We've got our hives set up in Maine finally. We had a problem with the electric fence, and hubby is worried - have any of you had problems with raccoons ripping at the screen bottom boards? He's heard that can be a problem and there are some monster raccoons around the house up there! :shock:
i have them and they are a pain. so far they have not bothered the hives, but i'm sure it is a matter of time. i put my hives on RR ties so there is only about a 2 in space between the sbb and the RR ties. i also strap my hives down with cargo straps. the bad part about not having the hives open to the ground is that you have to clean under the hive once a year or so. bugs do a pretty good job, but they don't take away everything.
I elevate my hives about 20 inches or so. Skunks, possum and raccoons dont like to expose their bellies while eating bees for obvious reasons. So far so good. Lots of coons here. Big garbage can eating size ones.
I haven't had any problems with the wild life around here so far but, The one thats not near the house is on a pallet and strapped down to it.
Quote from: KONASDAD on May 15, 2007, 02:47:18 PM
I elevate my hives about 20 inches or so. Skunks, possum and raccoons dont like to expose their bellies while eating bees for obvious reasons. So far so good. Lots of coons here. Big garbage can eating size ones.
We should be safe until this Saturday then. We got the go ahead from the fence people that my installation was indeed safe and correct. We'll plug it in this weekend and keep our fingers crossed that the raccoons keep their distance for a few days longer.
Konasdad,
The raccoons in your area eat garbage cans? They must be huge!
I use to have a pet raccoon as a teenager--found out that a good way to make him drunk was to feed him raw corn-on-the-cob. He would get the blind staggers by the time he ate the 3rd one.
I have a welded wire fence around my bee yard. The coons havent even looked at the hive. Skunks however have been digging around the fence. I burried the fence down about 6 inches and it's kept them out so far.
Something my neighbor told me he does to keep the coons out of his corn is to take a small transistor radio, put it on an AM talk station, turn up the volume just enough not to bother the neighbors and set it out by the corn (or hive in our case). It's just enough talking to keep the coons away and has been working here for years. But it has to be a talk station. Music seems to enourage the coons. The talking makes them think people are around and they stay away.
Neat trick and I'm gunna try it in my corn this year.
Sean Kelly
Since my bottoms are only 3 1/2" off the ground the coons don't get under them. Since I have no bottom entrance, the skunks and mice and possums don't bother them.
Thanks for the tip about the radio, Sean. I'm trying corn again after skipping last year because of the coons.
Either that or I read that xylitol (artificial sweetner in sugar free gum) does a number on dogs so I thought maybe it might have an effect on coons and skunks (special today only....free stick of gum with every underripe corn ear destroyed!!)......
Rick
Quote from: Scadsobees on May 17, 2007, 09:30:52 AM
Thanks for the tip about the radio, Sean. I'm trying corn again after skipping last year because of the coons.
Either that or I read that xylitol (artificial sweetner in sugar free gum) does a number on dogs so I thought maybe it might have an effect on coons and skunks (special today only....free stick of gum with every underripe corn ear destroyed!!)......
Rick
Yeah, I thought the radio thing would be awesome. Great organic way of taking care of the corn and bees. I wonder if it's enough to keep the skunks away.
Sean Kelly