broken wing. McArthur, who had no experience caring for bees, took Phoebee home and fashioned a makeshift bed of flowers for the queen, believing the bird would die within a day. The rescue was filmed and shared online, quickly drawing attention from local wildlife groups and social media users.

Despite McArthur’s initial doubts, Phoebee has shown remarkable resilience. Over the past fifty‑two days, the queen has been observed climbing onto McArthur’s arm, slipping around her neck and even disappearing into her hair, indicating a return to normal behavior. McArthur reports that the bee has begun to feed and is actively moving within its new environment, suggesting that the injury is healing and the queen’s survival prospects have improved.

The case underscores the potential for human intervention to aid wildlife in distress. While McArthur remains cautious about the queen’s long‑term health, the recovery of Phoebee offers a hopeful example of how prompt, compassionate care can alter the outcome for injured animals.