I think this s a GREAT question, as it is so thought provoking!

Once upon a time I would have answered unequivocally no. they are "housed" feral insects.  However, as things have come to be (and I spent the afternoon cleaning up deadouts at the first of many yards to go), I'm inclined to answer the question with a question.  Will bees survive without beekeeper intervention?  I cleaned up many a deadout where I HAD to ask, and could not answer, "Why did this hive die?"  I had cases of starvation, and I had cases of tell tale Varroa corpses on the bottom board, and overwhelmingly I had to blame PPBP (piss poor beekeeping practices) and lamented that if I had the time to tend my hives so I could address last August the obvious problems I'm seeing this February, I would not be dealing with so many deadouts.

As such, I have to say unequivocally, "Yes, bees are livestock!"

Aaron Morris - think too many avertable deadouts!


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