Japanese Hornets & Raccoons

[rail]

We have Japanese Hornets (ouch!!!) & Raccoons on the property here!

How do I protect the new hive?

Charles

[wisnewbee]

I can't help you with the hornets, but I'm a trapper, so I have some insight there. Contact your state DNR and find out about getting a nuisance permit. If you've never trapped before I recommend you let an experienced trapper make the capture. Look in the yellow pages for pest control. Most inexperienced people end up teaching the animal to be trap shy. This just makes it harder and more expensive when a Pro has to get involved. You will most likely not be allowed to relocate the animals, so that means putting them down, humanely. Hope that helps.

Bill

[organicfarmer]

Raising the hive a foot or so from the ground will expose the coon's belly to bee attack. i have done that and it worked. Did the stings deter the creature or did he just move concurrently to my raising the hive? i have always been puzzled by the fact they can eat and support stings in their mouth but not on the belly. Another method i have heard is a board full of nails sticking up in the front of the hive. Just remember it yourself at each and every inspection or it will remind itself to you.
Neither of these will deter hornets, sorry. Would wasps traps (hanging plastic bottles with diluted viinegar, sugar and banana peel, is that correct recipe?) work for hornets?

[T Beek]

Another simple recipe if so inclined, is putting a tablespoon of (any flavor, but raspberry seems to work best w/ honets) jelly in a pint jar filled about half way with water, stirred.  Drill one hole size of a pencil in top and place in the sun near your hives.  Do this in the morning and you'll know before nightfall how bad an issue you (and your bees ) have.  If bad you can put a new one out every day.

I've yet to have an issue with Racoons with my bees, but a Momma once got in the garage and had six little ones.  My garage cats ignored them :-D and the Racoons ignored LOUD music for two days before I got up into the rafters, found the nest and sprinkled moth balls all around it.  Within an hour that Momma carried all six out the soffet vent she'd ripped open to gain entry.  Shoulda' got that one on video.

thomas

[David McLeod]

In NC a depredation permit is required to trap nuisance wildlife. In order to qualify for the permit documentable damage in the amount of $50.00 or more must have already occurred. Also once captured nuisance wildlife RVS (rabies vector species) must be euthanized and not relocated.
On the japanese hornets, are you sure they are japanese and not the similar european or possibly the similar looking cicada killers. Neither of these species are a threat to your bees.

[greenbtree]

So we have Japanese Hornets here, not just the European ones? :-P

[Brian D. Bray]

So we have Japanese Hornets here, not just the European ones? :-P

What language were they speaking?

I don't see why we can't have Japanese as well as European hornets, after all, we've got people from every country in the world.

[rail]

Maybe they are European Hornets? How can I tell the difference?

One of these Hornets stung me on my large toe, under the nail, of my right foot. The hornet was the size of my thumb! Emergency room visit and a shot of prednisone!

The sting felt like "hot 90 weight gear oil" being injected into my toe.

I should not worry about the hornets and the new hive?

Charles