[Tia]

Well, Beehandler and Iddee, the critter hit again last night! I'm afraid Beehandler's right & it's a bear, but all the critter does is knock the hive over and leave a trail of empty comb back out to the woods. It never damages the frames (other than the damage sustained when the boxes are knocked over). That would leave me to believe it's teens like Iddee said, but then the trail would lead out to the road I would think; not to the woods!

When I went out to open the chickens this morning, there it was. One of my bigger hives just laying back in the wax myrtle and pine straw. They were mad, too. Got a few stings to my ankles before I had the good sense to go put on boots.

Should've known. . .and wasn't all surprised when I made the discovery this morning. The dogs were barking last night, especially my Girl, who was huffing and puffing under my bedroom window. . .usually those huffs and puffs mean a critter. And when my other dog, Petie, isn't barking, it usually means it's a big critter and he doesn't want to get involved. But I listened and looked out the window as best I could and saw nothing. I think I'm gonna have to hang a string of bells over the hives and hope the wind doesn't give me too many false alarms. I'd put in a movement sensitive floodlight, but hesitate to do so because of those same winds.

The bad news is while I was trying to reassemble the hive, it was raining and there was thunder in the background! Hadn't even brushed my teeth yet and had to contend with rain, thunder, the dang rooster crowing over and over, and angry, stinging bees! The good news is I found the queen! There was a lump of bees on the ground, all mixed into the pine straw (do you know what a dickens it is trying to pull bees out of pine straw?), so I got my dustpan and loaded the girls onto the dustpan, pine straw and all, and then put them on top of the inner cover so that I could pull out the pine straw as they meandered down into the hive. On the third try. . .there she was!!! As regal as can be. I took her majesty and placed here within the hive, not on the inner cover. Hope it works and that all will settle down and be well.

Must admit, I still haven't been inside the hive that got vandalized the other night. Now I have two to look in on.

Beehandler, I need you to come help me strap these hives together so that next time (and now I'm sure there will be a next time), I'll just have to summon superpower to pick the whole thing up at one time and put it back on its stand.

 

[Iddee]

Hive staples, not straps.

https://products.kelleybees.com/wtkprod/default.aspx

Sasquatch done it.......

You may be right. It could also be a group of raccoons. Whatever it is, you are going to have to give it a reason to stay away that is stronger than it's reason for returning.

 

[Tia]

:evil: Came back last night and tore up that same hive and then started in on another. The second one they did their first physical damage. . .turned a honey box upside down and tore out the frames & feasted on some honey. There's about half a box of good, undamaged, capped honey left, so I'm going to extract that myself. At the rate things are going, that may be the only honey harvest I see this year. Heard my dogs bark briefly at 3:20 am and looked outside but saw nothing. I stayed awake for an entire hour and heard absolutely nothing. Those little beggars sure are quiet.

Beehandler and I are installing an electric fence today. . .he's on his way over right now. Sure hope it works.

 

[Iddee]

Be sure to hang a few pieces of bacon or similar on the fence. It needs to make contact with his mouth or other unprotected area to be effective. It won't bother him through his fur.

 

[barry42001]

Get some chicken wire and lay it down on the ground, and stake it down, around the fence to ground out the bear comming into the bee yard and were I you, use barbed wire and heavy posts, string the wire as tight as possible, as the bear may well lean into the fence to knock it over before getting shocked the barbs will penetrate it's fur without truely hurting it--for that borrow a 30-06.
Barry

 

[Tia]

You guys are heavy into 30-06's, aren't you? I'm to the point where if I had one, I probably would use it!

But Beehandler, his lady and I got it up just before the rains came. I think the bees could feel our optimism because they all seem so happy. I'm going to give them a couple of days to settle down what with the bear invasion, my mowing the beeyard and Beehandler pounding fenceposts into the ground, and then I'll go in to see if all is well. I believe it will be because they all seem to be doing what bees are supposed to do. My only concern is the one that got hit Saturday night. . .not much action at the entrance so I'm thinking they may have lost their queen. If so, I'll remedy the situation next Saturday.

The bacon is ready to be place on the wires tonight. I'm ashamed to say I'm looking forward to hearing that bear squeal.

 

[beehandler]

if this doesn't work, the next level is a three part series.... 1) load 30-06
2) light the grill
3) open a beer and enjoy !!!!!! p.s. those are mighty crooked posts!!!!!! got any better pics ???

 

[Tia]

Just reported to Beehandler: Heard the dogs bark at 3 am. Looked out the window but saw nothing; listened for about a half hour but heard nothing. This morning I found the hives untouched and one piece of bacon missing! Beehandler is my hero. And yes, Beehandler. Lots of nice photos. Here's one of the finished product. I'll email you the rest.

 

[Tia]

Saw him last night. Went out to close up the chickens at 8:15 pm; not quite dark. He was standing there pondering the situation. I called out to him and he ran into the woods. . .a cub about the size of a large sheepdog. As a matter of fact at first that's exactly what I thought it was! Then logic clicked in as he ran away! This morning hives remain in tact and no further bacon has been messed with.

 

[Tia]

I've got some new info. One of my friends, a longtime resident of Down East, told me that when Honeyman had a bear the "wildlife people" came and set a live trap, caught the bear and took it away. I've spoken with several current beeks and was told that no longer is the case, but my friend insisted I try. So I called the Sheriff/Communications Office and they referred me to Wildlife Resources Communication Commission (919-707-0030) who asked me what county I live in (Carteret) and then was in turn referred to the District II Wildlife Biologist, Robbie Neville (252-523-8540). I got a call back from Mr. Neville today. He confirmed that they stopped live trapping bears about 20 years back, but he suggested that instead of the bacon I take 12" long strips of aluminum foil, fold 6" of it over the electric fence wiring, spread peanut butter on the other six inches and fold the strip over so the peanut butter's inside and let that 6" hang. He advised that if I did not fold it over the bear would actually be able to lick the peanut butter off without getting a shock, but that folded over, he would get hit pretty good. He advised he prefers to use peanut butter rather than bacon because is doesn't attract all manner of critters like the bacon does. I've hung 10 strips. Let's see what happens.

Also, my friend pointed out to me that with the logging they're doing just down the way (I've seen the log trucks going by), the bears are probably moving "down the road" to my woods. He assures me that once they stop logging the bears will go back to where they came from. . .except for the one that's already found the bounty in my back yard.

This is all wait and see. Should prove interesting. I just don't want it to be at the expense of my hives. Two of the three that were molested don't look so good already and first chance I get I'm going to go in and see what the situation is.

 

[Iddee]

I wonder what a bowl of honey with an ounce of Syrup of ipecac would do to convince him not to come back? Just a thought.

http://www.google.com/search?q=syrup+of ... =firefox-a

 

[Tia]

I couldn't be that cruel. Besides, he's only doing what bears are supposed to do! :roll:

Anyway, I have a friend to has a friend who loves bear meat. I advised I wouldn't mind that person taking up residence in my screenhouse until the situation has been resolved. Another more humane friend is talking about building a live trap to which I absolutely have no objections. I am open to all suggestions. I just personally will not harm that beautiful fuzzy creature despite the problems he's giving me.

 

[barry42001]

naaa--most rifle rounds weight considerable less then a ounce and actually costs abouts .85 cents per cartridge
bear meat is somewhat stringy and gamy, very fatty as you may expect but tasty--use garlic makes everything taste good.

 

[tecumseh]

snip...
p.s. those are mighty crooked posts!!!!!!

tecumseh:
as an old welder plainly explained to me once.... "we ain't building clocks here".

tia writes:
Anyway, I have a friend to has a friend who loves bear meat.

tecumseh:
an uncle explained to me long ago that after the first time he killed and skinned a bear he gave up on the idea of ever considering doing the same thing again. he said that once a bear was skinned it looked just like a person.

whatever you decide...good luck with that bear.