Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[philh1503]

I might have found a very good site for a hive but I'm aware that several gardeners in the immediate area have a problem with badgers. I am also aware that badgers dig up wasps' nests. Therefore my question is: are badgers a threat to bees?

[flybry]

Badgers pass though our garden. None have shown any interest in my TB hives.

[Barbara]

Badgers certainly can be a threat to hives and it is as well to bear that in mind when constructing them, particularly if you know badgers frequent the area. Not saying they definitely will target them, but there is a risk.

I keep my hives close to the house partly for that reason. I also love being able to look out of my kitchen window and see them flying at all times of the year. It means I have a much better idea of when something is going wrong before it gets too serious and I also love being able to spend a few minutes with them each day as I leave the house. There are currently 7 colonies within 20 feet of my back door and the sound and smell is wonderful.

[catchercradle]

I know from reading that badgers can target hives and they are very strong both with claws and teeth. I doubt if my hives would stand much chance if the local badgers did target them. Certainly chicken wire is no deterrent. Even dug a foot into the ground did not stop the badgers getting all our sweet corn two years ago along with everyone else's on the allotment site.

That said, despite there being at least two setts close to the allotments and badgers having been recorded on video eating the sweet corn, so far none of my seven hives have been touched by them or the green woodpeckers in the area.

[madasafish]

There is a very large sett within 0.5kms of our garden..across a field. We have badger tracks in the snow every winter and my neighbour caught a badger in our garden in a fox trap by mistake - released unharmed.

The badgers don't touch our hives but my hive hygiene is to leave nothing on the grass - no comb or wax of any sort - and in 8 years my hives have been untouched. Sparrows eat all the dead bees on the ground and a few live ones in the air..

BUT: any wasps nests on the ground - and solitary bees as well - are dug up every year by badgers . Without fail.

[philh1503]

Thanks everyone! I'll go for it.