Threat of spraying bees

[Dallasbeek]

I have two hives near the line between my house and a neighbor's, with full agreement of the neighbors.  Their side of the line is a place where people rarely go, but their yard men will be there tomorrow to remove weeds from Asian jasmine growing in their yard.  I told the yard men's boss I planned to close the bees up tonight and he said, "If I get stung, it's all over.  I'm going to spray 'em".  Then he said I had no business having bees there to start with.  Then things got ugly.

Question is, is there a way to legally stop someone from spraying bees on my property? 

Gary

[G3farms]

I would take the day off and sit in the back yard with a shotgun before they even showed up.

A video camera set up on the hive will show if they are provoking the bees (throwing things at it or poking it).

[Michael Bush]

>"If I get stung, it's all over.  I'm going to spray 'em

He would be trespassing and destroying property.  They are livestock.  If I shoot your dog because he growls at me, I can be prosecuted...  I'd close them off with screen so they can ventilate.  Once the workers go home for the day, I'd let them take a flight and then close them up again after dark if there is any chance they are coming back the next day.

[Intheswamp]

Seems kind of warm to be closing bees up...   :?

NOAA forecast for Dallas, TX
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 98.
Friday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Ed

[Dallasbeek]

Yep, it's Dallas in the summer, all right, but closing the hives is better than losing it to a fool who'd spray it, or having a major confrontation.  Hopefully, they'll do their job and leave early so I can open the hives again.  I'll definitely be there watching and then suit up to remove the hardware cloth from the openings, 'cause I expect to have some real unhappy girls all over me.

Thanks, Michael for your responses to both of my questions.  That one on smoker fuel has generated a good deal of helpful advice.  Oh, if only pine trees would grow well in Dallas' black clay!  Those pine needles sound real good.

[G3farms]

Instead of closing them up turn the yard sprinkler on them, it will keep many of them confined thinking it is raining and also keep them cooled off.

If you do close them up with screen wire in the entrance I would most definitely put a screen top on them also. A few sprinkles of water through the screened top will not hurt them either.

I would still keep an eye on them.

[G3farms]

You might even want to talk to your neighbor and tell him of the situation, he too can keep an eye on things.

One other thing, if you had a couple of sheets of plywood you could stand them up between the fence and hives to get the bees up over their heads faster. If they are planning on using a weed eater......look out.

[Intheswamp]

Are your hives in full sun?  Once you have them closed up maybe a sheet of stiff cardboard over the top of them to reduce solar gain?

Good idea on the plywood, G3.  It will also protect the bees from any projectiles *intentionally* thrown their way to rile them up or from reaching across with a rake handle.  It sounds like this yard-guy already has an attitude so I wouldn't put anything past him/them.  :-x

Pine needles?  I have pine trees all around me.  Pine straw smoke stinks and makes everything it comes in contact with stink.  I use oak pellets intended for wood stoves...been working out of the same $5 bag for the last 2.5 years with my 5 to 8 hives.  I use a handful of mown grass for a starter.  A little burned grass smell to start with that quickly turns to oak.  I'd much rather smell oak wood smoke than pine needle smoke.

Pine straw...no thanks.


Ed

[Dallasbeek]

Ed, you just PO'd all those fellows on the other thread that prefer pine needles -- of course some like it because it's free, but $5 for 5-8 hives for 2.5 years is just about free.  Thanks for the advice, everyone.  I'll try to shade the hives with cardboard for sure.  I'm mostly concerned with keeping them cool.   They have a solid ring around my bird feeder all day and I have to refill it at least twice a day.  Maybe a spray of water would help.

[Dallasbeek]

I didn't mention before that this guy has an MBA from SMU and has been mowing lawns since at least 1989, when we bought this house.  He must not have studied dispute resolution in the program :hissyfit:

[Intheswamp]

Ed, you just PO'd all those fellows on the other thread that prefer pine needles -- of course some like it because it's free, but $5 for 5-8 hives for 2.5 years is just about free.  Thanks for the advice, everyone.  I'll try to shade the hives with cardboard for sure.  I'm mostly concerned with keeping them cool.   They have a solid ring around my bird feeder all day and I have to refill it at least twice a day.  Maybe a spray of water would help.

Ah well, I've po'd plenty of folks before, why stop now.  Thankfully only a few have my address!!! :-D

Hmm, now would be a good time for a boardman feeder filled with water. ;)

Ed

[Dallasbeek]

Great idea.  Thanks!

[Moots]

How much weeding are we talking about...Another option may be to tell the yard guy for him and his crew just to avoid the "Danger Zone", You could mark it off and tell
him to leave everything between point A and B, and then simply take care of weeding that area yourself for your neighbor.  I can't imagine their flight path encompasses too big of an area.  It might just be easier, better all around solution for everyone in the long run.

Good Luck!  :)

[Michael Bush]

A wet sheet hosed off periodically could help a lot on temperatures... I hate confining bees, but I hate a feud even more...

[mikecva]

"Then he said I had no business having bees there to start with."

I do not know about Texas but Virgina is very much supportive of beekeeping to the point that they have been paying people to become new beekeepers. Here you would get into a lot of trouble spraying the bees of someone else even if your hive were on the property of a friend (with the friend's permission.) -Mike

[GSF]

Dallas,

I think it's a good idea to talk with your neighbor. Especially If yall are on good terms. Offer to find a "replacement" yard person for him. My wife has a lawn service business (just her and sometimes my son or I) She makes pretty dang good money.

Michael; In Alabama if someone's dog growls at you you can take them out. That's legal. Of course the mess with the owners will probably end up crossing the legal line.

[Dallasbeek]

I'm on good terms with my neighbor, but he has put up with this joker for more than 30 years, so what can you do?  And his yard has looked awful for years.  But my bees love his dandelions  :bee:

[Kathyp]

dang, i thought the shotgun was conflict resolution....

i would sit out there while the guy does the work.  covered or not, he doesn't sound like someone you can trust around your hives.  sitting out there with a sheet, weapon of your choice, and a cleaning kit?  so much the better.............

[Dallasbeek]

Kathy, i can't believe you're in Boring.  That remark doesn't sound like coastal Oregon.  More like the other side of Mount Hood. 

Gary

[Kathyp]

you must be thinking of Eugene, and Portland.  I am at the base of Mt Hood, trying to work my way over the mountain.  most of oregon is more like me, than like them, but they clumped up to apply to voting pressure.   :-D

you from around here?