Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[awalker]

Hey, all -- I had three thriving hives last year, but in the late summer/early fall, a bear paid several visits and ended up destroying them all. I tried tying them and weighting them, and nothing worked--very determined bear! This year, I'm getting one new hive, and I'd like to protect it. Do you think it would work to establish the hive in the upper floor of our large barn -- I'd put it next to a southern-facing window with many spaces for bees to exit to outdoors, but the bear couldn't reach them.

Thoughts? (The only alternative I can think of is to put up an electric fence, but I'd like to avoid it if possible.)

Thanks for any advice!!

Alexis

[AndyC]

No direct experience but it sounds like a plan provided you can keep the bear out of the barn. . . . . . . . .

[awalker]

I think I can! Thanks very much for your reply.

[Tavascarow]

An alternative is an electric fence.
There are many good 12v fence chargers both battery & mains powered that will keep the bears away from your bees.
_________________
Don't worry
Bee happy.
Member of Cornwall Natural Beekeepers
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Natural_Beekeeping/index.php?showforum=4
http://www.fotothing.com/Tavascarow

[AugustC]

Sorry ... bears have been extinct in England for around 1000 years and my beekeeping experience doesn't extend that far.
best of luck
A

[Justin]

At Bicton Collage where I went many moon's ago they had a lovely colony.
The hive was in one of the stand alone class room hut's.
All they did was install travel tubes from the hive to the outside wall.
no need for a window and having them flying around indoors.
One coombe was sandwiged between glass and you got an unrivalled view of the interworking's of the hive.
alternately you could always convert an old safe to a hive, I would like to see a bear manipulate the locking plates on a good sized unit.