Roadside rescue: Bees turn up in taken-down West Seattle tree

The beekeeper gear is a hint of what’s been unfolding alongside Jacobsen Road on the south side of Me-Kwa-Mooks Park: According to Puget Sound Beekeepers Association president Brad Jones, a city tree crew discovered a feral honey-bee colony while “cutting down a problem tree” on Thursday. This drew “much interest from beekeepers” in, and outside of, West Seattle, Jones told WSB. They needed to cut the log down further, in order to relocate it – bees still inside – to a “better, safer spot for the winter.” If they survive the winter, he explained, beekeepers will carry out another operation to get them into “standard beekeeping equipment.” They were hopeful the sizing could happen this morning; we’ll be checking back. Discoveries like this are important, because the wild honey-bee population has dropped dramatically in recent years. (The bee discovery also was noted on Beach Drive Blog – check out the spray-painted warning in one of their photos.)

11 Replies to "Roadside rescue: Bees turn up in taken-down West Seattle tree"

  • Hormel October 28, 2011 (11:41 am)

    Great work saving a local established hive! As of this morning the bees are now located in a nearby beekeepers backyard. That log was reported to be about 300 pounds!

  • herongrrrl October 28, 2011 (12:51 pm)

    I hope they’re staying nearby…I’ve been wondering where all the honeybees that come to my yard in the spring/summer are from, and I suspect now I know the answer!

  • GenHillOne October 28, 2011 (1:17 pm)

    That was a HUGE tree…drove under it while it leaned over the road a bit, and probably before the crew found the bees. Good save!

  • sophista-tiki October 28, 2011 (1:44 pm)

    neato

  • visitor October 28, 2011 (1:47 pm)

    feral bees? as opposed to “tame” bees?

  • austin October 28, 2011 (2:13 pm)

    The U.S. honey bee population can be divided into two sub-populations. The managed breeding population is composed of two geographically separated populations managed and maintained by beekeepers and bee breeders in moveable frame hives. The second population is the unmanaged feral population that consists of bees living in a variety of nest sites, both artificial and natural.

    http://www.savethehives.com/fbp/Home.html

  • Paul Bunyan October 28, 2011 (2:13 pm)

    “cutting down a problem tree”
    What?
    Call Plant Amnesty

  • I_vote October 28, 2011 (2:30 pm)

    Good job on saving the hive. Maybe they can get multiple queens and start new hives using this natural strain. If they’re doing well in the wild they’re a hearty stock.

    feral bees being ones living unassisted in a natural hive, vs ‘domesticated’ bees living in superstack hives tended by humans.

    Not aggressive unless youre banging on the hive.

  • timh2o October 28, 2011 (6:16 pm)

    So that’s why I saw Pooh Bear on Jacobsen….

  • miws October 29, 2011 (11:26 am)

    feral bees? as opposed to “tame” bees?

    .

    The tame bees are the ones that will sit on your finger and purr when you pet them. ;-)

    .

    Mike

    • WSB October 29, 2011 (11:29 am)

      Bees are awesome creatures. I wouldn’t advise the petting thing, might hurt them, but – not being allergic – I could just watch them for hours. Love the middle of the summer when so many bee-friendly flowers are blooming and you can walk by a bush full of them and listen to the buzz/hum. And if you’re a parent, please teach your kid(s) that they are not to be feared… I grew up being told to be afraid of just about EVERY insect/spider/etc. and luckily eventually learned the truth! TR

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