Steve. Absolutely!!!! We live in bear country. We know how much Winnie the Pooh loved his honey eh? We actually live on a bear path. We border a dark deep ravine with bush on both sides, murky, dark, perfect place for bears to traverse from different parts of our area to other parts.
The other night our neighbour saw the mamma bear and last years cub with her. She got really scared and started yelling at these two lovelies. They just looked at her. Then her dog started to really get going on barking and these bears started running, they ran along her fence to the end of her property and then came back up the fence on my side. I don't know where we were or all 6 of our dogs, but we didn't even know it happened. Mind you, it was about 10:00 PM and all were in our homes.
The neighbour told my sister the next morning (yesterday morning) this mamma and yearling (???) were in her driveway. She had to go out and they plain and simply would not move one inch to get out of her way. Go figure. I guess with lots of horn honking and her yelling at them through the window, they decided to mosey somewhere else to bug others.
This is the only time of year when we must really be careful about the bears. This month of June, it must be when they are bearing young and are out to get good foody goody. All the children have been told for the time being that they are not allowed to play in the ravine, which they love to do, and then not out the back property. It is hard for them to comprehend that bears are mean, especially when they have a cub at their side.
Last summer a friend neighbour that lives about 1/2 km to the west of my property, who keeps one colony had a nasty old bear come and wreck her only hive. Was she annoyed (and sad). She moved her beehive, when she had reassembled. it to her girlfriends, because she was worried about the return of the bear. It did not damage much, just dumped the two story colony over.
I had had bees now for two years, I have not had any problem yet. This fence is tall, and had very good electric fencing that packs a whollop. My husband can attest to that, I can attest to that, three of our dogs (couple of them can tell ya twice) can attest to it. It really actually hurts when you get the electricity getting ya.
My poor husband. One day he was going to throw a tool or something out of the bee pen. When he bent over to pick it up.....eeeeeks!!!!! He has a shaved head and man did he get a whack. He said it almost knocked him on his arse!!! I still can't help giving a little chuckle when I think of it. I know how much it hurts when my arm touches it. I have had that experience three times now. Oh brother. Oh well, don't they say you are to live and learn. It must not be in my cards. Have a wonderful day, beautiful life, and isn't nice the forum has finished with the crashy thing. Cindi
Topic: Apiary on May 24, last (Read 2417 times)