From the WSB Forums: “Bee” on the lookout

| Environment | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(June 2008 Riverview-area photo by Christine – click to see larger version)
We’ve had a few reports in recent years of bee swarms (particularly the summer of 2008), followed by frantic searches for information on who, if anyone, to notify. This year, the experts have reached out first – with this note in the WSB Forums today. Beekeeper Brad Jones writes that if you find a honeybee swarm – he and other local beekeepers (including Sustainable West Seattle president Brian Allen) will help find it a home. Their contact info is in the Forums post – worth bookmarking!

Living in West Seattle Since 1985 March 22, 2010 (8:58 pm)

I have had wasps take up residence under the eves of my house for the past 4 years. They are aggressive little buggers! I always call an eco-friendly exterminator who sprays some kind of flower derivative on the hive that makes the wasps go away. Its nice because the products they use are safe for children and pets to be around. Its worth asking a lot of questions when getting rid of pests. Sometimes the war against bees gets down right toxic!

ad March 22, 2010 (10:05 pm)

I’m allergic to bees. I better be packing my epi pen on all outings from now on!

As-if March 23, 2010 (8:14 am)

Yes, my wife and I were in our back yard last summer and heard a strange, rather loud buzzing sound comming our way. We looked up and saw a large dark brown dense ball of bees, about 6 feet in diameter, heading our way. We took off for the door, but by the time we reached it, the swarm had moved through our yard and out the other side, and was gone. It was as-if we in some movie like, “Attack of the Killer Bees” or something. We have since avoided the “horror” section of Blockbuster.

Julie March 23, 2010 (11:12 am)

Fyi, bees tend to be docile when swarming, they have nothing to protect. Also, wasps are not the same as bees and do not swarm and a bee keeper will not come and get them.

picot March 23, 2010 (2:00 pm)

As someone who is deathly allergic to honey bees is there anyway to find out where people are raising hives? As a horticulturalist I understand the need to offer the bees some help with backyard bee keeping but as a neighbor it can be russian roulette for some of the population. Beekeeping in high density areas has some responsibilities that perhaps get overlooked in the effort to offer the species some respite.

Ms Bette March 24, 2010 (11:27 am)

Last year my daughter put a hive in our yard. I thought she was crazy. Since then I have gained a lot of knowledge that most people have no access to. I’d love to see some talks about bees – like maybe at the library or West Seattle Nursery? There are many kinds of bees and NONE of them are yellow jackets or wasps. Some bees are more docile than others. They do not sting unless they are protecting the hive. If you are in their path and/or wearing purple, you have more of a chance of the bees being attracted to you. I am allergic to insect stings. I am not afraid of bees. I have even learned to pick them up by holding them on their soft little sides. Bees help all of us in so many ways. They are worth becoming educated about and worth keeping.

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