We hear from Peter Borst:

> I am always a little leery when people talk about *educating the public*
> about their special interest. Usually this means *persuade them of our
> point of view*.
. . .
> Or isn't better to try to keep a low profile? The public has a right to
> live without bee hives too near their homes. We should consider their
> rights as well as ours.

I don't agree with this point of view.  I can only speak from my own personal
experience.  Let me share some of it with you and make a few comments.

When I first wanted to start beekeeping, I wondered whether it was even
legal to have bees in the city limits, so I talked to friends and people I knew
in order to find out what was legal and what was not.  I even called the city
government to find out if there were laws or regulations regarding beekeeping
within the city limits where I live.  Most people were not informed as to what
local ordinances there were, even some of the city employees I talked to.
That was because there are none where I live.  There ARE local ordinances
against creating a hazard or a nuisance for our neighbors, but as long as we
don't do that, there are no restrictions.

I at first imagined that if I went to pick up a hive of bees, there would be a
mass stinging incident (of me) and I was terrified by what I saw in my imagination.
I had the same fears before I went to collect my first swarm.  Such fear was the
result of my ignorance and inexperience.  As I caught swarms and worked with
bees, I learned first hand that my fears were unfounded.

Of course there is always the potential of something bad happening to someone
somewhere at some time, and we read about it in the newspapers.  But if you
look at the statistical odds of those things happening to a given person, they are
extremely low.  As they say about winning the lottery, you have a greater chance
of being hit by lightning.  You have an even much greater chance of dying in an
automobile accident.  Why inform people of the worst possible case scenario
when it is so unlikely to happen.

I suppose I agree with the sentiment that the public has the right to live without
beehives too near their homes, IF the bees are causing them problems.
Beekeepers have a responsibility to be good neighbors and resolve any problems
their bees might cause.  I had some neighbors who did not like the fact that I
had bees in my yard next to them and told me that they were going to turn me
in to the city because they did not believe any one should have the right to keep
bees within the city limits.  I had given them honey every year and made sure
that my bees were gentle and not stinging or causing problems.  I also told all
my neighbors to be sure and let me know right away if there were any problems,
so I felt betrayed by those neighbors.  What I ended up doing (bending over
backwards trying to be a good neighbor) was to move my bees temporarily, but
I moved them back later.  Those good (but ignorant) folks moved from the
neighborhood and helped make our neighborhood a better place.  I don't know
if they ever called the city, but if they had, they would have been referred to a
beekeeper who was willing to help them solve their problem.  The city knows me
very well, as I have helped numerous people, and would have referred them to
me.  The irony of it all.

By the way, because of irrigated yards and the types of things planted in our
city, I am convinced that the nectar flow and honey production in the city is
much better than it is in the countryside, away from urban landscapes.  I am also
of the opinion that in an area that has the potential of having Africanized bees
come in, that the more beekeepers you have, the fewer problems you will have
because it will be harder for the Africanized bees to become established because
of the competition from managed bees.  Nature abhors a vacuum, and if you have
no managed bees, it would be very much easier for feral Africanized bees to
move into an area and become established.  I share that point of view with
policy makers.  It is scientific.

I am still somewhat concerned about what some of my unreasonable neighbors
might decide to do since we live in a sue-happy litigious society where ignorant
and selfish people try to unjustly benefit from others through immoral and unethical
means.  So I try to be a good neighbor.  In the meantime, I make sure I keep
people away from my bees at their home (the bees' home).  Foraging bees do not
chase people.  I take opportunities to allay peoples' fears by sharing my personal
experience with them.  Fear comes from ignorance and lack of experience.

Layne Westover
College Station, Texas, U.S.A.