Another question re hive placement

[Ronni Kern]

So I finally got my husband to allow me to put my new (still unpopulated) hive on our second-floor deck off our bedroom. It gets good sun, is equidistant from the side property lines, and is near an electric outlet so I can hook up a pump to keep mosquitoes out of the water source. My only concern is the HUGE raccoon that has visited the deck in the past (mostly to look in at us. I think we’re its entertainment center). When I thought I was going to have to keep the hive behind the garage, I made a little stand for it, to force the raccoon/possum/skunk (we got’em all) to stand up on its hind legs and gets its belly stung. But now I would really rather not use the stand, since it makes the hive a little too obvious to the neighbors behind us. If I put the hive right on the deck but pushed so its entrance is right between the railing’s vertical supports, do you think that would be enough protection from my night visitors? I feel the raccoon/possum/skunk would essentially have to dangle off the side of the deck to reach the entrance and still would have limited access because of the uprights. I realize this means I would have to work the hive from behind, or one side, but it seems that’s what we do at the Sanctuary anyway. Thanks for any advice.

[susan rudnicki]

Hi, Ronni—first, working from behind is what you always WANT to do. The bees get very indignant at some human standing in their flight path, so it is no accident that you have noticed this from the work in Moorpark.
Second, putting your hive on a stand with legs that may be coated with a ant repellent is very important insurance for getting a small colony up and going. Argentine ants are very aggressive and will mob out a new cutout or swarm trying to set up house keeping. Even if you think you don’t have ants, the prevention of this problem is cheap compared to the disaster. The stand should have legs. A small side table, or a purpose built hive stand from Pierce-Mieras honey supply in Fullerton costs about $18, is built of rebar. You buy a tube of “Tanglefoot” sticky ant repellent barrier and place a one inch wide band of it UP HIGH ON THE LEGS—CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM BOARD. This location will get fewer errant bees or dirt and other detritus stuck in the barrier, which reduces its effectiveness.
Something to consider about this deck location is the difficulty you may have if you find later you need to move the bees. Carrying hive bodies through the house or having to lift them over the railing with toggle and rope to the ground presents problems of weight and loose bees. You must always plan for a unacceptable outcome, just in case. Working the bees so close to your bedroom may also not be very good if they have a “bad day” and are riled up. Behind the garage sounds better—its on the ground and further from human traffic.
I have skunks, raccoons, opossums and mosquitos, but these other issues will actually cause you more headaches than the ones you are worried about.
Finally, you don’t mention whether you have a mentor or not, but I will emphasize the importance of you connecting with someone in the club for that guidance. Be prepared to pay them for their time and to stay in touch with them regularly regarding your hive inspections and management of your bees. I mentor quite a few folks and find that one of the most difficult issues is getting the students to KEEP RECORDS. When you are learning this new craft, there is a lot of stuff swirling around in your head as you look into the busy world of the beehive. Deliberate, careful notes of what you see each time allows you to reflect on things later, consider where the bees have been, where they are now, and predict where they may be going in terms of development.
Write back as you need more help! Susan

[Ronni Kern]

Susan, thanks so much for your thoughtful response. Based on all your extremely cogent points, I have moved the hive off the deck and once more into the backyard. No bees or honey in the bedroom for me! This time, however, I found an alternative to the depressingly shady spot behind the garage where I had started. The new location is reasonably sunny and yet still out of the way of harvesting fruit (I have 25 fruit trees plus blackberries and boysenberries in my normal city backyard so it gets tricky). I had already built a stand out of some redwood 2x6s left over from a deck restoration, so I will have Tanglefootable legs should the ants appear (though that rebar one also sounds appealing). All I need now is a 7′ high screen to get the girls up and out of our hair and I’ll be good to go (son, brother and nephew range from 6’2″ to 6’7″ so a six-foot screen is not going to be enough). Which does bring me to obtaining a mentor. I am in Santa Monica and I know you’re in the South Bay, so probably too far for mentoring. Do you know any Honeylove people in the Santa Monica/West LA area who are also available for compensated mentoring? I actually don’t need a mentor immediately since I still have no bees; but as you can probably tell, I like to be prepared. The swarm tends to show up in early May but I’m thinking this year it’ll be early. Hope so, since the girls will have to find the box in the backyard instead of their now fallen-down tree in front. I stuck some of their old honeycomb in it, though, so I’m hoping that will be a clue.

[susan rudnicki]

Ronni–I am OK with coming to Santa Monica. I have mentored in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, so it is not so far. I did not know that you have a swarming “Mother Hive” in the vicinity, which you say “shows up in May” But, there is no way of inducing a swarm to take up residence in the place you wish them to, so I would not count on it. I get boxed swarms and gather swarms myself, so those are sources. Also, we could maybe find you a small cutout to do with me and that is even more instructive for learning. When you get to see a colony in a place where it has built their home in the most natural way, you get to see much of the colony structure and organization all at once. This informs your understanding of honeybee society. Please call me at 310-374-4779 and we can talk more about getting you started Susan

[Ronni Kern]

Oh, that’s great. I’ll call you as soon as I get a screen up. Don’t want to be changing the habitat once the girls are in residence. Thanks!

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