Bear Aftermath

tejones121 · May 22, 2012, 09:16:52 PM

After a bear wrecked my first and only hive and ate everything, I got the remaining bees(queenless) into a brand new hive with 9 frames of foundation and one frame of brood and eggs that I got from a local beek. I was hoping the brood and eggs would give them a reason to stay and work, and possibly raise a queen. The next morning there were several dead larvea at the entrance. I put out a jar of syrup and within a couple of hours there were so many bees on it it looked chaotic. They took a half gallon in one day. Today i put second jar out to give them twice the room to feed. Now both jars are covered in bees. Although the syrup is disappearing, it is so crowded and chaotic that I dont see how they are getting anything done. It seems like every bee in the hive is at the syrup trying to eat and hardly any are going back in the hive. More dead larvae at the hive entrance too. Is there any chance for them?

Jim134 · May 22, 2012, 10:00:45 PM

Are you shore the hive is queenless ???

You may have an injury queen a missing leg or wing, etc. If you got an injury queen than will NOT raise a queen and will NOT accepted a new queen.

Are the bees bring the pollen ???

Did the brood get chill ???

Brood needs 97F
May be cold nites
Brood got to dry out

Have you seen eggs ???

This may take 3 to 5 days for the queen to start to lay again

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

tejones121 · May 22, 2012, 10:28:08 PM

Did not see a the queen when I gathered up the bees. It took a couple of days to locate a frame of brood. During that time, the bees just sat on the side and top of the new hive and did not forage. As soon as I put on the frame of brood, they went in and started taking syrup. I am sure the brood got chilled since the last few days and nights have been cool and wet. And with no stores, I am sure they are starving.

tejones121 · May 22, 2012, 10:45:25 PM

The frame that I got from another beek had capped cells, open brood and eggs. It was about a twenty minute drive from his place back to mine. In that time I had a few sluggish bees emerge from the cells. New bees I imagine? Also, lets assume that the brood got chilled the first night. Would this damage eggs as well or are eggs tougher to those conditions? Thanks.

Kathyp · May 22, 2012, 10:47:08 PM

did you check that frame to see if they were making queen cells?

don't worry about them getting work done. they know what to do. seems if there are dead larvae at the entrance, they are doing their thing.

to help them out, you might consider feeding on the hive. it sounds like you are open feeding? you might be attracting bees from other places to you feed. most of the time at this time of the year it's not a problem, but less stress to a stressed hive would be a good idea.

really, until you look at that frame and see what they are doing with those eggs, we are all guessing.

tejones121 · May 22, 2012, 10:54:46 PM

Thanks kathyp. I have only been at this for about 30 days. The frame i got from the neighbor was the first ever full frame i had ever seen. He showed me the egss. the open larvea were obvious. I doubt there were any queen cells since he didnt point them out. The frame has been in for two days. How long should I give then before i check it. Not sure I would know what i was looking at though. the amount of activity at the syrup jars was incredible, borderline disturbing.

iddee · May 22, 2012, 11:14:13 PM

The bees at the food jar were not yours. Find a way to feed inside the hive. Maybe a baggie feeder?
Check the frame after five to six days. It should look like this.

tejones121 · May 22, 2012, 11:36:03 PM

Ok. With the baggie feeder do I need to add another body or will it fit under the cover? How many slits in the baggie?

iddee · May 22, 2012, 11:57:12 PM

Someone else will have to help there. I have never used them. A search may help. Search for baggie feeder and ziplock feeder.

tejones121 · May 25, 2012, 09:36:20 PM

:-x Bear came back last night. Got my frame of brood and eggs. Licked it clean. Looks like I'm done for this year... :-x

beehappy1950 · May 25, 2012, 11:05:55 PM

I play a radio for my bees and it keeps the bear away.

tefer2 · May 26, 2012, 09:14:25 AM

Bears always come back to clean up the leftovers. Once they find food you need to do something or they will wipe you out.

Jim134 · May 26, 2012, 09:38:22 AM

Quote from: tefer2 on May 26, 2012, 09:14:25 AM
Bears always come back to clean up the leftovers. Once they find food you need to do something or they will wipe you out.

X:X X:X X:X X:X X:X X:X X:X

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

yockey5 · May 26, 2012, 09:46:48 AM

Quote from: tejones121 on May 25, 2012, 09:36:20 PM
:-x Bear came back last night. Got my frame of brood and eggs. Licked it clean. Looks like I'm done for this year... :-x

This is exactly what a shotgun loaded with slug ammo is for. Kill the bear~!

beehappy1950 · May 26, 2012, 10:17:21 AM

I dont think that they will come back always holds water. My neighbor got hit by bear. He set up the hive and I havent seen anymore damage. He didnt even put up a fence. I got hit this spring and I put a radio out there and he hasnt been back. Harold

tejones121 · May 27, 2012, 07:47:32 AM

Different bear this time. Found his track and he is much smaller than the one that hit me the first time. I live in a known travel area for our local bear population and right now the bears are roaming in search of food. I think if I try this again next year, I will keep the hives somewhere else. I dont think I can get a kill permit from our state for this, since I dont do this to make money. When the bear starts tearing down the corn field behind me, and costing the farmer some financial losses, then he's in trouble. :-\

AllenF · May 27, 2012, 10:06:07 AM

You will have your work cut out for you once hunting season begins this fall to find those bears.

tincan · May 27, 2012, 07:20:21 PM

does the radio seem to work bear hit my trap out and had it all on ground this morning so I put radio out by trapout in woods on big cedar tree,that there going to cut down this winter I hope it works, didnt destroy anything to bad and left my queen alone in queen cage reset everything and bees went right back in hive.

kingbee · May 27, 2012, 10:05:32 PM

a

Quote from: tincan on May 27, 2012, 07:20:21 PM... [bear] didnt destroy anything to bad and left my queen alone in queen cage reset everything and bees went right back in hive.

It sounds to me like your bear was just window shopping. I say this because your queen was in a slow release cage so I doubt there was any brood in the hive. Therefore your bruin will pay your bee colony a return visit once your hive has enough brood to make the effort bear-able. :'(