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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
"J. Waggle" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 1 Jul 2012 20:37:00 -0400
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>I was wondering what other critters would do such damage?

I have experience with problem bears.  They are often
trapped by the game commission in western Pennsylvania 
cities and dumped in the woodlands near me so they 
can become other peoples problem.

Typically, with bear destruction of 'strong colonies', the propolis
holds some hive parts secure, and the bear would  need to 
pry its way inside.  Hive bodies, inner-covers may tend to
receive at least some damage in the process.  But you 
make no mention of hive part damage.

However, -if 'top bars' are broke, I would surly suspect 
bears. 

What is bugging me is that you mention the hives were
knocked over and frames scattered and broken up. 
This seems to suggest the hives were not propolized 
much, and also that the colonies may have been
weak, or very young, for an animal to have such an 
easy time pulling frames, -assuming now that no hive 
part damage occurred. 

My guess is either bears or raccoons raiding two
rather weak or young colonies. 

Raccoons are known to do damage of this 
sort to very weak colonies.  

Bears invading weak colonies will often tip over a hive,
-frames fall out easily, -they damage a few frames.
Usually no hive damage occurs, and they move on to the 
next colony because they found not much there to eat.

Best Wishes
Joe Waggle
Pennsylvania 

 





  

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