Fallen Tree – Honey Bee Rescue!
Last weekend, we were called to rescue a colony of honey bees whose nest was in a tree that had fallen during high winds.
Wild honey bee colonies love to nest in the hollow spaces of trees. As trees age, the inside often begins to rot, creating perfect cavities for bees to build their home. These natural hollows are well-insulated, with small entrances that protect the bees from predators and the weather. Bees line these cavities with propolis—a resin-based material they gather from tree sap—to waterproof the interior before constructing their combs.
Unfortunately, honeycomb, while incredibly strong, is not built to withstand a 10-meter fall. When the tree toppled, it cracked, exposing a significant amount of comb. The damage was extensive, and while most of the colony was lost, a small cluster of bees remained alive. Sadly, I didn’t see the queen, who is often injured or killed in such situations as the comb breaks apart.
To save the remaining bees, I carefully cut the comb to fit the size of standard hive frames, securing it with elastic bands. The bees were then gently shaken into the hive box, where they quickly settled onto the salvaged comb. Thankfully, there was still plenty of honey stored in the comb, which will help sustain them.
While I’m unsure if this colony will be strong enough to survive the rest of the winter, we’re doing everything we can to give them a fighting chance. Fingers crossed!
Commentaires