A new apiary inspector already…

[susan rudnicki]

Beeks—Paul had a complaint on his bees in San Pedro and this is what is going on. Since I began keeping bees, there have been 4 apiary inspectors used by the county. Only Ariel Varayo seemed to actually know bees. This is from Robert, who has already been transferred somewhere else.

I have my hives registered, (10 dollars a year) for the legitimacy this gives me in being on record. When there was a surprise complaint against my hives in Feb. of this year, (“poorly managed, casting swarms”) this registration helped me avoid suspicion. He was here about 4 min. and I passed with good marks.
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Hi Susan,

I was transferred to another division in April so I no longer do bee inspections. That duty now falls to the new Apiary Inspector, Conrad Burton ( CBurton@acwm.lacounty.gov ). It was probably Conrad that paid your friend Paul a visit. I don’t believe our policy has changed regarding backyard beekeeping inspections. It remains on primarily a complaint basis. When we get complaints we try to find the best solution possible and sometimes that means moving the bees. Each inspector, of course, looks at things a little differently and that fact may influence said solutions. I know Conrad to be a fine, reasonable inspector so I hope the beekeepers can work with him. But he does have to deal with a lot of complaints (as I did), and each one presents it’s own unique problems. Conrad’s phone number is the same as mine was – (626) 459-8894.

Good luck getting those bees out of the pump box.

Bob Wieder

Inspector III

Integrated Pest Management Division

(562) 622-0449

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