A lot of people find it hard to believe that a company like ours can can stay in business. “Are there really that many bees in San Diego?” is a question we hear all the time.
Although it is a seasonal business, the truth of the matter is that the bees keep us pretty busy. Despite the drought, water restrictions, and bee loss, we still manage to remain focused and specialize primarily on bees, wasps, and hornets.
The biggest challenge for some live bee removal companies isn’t having enough business. Their biggest challenge is where to put the all the bees. It is a challenge we here at Bee Best Bee Removal have faced in the past as well.
Lucky for us, we teamed up with a co-op beekeeping network called Hive Savers. We also network with some members of the San Diego Beekeeping Society. By working with local beekeepers, we have a place where we can put our live bee removals.
Other companies are not so fortunate. For whatever reason they have not found a place to put their bees. Some of these companies are resorting to illegally dumping their bees.
Can you imagine suddenly finding an abandoned beehive on your property? It happens here in San Diego. Suddenly a property owner has to deal with the expense and hassle of removing the bees from their property.
Last month we were contacted by one such owner. Down in a huge ditch, someone had abandoned some beehives. Laying deep in the canyon, close to a popular walking path were four abandoned, neglected, and dilapidated wood boxes with fully established hives inside. One of the boxes had an irrigation lid with a hive attached, just stuffed inside the box.
So why is this a problem? Some may argue “Hey, at least the bees weren’t killed!”
We disagree. Abandoned hives are a threat to both public safety, and to bee populations as well. Below are 5 reasons why dumping bees illegally jeopardizes bee health and public safety.
1. Safety – Bees need to be in a secure area. Safe distances from roads and buildings are important. Even in a canyon, hikers or a passerby might stumble into the area accidentally.
2. Cost to taxpayers and residents – Bee removal can be costly. Most people who want bees, do not want feral bees; especially in an area where africanized bees are present.
3. Damaging to bee health – Abandoned bee hives that are not properly managed can negatively affect the managed beehives of nearby beekeepers and apiaries. Unmanaged bees often become susceptible to the varroa mite. The varroa mite is arguably the most destructive pest to the honey bee. Varroa mites feed off of the larvae and adult honeybees, which ultimately leads to bee loss. An abandoned and unmanaged hive can spread the varroa mite to both the native bee population, and properly managed hives and apiaries.
4. Spread of africanized bees – San Diego is an africanized bee zone. One way to combat the problem is for backyard beekeepers to re queen their hives regularly. In theory, managed hives help reduce africanization of nearby hives. Feral bees in San Diego are over 60% africanized. The last thing we need are more unmanaged hives contributing to the spread.
5. Unmanaged hives will likely will be eliminated – We see it in the news all the time. A hiker stumbles into hive. A gardener is attacked when he starts up a lawnmower. An africanized hive starts attacking people in the neighborhood. What happens next? The fire department is usually called out and the bees are eliminated to ensure public safety. This rarely happens when hives are managed.
Take a look at the clip below. Its a video we shot while inspecting a canyon where some hives were dumped illegally. The owner of the property called us out to remove the hives from the canyon. The hives had been there for a very long time and displayed africanized behaviors. Due to the aggressive temperament of the colonies, the conditions of the hives, and the steep incline of the canyon, the hives were ultimately eliminated for public safety.
SEC. 62-907 IMPROPERLY MANAGED BEES
No person shall own or operate an apiary that contains one or more colonies of bees that are improperly managed. A colony of bees shall be considered improperly managed when bees from the colony are off the apiary property and sting or attempt to sting humans or animals without provocation.
62.924 PERMISSION OF LANDOWNERS
No person shall place or keep an apiary, or cause or allow an apiary to remain, on land not owned or possessed by such person without first obtaining the permission so to do of owner or person lawfully in possession of such lands.
