modom (palindrome guy) wrote:
> Last week we discovered not one, but two small swarms of bees in an
> oak tree in our side yard. It took some phone calls to the county
> extension service and then to a couple of bee guys, but Thursday
> evening Don, a bee wrangler from the county seat, showed up to take
> care of them for us. D had a work gig that evening, so it was I who
> witnessed bee wrangling first hand.
>
> Don hauled a beehive box up our ladder and perched it on the little
> paint-bucket shelf. He bent the branch the swarm was on near the open
> top and -- WHACK! He rapped the branch sharply on the box, and the
> bees plopped inside. Back on the ground, he put the top on.
>
> Some of the bees still wanted back on the branch (apparently they
> could smell the queen's scent there), so we eventually had to lop the
> branch off to discourage them. Don took the other swarm with him in a
> catch box: payment for his services. Next day the bees were still in
> our new hive, so it looked like they'd determined to stay.
>
> The plan was to move them to the community garden at a later date. But
> this morning we had a lot of rain, and the hive was in a low spot in
> the yard. I didn't go out there, but I'm pretty sure the bottom of
> the hive had water in it at least some of the day. So after I figured
> the bees had gone to bed this evening I moved the hive to the garden.
>
> That's not something I ever thought I'd say. I moved a beehive.
> Across town. Tonight.
>
> I stuffed a towel into the slot the bees use to get in and out of the
> hive, borrowed a friend's pickup, and called another garden guy for
> help. "Okay, I'll help move it, but I'm allergic."
>
> Great. "Allergic like you go into anaphylactic shock if you're
> stung?"
>
> "No, but I get really sick."
>
> I suggested that he only watch and advise, and he agreed.
>
> I hoisted the hive onto the truck bed and laid a couple of hammers on
> the towel to keep it steady. Off to the garden I went. Ole modom,
> haulin' bees. Bee haulin' man, listening to Hank Williams on the
> radio, truckin' bees to the vegetable patch. Just like he knew what
> he was doing, which he didn't.
>
> My allergic help followed in his car. Then as night started falling
> for real, we decided where the bees should be (not too close to
> gardeners) and I heaved the hive off the truck and set it in place.
>
> I wonder if the bees are still there? I saw one enter the hive
> tonight before the move, but if it got unpleasant enough in there this
> morning, I could see them deciding to relocate after the storm.
>
> We'll know tomorrow.

Well, that's different! I hope your efforts are rewarded.

--
Jean B.