Bee Hive Thefts In California

[WhatInThe]

Beekeepers in California have had a rash of bee hive thefts, 96 last month 100 or so this month. It's happened before but it's getting to be an issue. They say they probably wind up on almond farms because this is the time of year they bloom. 80% of almonds grown in the US are from California. They're mostly stolen at night or in the rain when bees are dormant.

MSN

Time for the police to set up a sting........

 

[Paco Dennis]

The bee keepers need to step up security for their hives. Maybe get some cameras and/or motion-activated lights.

From the article "Some beekeepers are using GPS and other tracking devices due to the theft threat, he said." Good idea!

 

[VintageBetter]

Re: Joke:

Surely there is some kind of tracker they could install in every hive? One that is not easily removable - perhaps attached to the hive with hardware that cannot be released without a special set of tools, like the dye tags put on expensive clothing at Nordstroms?

There has to be a way. Some entrepreneurs and bee keepers should be working on this problem.

 

[hollydolly]

There was a problem a year or 2 back here as well with stolen Hives...

 

[Paladin1950]

Some lousy deadbeats will steal anything that's not nailed down.

 

[AnneTeak]

My sister had a large bee hive up high in a tree where they park their cars. They had to take it down because it was getting dangerous. They were told that hives were worth money and to consider selling it. They told him to take it away and do whatever he wanted with it.

 

[Michael Z]

Fill up a few of those beehives, sealed shut, with black hornets.

 

[dobielvr]

This is happening around me...we need those wonderful bees to pollinate all the trees and their blossoms.
We have something called The Blossom Trail with hundred of acres of orchards all in bloom w/their blossoms at this time of year.

 

[jujube]

My daughter and son-in-law have an apiary. He has several hundred hives that he places around different spots in three counties, in groves, etc. I don't think he's had problems with stolen hives but maybe he's just lucky. Frankly, I'd feel sorry for anyone he catches messing with his hives.

 

[Remy]

That's terrible. Leave the bees alone. Legit bee people will come and get a hive. We had one at work in the courtyard once. No problem, the guy came, think they use some kind of smoke? Anyway a few strays came into the building. No one got stung. Now those yellow jackets are another story. Meanies.

 

[Mike]

A couple of years ago, somebody stole 5 hives containing 40,000 bees,
from an estate in Cornwall, South West England, but the thief wasn't to
clever, he/she didn't take them far enough away and they all flew back
home, luckily the beekeeper had spare hives, so he got them all.
Bees stolen from country estate flee and return home by themselves

Mike.

 

[hearlady]

I remember reading about this years ago. I guess a good bee hive is valuable.
If we lose our bees we lose our food.

 

[hearlady]

That's terrible. Leave the bees alone. Legit bee people will come and get a hive. We had one at work in the courtyard once. No problem, the guy came, think they use some kind of smoke? Anyway a few strays came into the building. No one got stung. Now those yellow jackets are another story. Meanies.

I was attacked by yellow jackets one time. Not fun. I didn't know I could run so fast!

 

[David777]

California has been increasingly invaded by both native USA and illegal alien criminals. Some Latin American nations have been purposely sending their criminals here instead of expensively incarcerating them. State politicians have purposely closed many jailing facilities due to influences from poor, homeless, and ethnic minority groups. Courts have made judgments against having convicted criminals serve out their full sentences due to lack of jailing space. Those convicted of lesser felonies and misdemeanors increasingly don't serve any time while being released without bail on probation that may have weak to no accounting.

The result is we are seeing first signs of general societal anarchy. In 2018 the notorious MS-13 gang had set up in Mendota, a rural valley town. Same criminals are brainstorming how they can eke out a criminal illegal existence. So we are recently dealing with all manner of theft and burglaries that were relatively non-existent a couple decades ago. And that includes farm infrastructure and equipment.