Hi Peter

> Preventable stinging incidents only cast a dim light
> on beekeeping. It is a rural occupation,
> despite the success some people have had
> keeping bees in town.

Maybe it is the ignorance of the general population about bees and bee
keeping, but historically
bees were exploited wherever they were naturally found...

When they became domesticated they were kept close to dwellings and this
situation was the norm until about 100 years ago. As the general population
has had progressively less contact with bees they have become more ignorant
and frightened. This fear has caused beekeepers to be forced to keep their
bees in a more rural or agricultural situation.

Many agricultural or rural locations are a 'desert' as far as bee forage is
concerned.

I have to temper the above with the fact that many bee colonies of today are
not as well behaved as those of a century or more ago, but nevertheless
beekeeping in hives, skeps or boxes has always been carried out in populated
areas.

I believe that beekeepers have a responsibility to themselves and their
neighbours to keep bees of a suitable temper that such 'incedents' do not
occur.


Best Regards & 73s, Dave Cushman
Beekeeping and Bee Breeding Website
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman