When you buy a house that has been uninhabited for a long time, the first order of business is to evict all of the critters – living and dead – that occupied the space. Lane Campbell, my wife’s boss, bought a house this week. And promptly contacted me and asked if I could help byContinue reading “In the Bleak Midwinter”
Author Archives: Company Bee
How long have they been there?
With trees, you count the rings. With obsidian, you view the layers of hydrated glass. With archaeological stuff, you use 14C dating, or associated artifacts that have been securely dated elsewhere. One of the questions I usually get asked when doing a removal is “How long have they been there?” The homeowner just wants toContinue reading “How long have they been there?”
How long have they been there?
With trees, you count the rings. With obsidian, you view the layers of hydrated glass. With archaeological stuff, you use 14C dating, or associated artifacts that have been securely dated elsewhere. One of the questions I usually get asked when doing a removal is “How long have they been there?” The homeowner just wants toContinue reading “How long have they been there?”
Gumption Trap
The Beekeep approaches the removal while all of his companions, fainting from hunger, looked on. The hum from the hive intensifies slightly, as the guard bees go on alert. The hot sun beats down on the unshaded heads of the travelers standing in the field. The beekeep sets his shoulders to the task, and beginsContinue reading “Gumption Trap”
I’m rubber. You’re…
Some days the beekeeping things that go wrong have nothing to do with bees. This week I have been working on a removal of three hives in a single house. Because of the way the house is constructed, these bees are better trapped out than cut out. Trap-outs take longer, and require a little moreContinue reading “I’m rubber. You’re…”
Karen Bees (Or, I need to speak to your manager)
After removing bees from my Shadow’s house, I was under strict instructions to do what I could to make sure that the bees survived the transplant. (If you haven’t read that entry, you should). Transplanting bees is not always easy. A whole bunch of factors come into play with re-homing bees, and they can beContinue reading “Karen Bees (Or, I need to speak to your manager)”
Me. And my Shadow.
The week was a busy one for removing hives. Saturday‘s endeavor y’all have already seen; it was followed by another on Wednesday, followed by another on Saturday. My days have been filled with hives in houses in Vicksburg. The best was saved for last. Wednesday was a simple re-visit of a successful removal I didContinue reading “Me. And my Shadow.”
The Glue that Binds
“Gahhray! A ball of bees just fell off the ledge and exploded in mid-air and they just disappeared!!” My pastor, Tim Brown, had overcome his fear of bees to come and watch me work. I was perched in the hydraulic lift at the roofline of the Rosenthall home, talking through what I was doing. TimContinue reading “The Glue that Binds”
Pushing them too far
After working with mean honeybees for a couple of weeks straight, I really wanted a nice, simple, friendly interaction with bees to restore my confidence. A sting or two is ok and expected, especially with a removal where you are taking the bees out of their home and away from their resources. It makes sense.Continue reading “Pushing them too far”
Falling for You
I opened the door to the office. Unfortunately, I had gone into the wrong door, so the alarm screamed its fury at me, assaulting my senses. At the exact same moment, a honeybee culminated her assault on me with a dive into my shirt. Decision time: What crisis gets top priority? I ran over toContinue reading “Falling for You”
