View Full Version : Animal stool
eric101
08-28-2006, 03:13 PM
I have now twice found a stool dropping from some animal - 1 inch diameter about 3 inches long. Very light in weight and full of bee bodies. No scratching marks on entryways. All boxes about 8 - 12 inches off the ground. Any ideas.
Eric
PA Pete
08-28-2006, 07:01 PM
1 inch diameter? A half inch or less could be a toad. How big are your toads? :D
MichelleB
08-29-2006, 12:17 AM
Just a wild guess--skunks or raccoons feasting on booted drones, or discarded bodies?
ScadsOBees
08-29-2006, 06:17 AM
I've seen them too...and at least one skunk in the area.
The coons are more interested in demolishing as much corn as they can.
eric101
08-29-2006, 08:25 AM
I did some internet research and determined it was skunk scat. I am going to make pincushions for their toes. Will drive 2 inch nails through plywood with 1 inchh spacing and turn sharp side up in front of the hive. That ought to keep them away.
Eric
Michael Bush
08-29-2006, 07:29 PM
Or close up the bottom enrances and open up the tops. That's how I dealt with the skunks.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#topentrance
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm
Or put out an aspriegg. Mix three crushed asprins in a raw egg.
naturebee
08-30-2006, 05:54 PM
Skunk visits tend to pick up at this time due to the increase in dead honeybees being thrown out in front of the hives. Im willing to bet the skunks are mostly eating these freshly dead bees. This can occasionally be a hint that the colony may be experiencing a high rate of attrition, and may warrant further inspection in order to gauge the health of the colony.
No need for 2 inch nails, a simple carpet tac strip will work just fine.
naturebee
08-30-2006, 05:56 PM
--put out an aspriegg. Mix three crushed asprins in a raw egg.
And call you in the morning? smile.gif
eric101
08-30-2006, 09:48 PM
<a simple carpet tac strip will work just fine.>
On the landing board or in front of the hive?
And what does an aspriegg do to the skunk? Or is this just a bit of humor?
Thanks for the advice all.
Eric
naturebee
08-31-2006, 04:14 PM
I've put them on the landing board, points slanted toward the hive. Leave a gap at each end for water to drain around.
Michael Bush
09-01-2006, 06:52 PM
>And what does an aspriegg do to the skunk?
It kills the skunk that eats it. Of course if there is one skunk there is probablya family of skunks, so you may have to repeat it a few times. I prefer to just rearrange the hive (top entrances) so I don't have to worry about the skunks. It's easier than trying to kill them all the time.