Hello All,


> Richard Yarnell wrote:
> >
> > I can think of one good reason: the example it would set.  People who
saw  you do it but who were unaware of the difference between your
non-viable  "truck stop" swarm and a real swarm might quit calling bee folks
to  salvage swarms.

I go to the trouble for the reasons Richard stated above. I want to make
people understand even bees have value. I explain about  most of the feral
bees are gone from parsitic mites.

I would however use the method Allen suggested before risking getting hurt.
A.I. Root sells an excellent video on using soapy water. I have shown the
video to several fire departments in my area.

 I do not have a problem with working the truck stop swarm off a ladder as
long as someone dependable is  holding the ladder. Not the case in most
cases so I prefer working off the truck roof. As the bees fall below on a
non beekeeper holding the ladder for you as you dangle 20 feet up many
helpers will desert the ladder duty aand leave you dangling. I speak from
experience.

Bill wrote:

We have had several pollinator trucks overturn in Maine and forget
> trying to save one bee. They are immediately sprayed down. Not worth
doing anything else when the public safety is involved.

And  who should make the final decision  to spray kill 30 to 40 thousand
dollars worth of bees?  Most times the load can be saved and uprighted  with
air bags. Many times the netting is intack. Letting a wrecker driver try to
upright things with one wrecker or by running a cable over the top and
pulling the cable through the   bee hives are common *dumb ideas* usually
pushed by an inexperienced police officer in charge. All migratory
beekeepers would rather pay the extra fee  to have the load uprighted
properly (with air bags).

Usually the public stays in their car and observes. Never gets a sting. The
man in charge gets a close look and gets hell stung out of him (why wouldn't
he ) and then decides the public will get stung if they do the dumb things
he has done and decides to spray the load.  Why walk up on a group of
beekeepers in suits working a bee wreck unprotected. Duh!

 I admit there are times when spraying is the best solution but in my
opinion MOST of the time the load can be worked without endangering the
public safety. If you look at most truck bee wrecks the cause is from
falling asleep or hitting the ditch to keep from hitting a four wheeler.
Most happen in rural areas.

I do not agree with Bill's "they are immediately sprayed down".

I believe the public should be kept at a safe distance and Barney  should
put a veil on and the beekeeper given a opportunity to salvage his losses
within a reasonable amount of time  if only a minor risk to the public
exists.
Sincerely,
Bob Harrison