Monday, July 2, 2018

A BEE PROBLEM

I haven't posted about this because we had to give it some time to check it out so we'd know the outcome.



When we lost our last beehive, I was lazy and didn't throw away the hive boxes right away.  They would have either had to be meticulously cleaned (the wax melted and the honey fermented, ugh) or hauled off and dumped.  I left it alone as Winter approached and figured I'd tackle it in the Springtime.

Months passed.

When mowing season was about to start this year I walked the property as I always do to make sure I wasn't going to mow over any fallen limbs.  Imagine our surprise when we found bees in our empty hive!  We had captured a wild swarm!  I know many beekeepers hope to capture wild swarms and purposely set up hives for that reason.  That wasn't our intent but somehow we got them anyway. 


I figured I'd wait a few weeks to see how they settled in to the hive.  Over this time however, I found that they seemed more aggressive than normal bees.  I went to the hive once with my suit on and they pelted the suit repeatedly.  This made me nervous.  

In recent weeks as I have mowed, I have found them to be even more aggressive than they were before.  They are easily agitated.  Remember, I had the boxes set up with the three hives of bees we had in the past and I could mow pretty close to them and they were fine. These bees however, you can't get within a couple hundred yards before they start swarming around outside the hive box, often turning the exterior of the box from white to brown. 



This last time I mowed, I did my usual mowing job while staying far away from the hive (the grass is getting really tall around the hive area).  I looked over and they were pouring out like smoke and heading my direction.  I punched the speed on the mower, got to the driveway, jumped off and ran as fast as I could toward the house.  They chased me almost all the way and a few even kept going and were hitting the screen door of the house.  I wasn't stung thankfully, but it was like some scary attack of the bees movie.  

No.
Not going to happen.

It's very possible that we have captured an Africanized swarm (i.e. what they used to call "killer bees").  They have all the signs of this and from what I've seen up close, they also match the description (more golden yellow, darker bands, etc).



This may sound odd but while I loved working the bees we had (I even took a hands on beekeeping class and loved it), something about these bees gave me a sense of foreboding.  I can't explain it but from the moment I first saw them, something in me said to be careful.  When walking near them gathering dewberries a few weeks back, they made the hair stand up on my arms and my heart beat faster.  Could have been imagination or maybe it is indeed wise to listen to your instinct.

With 2nd Family having kids visiting, us having visitors or workers, dogs and cats roaming around, even the deer and other wildlife we have passing through the property, we just can't have the potential for something bad happening because of the bees.

As much as it pains us (because of the importance of bees), whether they are Africanized or angry feral honeybees, they have to go. We have called a couple of professionals to see about coming to remove the hive and they can take the boxes and then relocate them elsewhere if that's possible. We just can't have them at the farm.

Never a dull moment!

30 comments:

  1. Not a good thing.
    I'm with you on having them removed off your property. Not worth the risk having someone or something being attacked by them.
    Keep us posted.

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    1. Yep, we were on the fence, UNTIL this weekend. Will stay away from that area (it's far enough away). Have a couple calls to different bee wrangler type people.

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  2. If you hear from the professionals whether or not they WERE Africanized, would you please let us know? I'm very curious. Glad they never stung you.

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    1. I will definitely do that! We're curious too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. I'd say go with your instincts. I remember when the killer bees were still in Central America, but it sounds like them. And yes, I've heard of many deaths from them of people and animals. Better to get rid of them than be sorry later.

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    1. Yep, instinct is usually there for a reason, ha. There are definitely Africanized bees here in Texas. There are also just wild swarms that are aggressive because they've never been "worked" or bred to take out those aggressive qualities.

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  4. same here....they would be toast! it's survival of the fittest after all! i had exterminators out to get rid of my carpenter bees this spring. i let them go the last few years and my guest house was looking like swiss cheese.

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    1. LOL, I hear ya. Carpenter bees are a pain. They are harmless as far as stinging but dang, they can drill holes faster than a woodpecker.

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  5. Please listen to your instincts. I know of two men in my town who were killed by Africanized bees. My Dad was almost another victim. He was working on his farm when he encountered some. Luckily my brother had his pickup nearby and Daddy jumped in the back as he told my brother to hit the gas. The bees chased him in the pickup for at least half a mile.
    So please be very, very careful until you can have them removed.

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    1. Wow, thank you for this info. That's scary. Yes, they chased me, but I outran them (or maybe they gave up, ha) but a few were persistent. It's definitely creepy. I promise to be careful.

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  6. Yeah,get rid of them NOW! Perhaps sneak up in the dark and set fire to the hive..

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    1. LOL, that actually did cross my mind. Of course with my luck I'd set a tree on fire or something, ha.

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  7. Anything that chases me that far and hits the screen door, even if it is butterflies, has to go. Good move. I hope you have warned other people around you.

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    1. LOL, that made me laugh. And yes, they all know to stay away.

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  8. Wow, what a story! I've wished a swarm would move into one of my empty hives but not that kind! It's a shame they weren't tamer, but really, you're doing the right thing. They need to go.

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    1. I've heard of people capturing them and to accidentally catch one since we weren't trying, well we were happy at first. Until those "heebie jeebies" started up, ha. But yeah, we're not killing them, we're giving them a chance, just somewhere ELSE. Of course if they are africanized, I think they do dispose of them but we'll see. Stay tuned!

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  9. Please have professionals get rid of those nasty bees ASAP. And please stay safe!

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    1. Will do, already have a couple calls placed. Thank you!

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  10. Please don't mow or weedeat until these are gone,they attack machinery!

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    1. I will not hoping they are gone this week or next. Stay tuned!!

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  11. I would definitely get rid of that hive......that's scary hey chased you all the way to your house.

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    1. I know, it wasn't the whole cloud of them but a good dozen or so made it to the house. Definitely scary!

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  12. I've had Africanized bees. I called Critter Control. The man who went out to inspect was all suited up. The bees were bouncing off of him even as he walked away to his truck some fifty yards away. I was amazed! He said it was his third hive of the day.

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    1. Hello!! Thanks for stopping by and sharing that. Scary indeed. And yes, the Africanized bees are spreading all across the Southern United States. Be safe!

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  13. 1st Man, You ran faster than you thought; huh. Good thing you had your track shoes on :}
    Just never know what a person can do until a situation arises

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    1. LOL, I did run pretty darn fast, ha. I think I took the porch stairs two at a time!

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  14. Contact the county extension agent. I think the state used to keep up with sightings. And definitely exterminate.

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  15. I'm curious - will they bother the other hive? The "good" bees?

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