I am just getting ready to set up my hive (8 frame mediums) and I need advice on what to do to make it safe(er) from racoons, possums, skunks and mice. In the summer racoons and possums visit my backyard almost nightly. Skunks just once in a while. I live on .4 of an acre in the middle of town but back to a small (56 acre) lake with just enough vacant land around that we have a lot of wild critters (not to mention tons of Canadian geese). I have lots of bulk birdseed on my patio and the racoons were getting into that nightly. I've corrected that problem. Also I see lots of mice trying to eat at my birdfeeders so I am sure they will be a problem in the winter. What defensive measures should I take now to protect my hive? :?
I am also quite new. However, I was seriously considering a dog kennel to put the hives in. I am also quite willing to defend them with something small.. maybe a .22.
First, the hives need to be elevated a bit - enough so that the coons or possums have to stand up in order to reach the hive entrance (this exposes their undersides to stinging). Second, make it uncomfortable: carpet tack strips on the landing board won't bother the bees, but make it difficult for Mr. Coon to find a place to put his paws to stand up. Some beeks put a bunch of tacks thru an old piece of carpet and put that in front of the hive.
Another, perhaps simpler method, is to use top entrances on your hives:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm)
I placed my hive inside an old dog kennel it seems to slow them down , but I still find things disturbed inside the kennel occasionally, my hives are also elevated ,I'm thinking of putting an electric fence around the top of kennel, I'm also going to place my trail camera so it is pointed at the hive so I can see what comes around at night.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to go get some tack strips. I was thinking of putting my set up (complete w/hive stand) up on cinder blocks to give it a big more elevation. Don't want things to get too high. I am only 5'2".
Does it help to bunge cord the supers/hive bodies together so if they get pushed over, at least maybe they will stay together, or are racoons and possums strong enough to tip an stack of 8 frame mediums over. I saw some pictures on another site of a skunk eating on some honey/brood frames so he had to have been able to push the hive over in order to get to the frames.
I prefer the natural "golden" approach--I have 2 golden retreivers, plus a couple of cats that patrol the yard. They are very dependable! My female golden is more of a mouser than my cats. She regularly catches rats, etc. I have never had a problem with pests pestering my hives. I never have to worry about stepping on the dog, either! 8-)
Kelly
Kelly,
my yard isn't fenced at all so I don't have a dog and my cat is just an old bag of bones, afraid of his own shadow. I might try some animal control traps to trap the varmits, but no telling what I would catch. We have beavers here in the yard occasionally. I've lost some nice landscaping to them.
Linda
Linda
I have all the same critters as you do. I keep my hives up on a hive stand (about 18" from the ground) and I keep 2-3 very strong bricks on top to keep the critters from being able to open up the hives. I know some critters have been around my hives from time to time because I will find the entrance reducer pulled out, or scratches on the dirt in front. So far I haven't really had any major problems. My biggest fear is bears, but so far (knock on wood) they haven't come around.
I had read an article in Bee Culture magazine about strapping the hives together so if they get knocked down, they will at the least stay together (because the supers are all propolized they will stick together) so this is a possibility and I have even thought about it from time to time. I read it can turn off even bears (well who knows about that one) when strapped together, but it has to be a metal strap,not cloth.
Good luck
Annette
Quote from: ldaxon on April 22, 2010, 10:43:39 PM
Kelly,
my yard isn't fenced at all so I don't have a dog and my cat is just an old bag of bones, afraid of his own shadow. I might try some animal control traps to trap the varmits, but no telling what I would catch. We have beavers here in the yard occasionally. I've lost some nice landscaping to them.
Linda
Linda:
I bought an invisible fence at Wal-Mart for mine. I live on an acre, so fencing that would cost a fortune $. It works great. The dogs stay in the enclosure and I don't have to worry about them digging under the fence. We do have some black bears around here, too, but the dogs would raise Hell if one showed up.
Kelly
Raccoons and possums generally are not a problem.
Skunks and mice can be handled by mechanical means, proper positioning of the hives, etc.
Bears should be dealt with by fences.
I always am amazed by how easy it is for some to just shoot every animal trespassing onto your property. Raccoons get in the garbage cans....don't use your noggin to keep them out...just leave those flimsy lids on as they are....then shoot, shoot, shoot!
Being the "supposed" higher intelligent beings on the planet, there are many ways to overcome critters in the backyard. But just as one of my neighbors once stated "Your bees are flying all over my yard! I don't like bees. I want you to control them" she stated. I asked of what she thought may be attracting them to her yard. She said "Oh, they love all my flowers in the garden". :roll: I suggested perhaps she not plant anymore flowers for such things as butterflies, hummingbirds and "my" bees. She was not amused.
And of course we all know or may of heard that some property owners fed up with bees in the area, have set out laced (poisoned) syrup, thus eliminating "their" problem, after suggesting that they had a right to kill what comes on their property. And then the very beekeepers who will shoot anything crossing their paths in their own yard, are the first to claim "foul" when the next neighbor over does the same.
Of course the irony is the same forum that is pushing boy scout badges, also is conversing about shooting any critter that may be "threatening" bees in the backyard. Nice message for those teens out there. Got a problem....pick up a gun!
How about just coming up with solutions eliminating the "banquet" we supply the critters, and properly position the hives, use other deterrents rather than a gun, and perhaps coexist with the wildlife in the area? Too many people leave the garbage cans lids off (Or at least not build a better mousetrap)....then shoot anything just doing what they naturally do. And it's the same for bees.
If you can not keep your bees safe without shooting all the wildlife in the area, maybe you should rethink why your into bees.
And for anyone who does not know me, I love hunting. I love eating meat. But I love animals and nature also. I just think there are ways to protect bees without killing animals.
Quote from: Rebecka on April 22, 2010, 01:08:27 AM
I am also quite willing to defend them with something small.. maybe a .22.
There is a big difference in just randomly shooting something thats coming around and threatening live stock and actively defending. You make some valid points and I might have done well to be more specific. Around here, guns are a part of life. Of course its not the preference to ever kill anything if it can be avoided. There are simply times , when it cannot be avoided.
Rebecka,
As always, most of my comments are from a general sense. Of course the dialog is between a few members posting, but may be read by hundreds if not thousands. My points certainly are for readers to ponder, think about, consider, or even debate. Of course I've shot a groundhog or two in my days when nothing else seemed to work. But I also know there are many people that would not even consider trying to get garbage cans with locks or some tamper proof lids, let alone place their hives in better settings. They would rather think shooting them is the answer and then laugh about it while feeling smug in their ignorance of not being able to deal better with a situation.
I have no problem with guns or shooting an animal. But when it is for pure pleasure or pure ignorance, then I take issue. Of course you did not elaborate, so do not take it personally. It's more for general readership and consideration.
fair enough :-D
I have stayed up all night to get rid of skunks... the problem is there usually isn't one, there is a family and they keep coming back...
I went to top entrances and never had another skunk problem.