Bees and Deer

JayC · March 28, 2009, 06:31:32 AM

How do bees and deer get along? I've read about bees and raccoons, skunks and bears. Now, I don't at all suspect that deer will try to get into a hive, but I've got 2 acres that are in suburbia (hunting prohibited) and border a wooded park, so I've got deer aplenty.

I guess my concern (or maybe hope) is that bees are supposed to not be so friendly to anything "dark and fuzzy" coming near their hive. While I would reassure any person on my property to not fear the bees, I've got this illogical hope that the bees will drive the deer off. That's right! Just try and devour my garden again this year now that I've got bees all over the flowers! That sort of thing.

Anyway, does anyone have any real experience in this matter? Any risk of the deer knocking over a hive if I put it near a well used path of theirs? (Not to try and instigate things, it's just the most out of site location from the neighbors perspective.)

charmd2 · March 28, 2009, 07:28:16 AM

Sorry to tell you this.. But the deer have a path literally ten feet in front of my hives.. They don't bother the hives, and since they mostly travel during the evening and night hours.. they don't interact.

JP · March 28, 2009, 07:55:30 AM

These will be hives you will be working correct? Do you plan on getting the meanest bees you can find? If not, the bees should put up with the intrusion of deer as they would you.

Don't expect the bees to run the deer off.

...JP

BjornBee · March 28, 2009, 08:15:36 AM

I would not even think twice about deer...you will have no problems.

As a person with Lyme 4 out of the past 6 years (or was that 5 out of 7), I would be worried (or at least on guard) about those nasty ticks they leave behind. If your hives are near deer areas, ticks will hang out under the edges of the top and on the sides of the hives. Know the differences between a common brown dog tick (does not carry Lyme), and the much smaller deer tick which does.

JP · March 28, 2009, 08:24:32 AM

Hey Mike, he WANTS the deer to the have the problem, he's trying to keep them off of his vegetables man.

...JP

BjornBee · March 28, 2009, 08:26:08 AM

My Bad... ;) Didn't read that correctly.

May I suggest some venison recipes with honey as an ingredient..... :-D

JP · March 28, 2009, 08:33:48 AM

Quote from: BjornBee on March 28, 2009, 08:26:08 AM
My Bad... ;) Didn't read that correctly.

May I suggest some venison recipes with honey as an ingredient..... :-D

Its early Sat morning Mike, I'll let you slide. Bowhunting anyone?

...JP

BjornBee · March 28, 2009, 08:44:16 AM

Quote from: JP on March 28, 2009, 08:33:48 AM
Quote from: BjornBee on March 28, 2009, 08:26:08 AM
My Bad... ;) Didn't read that correctly.

May I suggest some venison recipes with honey as an ingredient..... :-D

Its early Sat morning Mike, I'll let you slide. Bowhunting anyone?

...JP

Yeah, it's getting late...I better get to bed.... :shock:

Irwin · March 28, 2009, 10:14:34 AM

A good high power pellet gun work's as good as a bow at least in my front yard :)

doak · March 28, 2009, 12:11:03 PM

I set up a couple hives right in a trail, that's where I boxed the swarm.
At first I thought that was why the bees were toppled.
Found out it was a mischievous two legged deer that had toppled it.
The deer have been going between my hives for ten years with no problems.
doak :)